1 Samuel 14:1-16:23 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1-15

We must here take notice, I. Of the goodness of God in restraining the Philistines, who had a vast army of valiant men in the field, from falling upon that little handful of timorous trembling people that Saul had with him, whom they would easily have swallowed up at once. It is an invisible power that sets bounds to the malice of the church's enemies, and suffers them not to do that which we should think there is nothing to hinder them from. II. Of the weakness of Saul, who seems here to have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1

Now it came to pass upon a day ,.... At a certain time, a little after the garrison of the Philistines had made the movement, 1 Samuel 13:23 and it is not to be taken strictly for the day time; for it is probable it was in the night that the following proposal was made, and began to be carried into execution; for Josephus F11 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 2. says it was day light when Jonathan and his armourbearer came to the camp of the Philistines; he had formed his scheme perhaps the... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Come , and let us go over - This action of Jonathan was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is likely that he was led to this by a Divine influence. The armor-bearer is the origin of what we call esquire, from escu , old French, a shield; armiger is the Latin, from arma , weapons, and gero , I bear. In the times of chivalry, the armiger , or esquire, was the servant of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1

EXPOSITION JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINE GAR - BISON ( 1 Samuel 14:1-15 ). Now it came to pass upon a day. Literally, "And there was a day, and Jonathan," etc.; or, as we should say, And it happened one day that Jonathan. The phrase means that Jonathan's brave feat took place not many days after the garrison had occupied the cliff, probably only two or three, but without definitely stating how many. He told not his father. Not only because Saul would have forbidden... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1-12

Inspiration in Christian enterprise The facts are— 1 . Jonathan, on his own responsibility, and without his father's knowledge: resolves on an attack upon the Philistine garrison. 2 . He expresses to his armour bearer his hope that God will help, and also the ground of that hope. 3 . He proposes to regard the first encouragement from the enemy to ascend the cliff as a sign of coming success. 4 . The sign appearing, Jonathan advances in confidence of victory. The recent... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1

Now ... - Rather “and,” since this verse is in immediate dependence upon the preceding. When Jonathan saw the garrison come out again and again, in defiance “of the armies of the living God,” at length “upon a day” he determined to attack them. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:1-46

War against the Philistines (13:15-14:46)After Samuel left Gilgal, Saul took his troops and joined with the other section of the Israelite army, which was under Jonathan. Together they prepared for the battle against the Philistines (15-18). The Philistines were confident of victory, partly because for many years they had so controlled metal-working activities in the area that the Israelites owned hardly any weapons. This enabled the Philistines to raid throughout Israel without fear of strong... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 14:1

a day : i.e. a certain day. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1

SUMMARY OF SAUL'S REIGN; HIS ADDITIONAL SINSIt will be remembered from our study of the Book of Numbers that the history of Israel's wilderness sojourn, covering a period of about forty years, was extremely abbreviated, with only a few events of that whole period being recorded. We have another example of this same Biblical phenomenon in this chapter, where all of Saul's wars during his forty-year reign are covered in a single short paragraph.There is a reason for this in both cases. In that of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 14:1

1. the Philistines' garrison—"the standing camp" (1 Samuel 13:23, Margin) "in the passage of Michmash" (1 Samuel 13:23- :), now Wady Es-Suweinit. "It begins in the neighborhood of Betin (Beth-el) and El-Bireh (Beetroth), and as it breaks through the ridge below these places, its sides form precipitous walls. On the right, about a quarter of an acre below, it again breaks off, and passes between high perpendicular precipices" [ROBINSON]. read more