1 Samuel 14:15 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 14:15

And there was trembling in the host in the field ,.... Belonging to Michmash, where the army lay encamped: and among all the people ; the inhabitants of Michmash, or that attended the army, and furnished them with provisions, trafficking with them; the common people, as distinguished from the soldiers: the garrison ; those that were in it, who did not sally out, but perceiving a great slaughter made of their outer scouts, were seized with a panic: and the spoilers they also... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:15

There was trembling in the host - They were terrified and panic-struck; the people in general round about, those in the garrison, the spoilers, and the whole country, were struck with terror; the commotion was universal and most extraordinary. The trembling of the earth is probably not to be taken literally, but as a metaphor for a great commotion in the country, though God might have interposed in an extraordinary manner, and produced a real earthquake; but their being... 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 14:15

Trembling . I.e. "terror," "fright." In the host. Hebrew, "in the camp," i.e. the main camp at Michmash, contrasted with the field, i.e. the open country, in which the soldiers were foraging for supplies. The people. I.e. the camp followers, as opposed to the soldiers. All these were terrified by the garrison rushing down the pass, with tidings of the attack magnified by their fears, and who communicated the alarm to the spoilers, who, having now for a fortnight met with no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 14:15

The earth quaked - This naturally increased the panic to the utmost. Compare 1 Samuel 7:10; Joshua 10:11; Psalms 114:4. 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 14:15

host = camp. trembled = were panic-stricken. Compare 2 Samuel 5:24 . 2 Kings 7:6 ; 2 Kings 19:7 . a very great trembling = a preternatural trembling. Hebrew a trembling from Elohim . App-4 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 14:1-23

Jonathan’s success at Michmash 14:1-23Armed with trust in God and courage, Jonathan ventured out to destroy Israel’s enemy in obedience to God’s command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (cf. 1 Samuel 9:16). He would have made a good king of Israel. Saul remained in Gibeah, evidently on the defensive. His comfortable position under a fruit tree (cf. 1 Samuel 22:6; Judges 4:5) in secure Gibeah, surrounded by his soldiers, contrasts with Jonathan’s vulnerable and difficult position with only... read more