24-35 Saul's severe order was very unwise; if it gained time, it lost strength for the pursuit. Such is the nature of our bodies, that daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which therefore our Father in heaven graciously gives. Saul was turning aside from God, and now he begins to build altars, being then most zealous, as many are, for the form of godliness when he was denying the power of it. read more
Saul's Unwise Adjuration v. 24. And the men of Israel were distressed that day, harassed, thoroughly wearied; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening that I may be avenged on mine enemies. This was an act of false zeal, unauthorized by the Lord, Saul having more regard to his royal power than to the honor of Jehovah. So none of the people tasted any food, although they were jaded to the point of exhaustion. v. 25. And all they of the... read more
For Lange's chapter 14 passage quote and footnotes, see 1 Samuel 13:1 ff.4. 1 Samuel 14:1-15. Jonathan’s bold attack on the Philistines.1 Samuel 14:1. “On a day” (הַיּוֹם), on the definite day on which the following occurred. The words: And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer: Let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, are repeated in 1 Samuel 14:6 for the continuation of the narrative which they introduce. What lies between [1 Samuel 14:2-5] is a statement of the existing special circumstances... read more
Victory Shadowed by Saul’s Errors 1 Samuel 14:16-35 Saul’s unwise prohibition had a terrible sequel: first, in the exhaustion of his troops; and, second, in the rushing of the hungry upon the spoil without the proper separation of blood. Then, as the day closed in, the divine oracle was dumb. Evidently some sin had interposed its dark shadow between the king and the Eternal Light. See 1 Samuel 14:37 . Saul knew this, but he refused to look for the sin in his own heart, even when he and... read more
Here we have a picture of Saul, with a part of the army about him, remaining idle in Gibeah. His son Jonathan moved to action by his sense of the degradation of his people, and his conviction of the strength of Jehovah, made a remarkable attack on the foe, which issued first in the slaughter of twenty men. This sudden onrush on the Philistines in so unexpected a way produced panic throughout all their hosts. As a result of this, Saul and the rest of the people who had been in hiding went forth... read more
The People Sin By Eating The Blood Of Slain Beasts, And Saul Erects A Primitive Place For Slaughter (1 Samuel 14:31-35 ). A further consequence of Saul’s rash vow is now seen. Having been deprived of food Saul’s men now sin against YHWH by eating animals with their blood. This was something strictly forbidden by the Law (Leviticus 17:10-11), and Saul therefore arranges for a primitive slaughter stone to be set up so that the animals may be slain properly, and the blood be allowed to pour out... read more
1 Samuel 14:31-Habakkuk : . The pursuit continued as far as Aijalon. When it stopped, the exhausted people flew upon the cattle and sheep and ate them with the blood, a ritual sin ( Genesis 9:4 *, Leviticus 17:10-2 Kings : *), at which Saul was greatly distressed; he was evidently punctilious as to religious observances. He had a great stone set up as an altar, and had the animals for food slain in proper sacrificial fashion. read more
He sees their fault, but not his own, in giving the occasion to it. Roll a great stone unto me; that the cattle might be all killed in one place, under the inspection of Saul, or some other appointed by him for that work; and upon the stone, that the blood may sooner and better flow out. read more
CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES 1 Samuel 14:18. “Bring hither the ark of God.” “Many expositors, thinking it extremely improbable that the ark had been removed from Kirjath-jearim, where it was afterwards found by David (2 Samuel 6:2-3), regard the Hebrew text as here incorrect, and follow the Septuagint reading of ephod. It must, however, be remembered that the Chaldee, the Syriac, the Arabic, and the Vulgate support the authorised version. It has been remarked that if Saul had spoken of the ark... read more
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Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:24-46
(24) ¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. (25) And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. (26) And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. (27) But Jonathan heard not when his... read more