1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:1

IT came to passe upon a day] Or, there was a day.

1 Samuel 14:2

Migron] A place situate on the other side of the narrow passage towards Gibeah, where Saul lay with his six hundred men, expecting what the Philistines would do, vers. 11.

1 Samuel 14:3

Ahiah] Who is also called Ahimelech, 1 Sain. 22. 9.

I-chabods brother] Chap. 4. 21.

wearing an ephod] That is, with the rest of the pontificiall ornaments, as the brest-plate with the Urim and Thummim, being high priest, and now resident with Saul in the camp with the ark, v. 18.

1 Samuel 14:5

fore-front] Hebr. tooth.

1 Samuel 14:6

these uncircumcised] And therefore being aliens, and out of covenant with God, they are not under his protection.

it may be] q. d. Though we have no assurance of victory, seeing we have no promise; yet there is hope, in respect of Gods All-sufficiency. So Judges 7:7. Joshua 14:12. 2 Chronicles 14:11.

to save by many or by few] 2 Chronicles 14:11.

1 Samuel 14:7

in thine heart] That is, whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.

to thy heart] That is, I will follow thee whithersoever it pleaseth thee to go.

1 Samuel 14:9

If they say unto us] This signe, by the instinct of Gods Spirit, he desireth, to confirm his faith. So Genesis 24:14. Judg. 6. 37. and 7. 9, 13.

Tarry] Hebr. Be still.

1 Samuel 14:10

for the Lord hath delivered, &c.] 1 Mac. 4. 30.

1 Samuel 14:12

answered] That is, spoke unto them.

we will shew you a thing] Words of scorn and contempt; q. d. we will teach you more wit then thus to thrust your selves into such desperate danger.

1 Samuel 14:13

upon his hands] To wit, because the ascent upon the rock was steep and craggie.

flew after him] Having gotten weapons from them who were stain.

1 Samuel 14:14

an half acre of land] Or, half a furrow of an acre of land.

1 Samuel 14:15

a trembling in the host] To wit, caused miraculously by a sudden terrour and astenishment, wherewith God had smitten them, which took away their sense and reason, so as they could not discern their friends from their foes.

a very great trembling] Or, a trembling of God; that is, immediately sent of God. See 2 Samuel 5:24.

1 Samuel 14:16

the multitude] To wit, of the Philistines host.

1 Samuel 14:18

ark of God] Namely, to enquire what was to be done, either to pursue the Philistines, or to keep their standing.

1 Samuel 14:19

noise] Or, tumult.

Withdraw thine hand] q. d. In these streits of time we have no leisure to attend Gods answer, but will lay hold on the present opportunity which already appeareth.

1 Samuel 14:20

assembled themselves] Heb. were cried together.

against his fellow] Not being able, through fear and amazement, to discern them from their enemies. So Judges 7:22. and 2 Chronicles 20:23.

1 Samuel 14:21

the Hebrews that were] To wit, either as fugitives, out of present fear, or as captives and servants.

went up] To wit, being forced like slaves to fight against their brethren.

1 Samuel 14:22

hid themselves] To wit, those spoken of, Chap. 13. 6.

1 Samuel 14:23

the battell passed] That is, the army of Israel pursued the Philistines to Beth-aven, which was not far from Michmash, Chap. 13. 5.

1 Samuel 14:24

were distressed] To wit, with hunger and faintnesse, not daring to eat.

had adjured] To wit, under the penalty of a curse and threatning of death to all that transgressed his command. See vers. 39.

Cursed] That is, let him be rooted out as an accursed thing.

any food] Heb. any bread; whereby all food is signified; else Jonathan had not transgressed in eating honey. So vers. 28. and Genesis 43:31.

may be avenged] His end was, That (by staying to eat) they might not be hundered from pursuing the victory.

1 Samuel 14:25

all they of the land] That is, the souldiers which pursued the Philistines. So v. 29.

to a wood] To wit, between Michmash and Aijalon, v. 31.

1 Samuel 14:26

to his mouth] Namely, to take and eat any of the honey.

the eath] That is, the curse and penalty of death.

1 Samuel 14:27

heard not] Because he was not in the camp, vers. 3. and 17.

honey-comb] Or, wood-honey; that is, wilde honey, Matthew 3:4.

his eyes] He got new strength and vigour, and his eyes grew clear, that were dim with fasting and faintnesse.

1 Samuel 14:28

Then answered] That is, spake.

this day] That is, till the evening, as vers. 24. for with the Hebrews the present day ended at evening, and the next day began.

were faint] Or, weary; So as they could not any longer pursue their enemies, v. 30.

1 Samuel 14:29

the land] That is, the whole army of Israel; namely, by hindering them from obtaining a more full victory.

1 Samuel 14:30

How much more] To wit, had all the army been refreshed and strengthned.

1 Samuel 14:31

Aijalon] Which was not that in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:42. and given to the priests, Joshua 21:24. but in the tribe of Judah, 2 Chron. 11. 10.

1 Samuel 14:32

did eat] Through extremity of hunger, though it were contrary to the Law, Leviticus 3:17. and Leviticus 17:10.

with the blood] Leviticus 7. 26. and 19. 26. Deuteronomie 12. 16.

1 Samuel 14:33

transgressed] Or, dealt treacherously.

roll a great stene] To wit, that the beasts might be killed upon it, and the blood of the slain beasts pressed out. Some think that it was to build an altar, v. 35. that the beasts might be slain before God.

1 Samuel 14:34

with him] Hebr. in his hand.

1 Samuel 14:35

built an altar] To wit, that all, who would, might offer upon it peace-offerings, in thankfulnesse for their great victory; and that it might be a monument of it for the times to come. See Chap. 9. 12.

the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord] Heb. that altar he began to build unto the Lord.

1 Samuel 14:36

Let us draw neer] That is, to enquire by Urim before the ark, Numbers 27:21.

1 Samuel 14:37

asked counsell] To wit, by the high priest.

answered him not] Which was a signe that God was angry, not with Jonathan for eating the honey, but with Saul, for his rash curse and oath. See Chap. 28. 6.

1 Samuel 14:38

chief of the people] Hebr. corners. The pillars and corner-stones of the building of the common-wealth, by which it is upholden: or, all the people from all parts. See Judg. 20. 2.

wherein this sin] Saul suspecteth that Gods silence was caused by some mans hidden sinne, as in the case of Achan, Joshua 7.

1 Samuel 14:40

be ye on one side] To wit, that being thus divided, we may see on which party the lot will light, and so he that hath sinned may be known.

1 Samuel 14:41

Give a perfect lot] Or, shew the innocent. That is, an upright and impartiall lot, or a lot which will shew and clear the innocent, as the words signifie, though Saul meant the contrary.

escaped] Hebr. went forth; That is, were cleared and freed by lot.

1 Samuel 14:42

Jonathan was taken] Who really and truely was innocent and faultlesse, but not in Sauls sense. But why is Jonathan taken by lot, who was innocent? Some think that hereby God might shew how tender he is in allowing any shew of disobedience to princes. Secondly, To make children fear and avoid even the rash and causelesse curses of parents, which out of Gods secret judgement are sometime inflicted. Thirdly, To punish Sauls rash oath, by bringing thereby his dearest son into extreme danger. Fourthly, To discover Sauls grosse hypocrisie, who was scrupulous in keeping a rash and wicked oath, and made no conscience of killing his innocent sonne.

1 Samuel 14:43

lo, I must die] q. d. Though the fault be little or nothing, seeing I was ignorant of the oath.

1 Samuel 14:44

God do so] See Ruth 1 17. Saul here, and in many other places, is said to swear; whereby it appeareth, That he was much given to swearing and cursing.

1 Samuel 14:45

Lord liveth] That is, as surely as God liveth, who punisheth falshood, and rewardeth truth.

not one hair] A proverbiall speech with the Hebrews, signifying immunity from all hurt and evil. So Matthew 10:30. Luke 21:18.

1 Samuel 14:46

went up] That is, ceased to pursue them, because God seemed angry in not answering him; and also it was now too late.

1 Samuel 14:47

took the kingdom] That is, thus when Saul had taken, &c. he fought. See Chap. 13. 1.

Moab and Ananen] Bordering on the east of Canaan.

Edom] Bordering on the south.

Zolah] Which lay on the north of Canaan, between Batanea and Euphrates. See 2 Samuel 10:5.

1 Samuel 14:48

gathered an host] Or, wrought mightily.

1 Samuel 14:49

the sons] He nameth those sons onely who accompanied him in his wars both in life and death.

Isiui] Who is called Abinadab, Chap. 31. 2. 1 Chronicles 8:33.

1 Samuel 14:51

Abiel] See Chap. 9. 1.

1 Samuel 14:52

Saul sw] As Samuel had forewarned, Chap. 8. 11.