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Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:5-7

(5) And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. (6) When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. (7) And some of the Hebrews went over... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:5

Chariots. This number seems almost incredible, as the Philistines were but a contemptible nation, compared with various others which never brought so many chariots into the field. Zara, king of Ethiopia, in his army of a million men, had only 300, 2 Paralipomenon xiv. 9. Adarezer had 1000, and Sesac 12000 chariots, while Solomon could only boast of 1400. Hence the Syriac and Arabic read "3000;" and it is supposed that the Hebrew has im, at the end of shelosh, redundant. (Bochart, Capel,... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:6

Straitened, the people form the northern provinces, and provisions being cut off, by the immense army of the Philistines. (Calmet) --- Providence was pleased to convince the people that, though they had been able to muster so large a force against the Ammonites, at so short a warning, they must not depend on the efforts of their new king. (Haydock) --- He suffered any of the army to retire, as he sent away most of Gedeon's soldiers, that the whole glory of the victory might be attributed to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

1-7 Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above a year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken and to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency, they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends. When Saul at length sounded an alarm, the people, dissatisfied with his... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

The Invasion of the Philistines v. 1. Saul reigned one year, literally, "A son of [probably forty] years was Saul when he became king"; and when he had reigned two years over Israel (he was king, as nearly as can be estimated, twenty-two years), v. 2. Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, evidently from the total number of those who were able to bear arms ; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, some eight miles northeast of Jerusalem, and in Mount Bethel, the range on... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

SECOND DIVISIONKing Saul’s Government Up To His Rejection1 Samuel 13-15_____________________FIRST SECTIONThe Unfolding of his Royal Power in Successful Wars1 Samuel 13-15I. Against the Philistines. 1 Samuel 13:1 to 1 Samuel 14:461Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, [Saul was——years old when he began to reign, and he reigned——years over Israel].1 2[Ins. And] Saul chose him three thousand men [ins. out] of Israel, whereof [om. whereof, ins. and] two thousand were... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-12

Saul’s First Act of Folly 1 Samuel 13:1-12 The story of a great tragedy! Here was the overcasting of a bright sunrise. The king was certainly subjected to a tremendous test. He had been bidden to wait until Samuel came, before offering the sacrifice, because from the first it was understood that Saul was on the throne only as the nominee and vicegerent of Jehovah. And Saul did wait, with growing impatience, for seven weary days; then, when the allotted period had nearly expired, he “forced”... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

There is some difficulty concerning the opening sentences of this chapter. Some words seem to be omitted, which make it difficult to place the events recorded in their chronological setting. The Authorized Version reads, "Saul reigned one year, and when he had reigned two years. . . ." The Revised Version reads, "Saul was (thirty) years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel." The American Revision reads, "Saul was (forty) years old when he began to reign, and he... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:2-6

Preparation For Revolt Against The Philistines (1 Samuel 13:2-6 ). The general summary nature of these verses is indicated by the fact that at the end of verse 2 Saul disbands the army, retaining only his own special fighting force, while in 1 Samuel 13:3 he summons all Israel together again. In the light of 13:19-23 this in itself suggests that 1 Samuel 13:2 points to a period of general guerilla warfare in which Saul and his small army probed at the Philistines while Israel as a whole was... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-22

1 Samuel 13, 14. Saul’ s Early Struggles with the Philistines.— (J), chiefly from the ancient narrative concerning Saul. Editorial notes, or additions from other sources, are 1 Samuel 13:1; 1 Samuel 7 b, “ but as for Saul . . . Benjamin,” 1 Samuel 13:15 a; 1 Samuel 13:19-Song of Solomon :; 1 Samuel 14:47-Colossians :. 1 Samuel 13:1 . If the present Hebrew text were regarded as correct and complete, the translation ( cf.mg.) would be, “ And Saul was a year old when he became king, and he... read more

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