1 Samuel 14:17-35 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:17

Then said Saul unto the people that were with him ,.... To some of the officers, particularly the muster master: number now, and see who is gone from us : for he concluded that this agitation and confusion in the host of the Philistines were occasioned by an enterprise of some of his men, who by some stratagem or another had thrown them into this disorder: and when they had numbered : which was soon done, being but six hundred men in all: behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:18

And Saul said unto Ahiah, bring hither the ark of the Lord ,.... That he, the high priest, might put on the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, and inquire by them of the Lord before it, concerning the affair of Jonathan, what he had done, and the agitation that was in the host of the Philistines; so the Septuagint version, "bring the ephod", of which, with the Urim and Thummim, Kimchi interprets it; and ask, whether it was right for him to go out unto them, or continue where he was: for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:19

And it came to pass, while Saul talked with the priest ,.... With Ahiah about bringing the ark, and inquiring before it: that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on, and increased ; the shrieks and cries of those that were beat down and trampled upon, and were bruised and wounded; and indeed the cry of the whole host, being alarmed with the enemy being upon them, or among them; and it seems that not only their motions could be seen, but the noise of them heard at this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:20

And Saul, and all the people that were with him, assembled themselves ,.... The six hundred men that were with him, unless we can suppose the 1000 that had been with Jonathan in Gibeah were here still, see 1 Samuel 13:2 . and they came to the battle ; to the field of battle, the place where the army of the Philistines had lain encamped: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow ; taking one another for Hebrews, or treacherous and disaffected persons; so that, though the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:21

Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time ,.... Who either were their servants and bondsmen they brought along with them, or such in whose cities they dwelt, or had taken as they came along, and forced into their army; or it may be some of them were renegades from the Israelites, deserters, who for safety and subsistence betook themselves to them as the stronger party. The Greek version reads,"the servants that were with the Philistines:" which went up with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:22

Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim ,.... In the caves and rocks, thickets and pits there, see 1 Samuel 13:6 when they heard that the Philistines fled ; now being delivered from their fears, and thinking themselves safe, ventured out of their lurking places: even they also followed hard after them in the battle ; they joined the pursuers who came their way, and stuck to them, and closely pursued the flying army of the Philistines. According to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:23

So the Lord saved Israel that day , &c.; And a wonderful salvation it was, that two men should throw such a vast army into confusion, which issued in the utter rout and destruction of them; this only could be of the Lord, to whom it is justly ascribed, and was the effect of his sovereign good will and pleasure, and of his unmerited goodness; a free favour bestowed on an undeserving prince, who had behaved ill to his prophet at Gilgal, and now to him and his high priest at Gibeah: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:24

And the men of Israel were distressed that day ,.... By reason of the following order Saul gave with an oath, forbidding any to taste meat till evening, when the people were faint and weary, which is the common sense of interpreters; but Jarchi interprets it, the men of Israel were ready, forward, and hasty, and drew nigh to fight with the Philistines, and so refers it to the persons before mentioned, who came out of their lurking places; and this sense is approved of by Abarbinel: "for", or... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:24

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