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Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:14-15

(14) And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. (15) And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. It should seem, that a similar effect, like that which the Lord wrought in the host of Midian, must have been induced, to cause this great... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:14

Day. Varro, &c., allow 120 feet, Columella only 70, for a day's work, so that these twenty men were slain in the space of 60 or 35 feet. Louis de Dieu rejects all the other versions, and would translate the Hebrew "in almost the half of the length of a furrow, and in the breadth which is between two furrows in a field," so that the enemy would be very close together. Literally, "almost in the half of a furrow of a yoke of the field," which seems rather to be understood of the length,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1-15

1-15 Saul seems to have been quite at a loss, and unable to help himself. Those can never think themselves safe who see themselves out of God's protection. Now he sent for a priest and the ark. He hopes to make up matters with the Almighty by a partial reformation, as many do whose hearts are unhumbled and unchanged. Many love to have ministers who prophesy smooth things to them. Jonathan felt a Divine impulse and impression, putting him upon this bold adventure. God will direct the steps of... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 14:1-23

The Philistines Defeated v. 1. Now it came to pass upon a day, a certain day came along, that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, the advanced post which was to guard against surprise attacks on the part of the Israelites, 1 Samuel 13:23, that is on the other side. But he told not his father, who probably would have forbidden the undertaking as too dangerous. v. 2. And Saul tarried in the uttermost... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Samuel 14:1-52

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

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1-15

Jonathan’s Exploit for the Lord 1 Samuel 14:1-15 Jonathan was a true knight of God. He was the Hebrew Galahad, a soldier without fear and without reproach. His life was pure, his word was true, he was faithful to the high claims of human love, and followed the Christ, though as yet he knew Him not. He had entered into the spirit of the divine Covenant, and could not believe that God had forgotten and forsaken. Was not the old promise true that “one [should] chase a thousand, and two put ten... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1-52

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

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1-14

Chapter 14. YHWH Commences The Work Of Deliverance Through Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:1-14 ). Jonathan, Saul’s son, and a man of great faith, clearly found it a hard and trying experience to watch the marauders going about their oppressive work, while he, and Saul and his men, moved around the mountains keeping out of the way, and his restless spirit longed to do something more positive. Surely, he thought, YHWH would want them to act in some way to help His downtrodden people? Thus the sight of... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1-15

1 Samuel 13:23 to 1 Samuel 14:15 . The ancient narrative, continuing 1 Samuel 13:18. Saul was at Geba (see on 1 Samuel 13:2), having with him the priest Ahijah, carrying the ephod— here not a garment, but some article used in casting the sacred lot (see 1 Samuel 2:28 *, Judges 8:27). A valley lay between the two camps, dominated on either side by a steep crag, called respectively Bozez, “ Shining,” and Seneh, “ Thorny.” Unknown to Saul and the Israelites, Jonathan and his armourbearer... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1-16

CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES 1 Samuel 14:1. “Garrison of the Philistines.” The advanced post mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:23. For the situation of the armies see note on 1 Samuel 13:6.1 Samuel 14:2. “A pomegranate tree,” etc., rather the pomegranate, a well-known tree. “According to Judges 20:45, a rock near Gibeah bore the name ‘Rock of the pomegranate’ (Rimmon), and was well adapted for a fortified position. It is a natural supposition that the same rock is meant here, named after the well-known... read more

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