Let us go over - Moved, doubtless, by a Divine impulse. There is no restraint to the Lord - This is a fine sentiment; and where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence. read more
EXPOSITION JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINE GAR - BISON ( 1 Samuel 14:1-15 ). Now it came to pass upon a day. Literally, "And there was a day, and Jonathan," etc.; or, as we should say, And it happened one day that Jonathan. The phrase means that Jonathan's brave feat took place not many days after the garrison had occupied the cliff, probably only two or three, but without definitely stating how many. He told not his father. Not only because Saul would have forbidden... read more
Inspiration in Christian enterprise The facts are— 1 . Jonathan, on his own responsibility, and without his father's knowledge: resolves on an attack upon the Philistine garrison. 2 . He expresses to his armour bearer his hope that God will help, and also the ground of that hope. 3 . He proposes to regard the first encouragement from the enemy to ascend the cliff as a sign of coming success. 4 . The sign appearing, Jonathan advances in confidence of victory. The recent... read more
Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah. I.e. the part nearest Geba. Under , not a , but the pomegranate tree , the well known tree at Migron. Saul evidently shared to the full in the love of trees common among the Israelites (see 1 Samuel 22:6 ). The Hebrew word for pomegranate is Rimmon, but there is no doubt that the tree is here meant, and not the rock Rimmon ( 20:45 , 20:47 ), so called probably from a fancied resemblance to the fruit. Migron , said to mean a ... read more
Ahiah, the son of Ahitub. (See on 1 Samuel 13:9 .) It is interesting to find the house of Eli recovering at last from its disaster, and one of its members duly ministering in his office before the king. It has been debated whether he was the same person as Ahimelech, mentioned in 1 Samuel 21:1 , etc; the supposition being grounded on the fact that Ahiah is never spoken of again. But he may have died; and with regard to the argument drawn from the similarity of the names, we must notice... read more
Between the passages. I.e. the passes. A sharp rock. Literally, "a tooth of rock." Conder ('Tent Work,' 2:112) says, "The site of the Philistine camp at Michmash, which Jonathan and his armour bearer attacked, is very minutely described by Josephus. It was, he says, a precipice with three tops, ending in a long, sharp tongue, and protected by surrounding cliffs. Exactly such a natural fortress exists immediately east of the village of Michmash, and is still called 'the fort' by the... read more
Was situate, etc. The word thus translated is that rendered pillar in 1 Samuel 2:8 , and the verse should possibly be translated, "And the one tooth (or crag) was a rocky mass on the north over against Michmash, and the other was on the south over against Geba" (not Gibeah, as the A.V.; see 1 Samuel 13:16 ). But the word is omitted in the versions, and may be an interpolation. read more
Uncircumcised . An epithet of dislike almost confined to the Philistines. But underneath the whole speech of Jonathan lies the conviction of the covenant relation of Israel to Jehovah, of which circumcision was the outward sign. Notice also Jonathan's humble reliance upon God. It may be that Jehovah will work for us, etc. read more
Now ... - Rather “and,” since this verse is in immediate dependence upon the preceding. When Jonathan saw the garrison come out again and again, in defiance “of the armies of the living God,” at length “upon a day” he determined to attack them. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:4
The name of the one was Bozez - Slippery; and the name of the other Seneh, treading down. - Targum. read more