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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:45

And the people said - "Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid! As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground." Here was a righteous and impartial jury, who brought in a verdict according to the evidence: No man should die but for a breach of the law of God; but Jonathan hath not broken any law of God; therefore Jonathan should not die. And because he should not, therefore he shall not. He hath wrought with ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:24-35

Unwise zeal and moral obtuseness. The facts are— 1 . Saul by a rash vow causes great distress among the people and diminishes the fruits of victory. 2 . Jonathan, unawares, takes food contrary to his father's prohibition, and on being informed of the truth, deplores the unwisdom of the vow. 3 . As a consequence of the enforced exhaustion, the people at the close of the day violate the ceremonial law by a voracious meal of flesh unduly prepared. 4 . Saul, professing to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:35

And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah as a thank offering for the Divine favour in gaining so great a victory. The same was the first altar, etc. Literally, "As to it he began to build an altar unto Jehovah." On these words the question has arisen whether the meaning be that Saul began to build an altar, but with characteristic impetuosity left off before he had completed it; or whether on that occasion he commenced the custom followed by David ( 2 Samuel 24:25 ) of erecting altars as the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:36

EXPOSITION JONATHAN 'S DANGER AND DELIVERANCE ( 1 Samuel 14:36-46 ). Let us go down after the Philistines by night. Saul, conscious that he had prevented the victory from being so decisive as it would otherwise have been, proposes to repair his fault, now that the people have taken food, by continuing the pursuit during the night. The people render the same unquestioning obedience as before, but Ahiah gives counsel that they should first ask the approval of God. Let us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:36-46

Seeking counsel of God and keeping one's word. The facts are— 1 . Saul, following his own impulse, desires to pursue the Philistines during the night, but is restrained by the priest advising to seek counsel of God. 2 . No answer coming from God, Saul concludes that sin has been committed, and resolves that the sinner when discovered shall die. 3 . A lot being taken, it falls on Jonathan, who admits having tasted honey, and submits to the sentence. 4 . Saul, again solemnly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:37-38

He answered him not. From this silence Saul concludes that some sin has been committed, and therefore calls together all the chief of the people— literally, "the corner stones" ( 20:2 )—to inquire who was the guilty person, and wherein he had sinned. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:39

He shall surely die. With despotic violence, without waiting to learn what the offence was, and judging simply by consequences, because he was delayed in following up the pursuit, he takes a solemn oath that the offending person shall be put to death. Thus twice in the same day he was guilty of the sin of rash swearing. The people condemn him by their silence. They had obeyed him with ready devotion; but now they listen in terror to the rash and violent words which condemn to death the young... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:40-41

As God also condemned Saul by his silence, the Urim and Thummim giving no answer, he places himself and Jonathan on one side, and the people on the other, and determines to cast lots. He then prays, Give a perfect lot, or, as in the margin, "Show" (literally, give) "the innocent." This is undoubtedly the meaning of the Hebrew, while the rendering of the text is taken from Kimchi. There are few mistranslations of the A.V. which have not some good Jewish authority for them, as King James's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:44

God do so, etc. Again Saul takes an oath to put Jonathan to death, supposing himself bound by his former words. But he must have been pained beyond measure at the miserable consequences of his rashness, and have bitterly reproached himself for thus twice marring the happiness of the day by unhallowed oaths. Jonathan's trespass, committed unwittingly, required nothing more than a trespass offering for its expiation, nor did the silence of the Urim and Thummim imply any fault in him. The fault... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:45

The people said. They had hitherto shown their disapproval of Saul's conduct by their silence; now they decide that Jonathan shall not die, and their decision was right and godly. Saul might feel bound by his rash oath, but the consciences of the people told them that an oath to commit a crime is an oath to be repented of as a sin, and not to be performed as a duty. They do not say, however, God forbid, but "Far be it." The name of the Deity is constantly taken in vain in the A.V. without... read more

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