1 Samuel 13:7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

We are not told wherein it was that the people of Israel offended God, so as to forfeit his presence and turn his hand against them, as Samuel had threatened (1 Sam. 12:15); but doubtless they left God, else he would not have left them, as here it appears he did; for, I. Saul was very weak and impolitic, and did not order his affairs with discretion. Saul was the son of one year (so the first words are in the original), a phrase which we make to signify the date of his reign, but ordinarily it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:7

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead ,.... As far off as they could from the Philistines, who lay on the west of the land of Israel, and these countries were to the east. Kimchi observes, that the land of Reuben is not mentioned, which was on the other side Jordan also; because that was nearer to it than what was inhabited by Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; and therefore they chose to go further, thinking themselves there safer: as for Saul, he was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

The great antagonism. The facts are— 1 . Saul, entering on the military organisation of his kingdom, forms a select force under the command of himself and Jonathan. 2 . The defeat of the Philistine garrison by Jonathan is announced to all Israel. 3 . This first success arouses the hostility of the Philistines, who threaten Israel with overwhelming numbers. 4 . The effect of this display of force is to dishearten the followers of Saul who waited at Gilgah The presence of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:7

Some of the Hebrews. A contemptuous name for Israel (see 1 Samuel 13:3 ). If the reading is correct, it must be used here of a cowardly portion of the people (as in 1 Samuel 14:21 ), for the insertion of some of in the A.V. is unjustifiable. But by a very slight change, simply lengthening the stalk of one letter, we get a very good sense: "And they went over the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead ," i.e. to the mountainous district in which the Jordan rises. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:7

The words “some of,” which are the emphatic words in the King James Version, as distinguishing those who crossed the Jordan from those who hid themselves, are not in the Hebrew at all. The “Hebrews” seem to be distinguished from the “men of Israel” in 1 Samuel 13:6. (Compare 1 Samuel 14:21.) read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 13:7-8

1 Samuel 13:7-8. Some of the Hebrews went over Jordan They fled as far as they could from the present danger, even into the country of the two tribes and a half. All the people followed him trembling That is, all that were left, who, it appears, were not many. He tarried seven days Not seven complete days, for the last day was not finished. According to the set time that Samuel had appointed This seems to refer to the command given two years before, and recorded 1 Samuel 10:8: see the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-14

13:1-15:35 SAUL’S EARLY VICTORIESPreparing to fight the Philistines (13:1-14)Israel’s regular army consisted of two divisions, one under the command of Saul, the other under the command of Saul’s son Jonathan. Other fighting men were called to join the army when needed. Such a need arose when Jonathan attacked a Philistine camp, and the Philistines replied by sending a large army to attack Israel (13:1-6a).In a time of national emergency, Saul was apparently to go to Gilgal, where he was to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 13:7

the Hebrews went over . Figure of speech Paronomasia (Revelation 6:0; Revelation 6:0 ), `ibrim `abru. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 13:1-15

1. Saul’s disobedience at Gilgal 13:1-15The writer introduced the history of Saul’s reign by referring to the king’s age and possibly the length of his reign. Verse one contains a textual corruption in the Hebrew text. [Note: On the many problems with the Hebrew text of Samuel, see Martin, pp. 209-222.] There the verse reads, "Saul was . . . years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . two years over Israel." My ellipses indicate omissions (lacunas) in the Hebrew text.The first... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

Saul’s War against the Philistines1. The age of Saul at his accession has fallen out of the text and also one of the two numbers representing the length of his reign. Our present text is ’Saul was.. years old when he began to reign, and he reigned.. and two years.’ We have no means of recovering the former number. For the latter Keil, with great probability, conjectures 22: see on 2 Samuel 2:10 and Intro. § 9. 2. Michtnash] still retains its ancient name; it is a village 9 m. from Jerusalem,... read more