1 Samuel 14:1-47 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:16-23

We have here the prosecution and improvement of the wonderful advantages which Jonathan and his armour-bearer gained against the Philistines. I. The Philistines were, by the power of God, set against one another. They melted away like snow before the sun, and went on beating down one another (1 Sam. 14:16), for (1 Sam. 14:20) every man's sword was against his fellow. When they fled for fear, instead of turning back upon those that chased them, they reckoned those only their enemies that stood... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:24-35

We have here an account of the distress of the children of Israel, even in the day of their triumphs. Such alloys are all present joys subject to. And such obstructions does many a good cause meet with, even when it seems most prosperous, through the mismanagement of instruments. I. Saul forbade the people, under the penalty of a curse, to taste any food that day, 1 Sam. 14:24. Here we will suppose, 1. That as king he had power to put his soldiers under this interdict, and to bind it on with a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:36-46

Here is, I. Saul's boasting against the Philistines. He proposed, as soon as his soldiers had got their suppers, to pursue them all night, and not leave a man of them, 1 Sam. 14:36. Here he showed much zeal, but little discretion; for his army, thus fatigued, could as ill spare a night's sleep as a meal's meat. But it is common for rash and foolish men to consider nobody but themselves, and, so that they might but have their humour, not to care what hardships they put upon those that are under... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:47-52

Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp. 1. Of his court and family, the names of his sons and daughters (1 Sam. 14:49), and of his wife and his cousin-german that was general of his army, 1 Sam. 14:50. There is mention of another wife of Saul's (2 Sam. 21:8), Rizpah, a secondary wife, and of the children he had by her. 2. Of his camp and military actions. (1.) How he levied his army: When he saw any strong valiant man, that was remarkably fit for service, he took him unto him (1... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:2

And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah ,.... Not daring to go out against the Philistines, but remained in the furthest part of Gibeah, at the greatest distance from the camp of the Philistines, in the strongest part of the city, or deeply entrenched in the outer, part of it in the field: under a pomegranate tree ; where were his headquarters; his tent or pavilion was erected under a large spreading pomegranate, which protected him from the heat of the sun: or under Rimmon ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:3

And Ahiah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother ,.... Ichabod was the child that Phinehas's wife bore prematurely on hearing the news of the ark being taken and of the death of her husband and father-in-law, which name she gave him on that account, and died; see 1 Samuel 4:19 , he, it seems, had an elder brother, called Ahitub, who died young, and this Ahiah was the son of him; for not he, but Ahitub, was Ichabod's brother: the son of Phinehas ; so Ichabod was: the son of Eli ; so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:4

And between the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison ,.... One of which is called the passage of Michmash, 1 Samuel 13:23 and was that by which they went from Gibeah to Michmash; the other, which might be called the passage of Gibeah, was that by which they went from Michmash to Gibeah, and in effect was but one; and this was seized by the garrison of the Philistines, on that part of it which was towards Michmash; so that there was no way of access to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:5

The forefront of the one was situate northward, over against Michmash ,.... The northern precipice of this rock was towards Michmash, where the Philistines lay encamped, and where was the passage of Michmash the garrison went into and possessed: and the other southward, over against Gibeah ; the southern precipice faced Gibeah, and both precipices were to be got over before he could get to the garrison, these lying between the two passages; the one at one end, called the passage of... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:16-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:24-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:36-46

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:47-52

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:5

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