1 Samuel 14:14 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

John Gill

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

And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made was about twenty men ,.... Or the first blow they struck, as the Targum, they killed about twenty men; that is, they did not stop smiting, but followed their blows so quickly, that in a very little time, as well as in a very small space of ground, so many were killed: even within as it were an half acre of land , which a "yoke" of oxen might plough; that is, in one day; the word is used for a furrow, Psalm 129:3 and is... read more

Adam Clarke

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

A half acre of land - The ancients measured land by the quantum which a yoke of oxen could plough in a day. The original is obscure, and is variously understood. It is probably a proverbial expression for a very small space. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:13-23

God's faithfulness to his own. The facts are— 1 . Jonathan and his servant ascend the precipice and slay, on a narrow strip of land, about twenty men. 2 . A panic arising, from a combination of causes, the commotion attracts the attention of Saul's sentinels. 3 . It being ascertained that Jonathan was engaged against the Philistines, inquiry is sought of God, by Saul, through the priest Ahiah. 4 . The tumult among the Philistines increasing, Saul abruptly stops the inquiry... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:14

Within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. The Hebrew for this long circumlocution is, "within about a half furrow of a yoke of land." The Septuagint translates, "with darts and slings and stones of the field," but the other versions give no support to this rendering. The Israelites, like most ancient nations, were accustomed to measure land by the quantity which a yoke of oxen could plough in a day,—something really less than an acre,—so that the A.V. gives the... read more

Albert Barnes

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

Within as it were an half acre ... - The Hebrew text is extremely obscure. Hence, there is some probability that the true reading is preserved by the Septuagint which translates the clause “with darts and stones and flints of the field.” Others take the words to mean: “in about half the time that a yoke of oxen draw a furrow in the field.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 14:14-15

1 Samuel 14:14-15. Within a half acre of land The garrison seems to have been divided into several bands, and posted upon several craggy eminences; for this first party that Jonathan attacked seems to have been quite separate from the rest. There was a trembling in the host That is, in the whole host which was in the field. The Philistines, hearing of this slaughter of the twenty men, undoubtedly concluded that they had been attacked by a considerable number of Israelites, which put 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 14:14

acre . Hebrew = furrow, or a furrow's length. The Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) is supplied, but the words "in a day" might be added for completeness at end of verse. This is the standard measure throughout the Turkish empire, called a deunum = 40 arshuns. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 14:14

1 Samuel 14:14. That first slaughter, &c.— The expression in this verse, possibly, was proverbial. It imports only, that this slaughter was made in a very small compass: that Jonathan slew twenty men within the space of half an acre of ground. This sudden and unexpected attack of Jonathan's threw them into a panic fear; and as their army consisted, it is most likely, of different nations, (see chap. 1 Samuel 13:5.) they fell into the greater confusion, as not understanding, and perhaps... read more