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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 14:31

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon ,.... Michmash was the place where the camp of the Philistines was when Jonathan first attacked them, and from whence they fled, and they were pursued by the Israelites that day as far as Aijalon. There was a city of this name in the tribe of Dan, famous for the moon standing still in a valley adjoining to it, in the time of Joshua, Joshua 10:12 and another in the tribe of Zebulun, Judges 12:12 , but they both seem to be at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:32

And the people flew upon the spoil ,.... Like a swift and ravenous bird, as the eagle, and which seems to have its name in Greek from this word, see Isaiah 46:11 . When the evening was come, and they were free from the oath of Saul, and being extremely hungry, faint, and weary, they were even ravenous for food and with the greatest haste and eagerness laid hold on what came first to hand: and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground ; and there they lay in their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:33

Then they told Saul ,.... Some that were more conscientious and religious, were more circumspect, and strictly attended to the laws forbidding the eating of blood, and were concerned at the indecent behaviour of others, and therefore thought fit to acquaint Saul with it, to restrain it: behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood ; by breaking the laws of God respecting the eating of blood in Genesis 9:4 , especially in Leviticus 19:26 . and he said,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:34

And Saul said, disperse yourselves among the people ,.... In the camp, some one way, and some another, and make proclamation throughout it; this he said to some of his officers, whom he sent out as heralds, to publish his will and pleasure: and say unto them, bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here ; on the great stone he had ordered to roll to the place where he was: and eat them ; in the same place, being rightly slain, and the blood let out;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:35

And Saul built an altar unto the Lord ,.... To offer peace offerings upon, in thankfulness for the victory obtained over his enemies, or sin offerings to make atonement for the sin of the people, perhaps both, however the former: the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord ; for though he had offered sacrifice at Gilgal, there was an altar ready built for him: or "he began to build"; he laid the first stone of it, and the builders built upon it; so some others say, that he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:31

They smote the Philistines - from Mishmash to Aijalon - The distance Calmet states to be three or four leagues. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:32

The people did eat them with the blood - They were faint through hunger, and did not take time to bleed the cattle on which they fed. This was another bad effect of Saul's rash adjuration. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:33

Roll a great stone unto me - Probably this means that they should set up an altar to the Lord, on which the animals might be properly slain, and the blood poured out upon the earth; and a large stone was erected for an altar. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 14:35

Saul built an altar - And this we are informed was the first he had built; Samuel, as prophet had hitherto erected the altars, and Saul thought he had sufficient authority to erect one himself without the prophet, as he once offered sacrifice without him. read more

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