1 Samuel 13:15-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:15-23

Here, 1. Samuel departs in displeasure. Saul has set up for himself, and now he is left to himself: Samuel gat him from Gilgal (1 Sam. 13:15), and it does not appear that he either prayed with Saul or directed him. Yet in going up to Gibeah of Benjamin, which was Saul's city, he intimated that he had not quite abandoned him, but waited to do him a kindness another time. Or he went to the college of the prophets there, to pray for Saul when he did not think fit to pray with him. 2. Saul goes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:15

And Samuel arose ,.... Seemingly in wrath and displeasure, not staying to offer up the peace offerings which remained; and though no mention is made of Saul's going with him, yet it seems as if he did, or at least quickly followed him, as appears from the next verse: and got him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin ; the native place of Saul, thereby directing Saul where he should go, and which might be a stronger place than Gilgal; or however where he might expect to be joined by more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:16

And Saul, and Jonathan his son ,.... Who were now joined to their men, on Saul's coming to Gibeah: and the people that were present with them ; the six hundred men before numbered: abode in Gibeah of Benjamin; being perhaps a strong fortified place, not choosing to go forth to meet the army of the Philistines, so vastly superior to them: but the Philistines encamped at Michmash ; the old quarters of Saul before he went to Gilgal, 1 Samuel 13:2 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:17

And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies ,.... Saul not daring to come out to fight them, and there being none throughout the land to oppose them, they sent out three companies of soldiers to ravage and spoil the country; of so little use and service was a king to Israel, they were so extremely desirous of; and this was suffered, to convince them of their vain confidence in him, and that their trust ought to be in the Lord their God; never was their country... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:18

And another company turned the way to Bethhoron ,.... Of which name there were two cities, the upper and nether, and both in the tribe of Ephraim, of which see Joshua 16:3 this lay northwest from the camp of the Philistines at Michmash; eight miles from it, according to Bunting F4 Travels of the Patriarchs, &c.; p. 133. : and another company turned to the way of the border, that looketh towards the valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness ; some take this to be the Zeboim... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:15

And Samuel arose - Though David, in the Divine purpose, is appointed to be captain over the people, yet Saul is not to be removed from the government during his life; Samuel therefore accompanies him to Gibeah, to give him the requisite help in this conjuncture. About six hundred men - The whole of the Israelitish army at this time, and not one sword or spear among them! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:17

The spoilers came out - The Philistines, finding that the Israelites durst not hazard a battle, divided their army into three bands, and sent them in three different directions to pillage and destroy the country. Jonathan profited by this circumstance, and attacked the remains of the army at Michmash, as we shall see in the succeeding chapter, 1 Samuel 14 (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:8-16

Representative temptations. The facts are— 1 . Saul, waiting at Gilgal for Samuel, gives orders for the observance of sacrificial worship. 2 . Towards the close of the ceremony, and before the full time was expired, Samuel makes his appearance. 3 . In reply to Samuel's remonstrance, Saul assigns the reasons for his conduct—the discouragement of the people, the non-arrival of Samuel, and the threatening attitude of the foe. 4 . Samuel charges Saul with having failed to keep... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:15

Samuel … gat him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Samuel would pass by Gibeah on his way to his own home at Ramah; but he seems to have tarried there to encourage the people; and probably he carried instructions from Saul to Jonathan to unite his forces with him, as we next find the father and son there in company. Even if this be not so, yet friendly relations must have continued between Saul and Samuel, as the latter would otherwise certainly not have chosen Saul's home for his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:16

In Gibeah of Benjamin. This is an arbitrary change of the A.V. for Geba, which is the word in the Hebrew text. Our translators no doubt considered that as Gibeah of Benjamin occurs in the previous verse, this must be the same place. But our greater knowledge of the geography of the Holy Land enables us to say that Geba is right; for, as we have seen, it was at one end of the defile, at the other end of which was Michmash; and here alone could the small army of Saul have any chance of... read more

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