1 Samuel 13:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

We are not told wherein it was that the people of Israel offended God, so as to forfeit his presence and turn his hand against them, as Samuel had threatened (1 Sam. 12:15); but doubtless they left God, else he would not have left them, as here it appears he did; for, I. Saul was very weak and impolitic, and did not order his affairs with discretion. Saul was the son of one year (so the first words are in the original), a phrase which we make to signify the date of his reign, but ordinarily it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:3

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba ,.... Not the same with Gibeah of Benjamin, as Jarchi; for it can hardly be thought that Jonathan should place himself with his thousand men where the Philistines had a garrison; or that if this was the same with that in the preceding verse, that it should be called by another name in this; but Gibeah and Geba were two places, as Kimchi observes, both indeed in the tribe of Benjamin, and it is very probable not far from one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:4

And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines ,.... For though it was smitten by Jonathan, yet it was by the order of Saul, and so ascribed to him; it seems to be a concerted thing to fall upon the garrisons of the Philistines, and get them out of their hands, and so deliver Israel entirely from them; but it was not wise for Saul, if he had such a scheme in his head, to disband his large army, as he had lately done: and that Israel also was had in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:3

Jonathan smote - He appears to have taken this garrison by surprise, for his men had no arms for a regular battle, or taking the place by storm. This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible. Let the Hebrews hear - Probably this means the people who dwelt beyond Jordan, who might very naturally be termed here העברים haibrim , from עבר abar , he passed over; those who are beyond the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:4

The people were called together - The smiting of this garrison was the commencement of a war, and in effect the shaking off of the Philistine yoke; and now the people found that they must stand together, and fight for their lives. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

The great antagonism. The facts are— 1 . Saul, entering on the military organisation of his kingdom, forms a select force under the command of himself and Jonathan. 2 . The defeat of the Philistine garrison by Jonathan is announced to all Israel. 3 . This first success arouses the hostility of the Philistines, who threaten Israel with overwhelming numbers. 4 . The effect of this display of force is to dishearten the followers of Saul who waited at Gilgah The presence of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:3

In Geba. By this garrison the Philistines commanded the further end of the defile, and they had also another outpost beyond it near Gibeah itself ( 1 Samuel 10:5 ). Probably neither of these garrisons was very strong, and Saul may have intended that Jonathan should attack them while he held the northern end of the pass, which would be the first place assailed by the Philistines in force. As regards the word translated garrison, attempts have been made to render it pillar, and to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:4

That Saul had smitten. Though the achievement was actually Jonathan's, yet it belonged to Saul as the commander-in-chief, and probably had been done under his instructions. Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. They must have viewed with grave displeasure Israel's gathering together to choose a king, and Saul's subsequent defeat of the Ammonites, and retention with him of a large body of men, and so probably they had been for some time making preparations for war. Saul,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:3

This was the first act in the war of independence, and probably the first feat in arms of the young hero Jonathan. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:4

To Gilgal - The Wady Suweinit de-bouches into the plain of the Jordan in which Gilgal was situated. For the sanctity of Gilgal, see above, 1 Samuel 11:14 note. read more

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