Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Samuel · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
Verſ. 1. JOnathan the ſonne of Saul ſaid unto the young man that bare his armour, Come and let us go over to the Philiſtines garriſon.] This Jonathan propounded by a ſpeciall inſtinct of Gods ſpirit, for otherwiſe it would have been a tempting of God, that having one man alone with him (his armour-bearer, that is, his ſquire, as we uſe to call them) he ſhould ſet upon a whole garriſon of the Philiſtines; and hence it was that he told not his father, to wit, leſt out of fear he ſhould diſſwade or hinder him.
Verſ. 2. And Saul tarried in the uttermoſt part of Gibeah, under a pomegran…e tree, which is in Migron.] This is the name of ſome field or plain, near unto Gibeah, mentioned, Eſa. 10.28. He is come to Ajah, he is paſſed to Migron: at Michmaſh he hath laid out his carriages: where Saul with his company lay now within their trenches and fortifications; in regard whereof alſo it is likely the Philiſtines ſent out thoſe three ſpoyling bands to waſte the countrey, chap. 13.17. to ſee if by this means they could draw Saul out of his faſtneſſes; and that the Philiſtines flouted Jonathan with this, verſ. 11. Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themſelves.
Verſ. 3. And Ahiah the ſonne of Ahitub, Ichabodi brother, &c.] That is, he alſo was with Saul in Migron; and it ſeems becauſe of the ſtraits the people were in, he was come to bring the Ark thither, for the peoples encouragement, as they had been wont formerly to do in the like caſe; for in the 18. verſe it is expreſſely ſaid, that the Ark was there. It is evident that Ahimelech, who gave the ſhewbread and Goliahs ſword to David when he fled from Saul, and who was thereupon ſlain by Sauls command, was the ſonne of Ahitub, chap. 22.9. and it is generally held, that he was then high-prieſt; either therefore this Ahiah was the elder ſonne of Ahitub, and when he was dead then Ahimelech his brother ſucceeded him in the high-preiſthood; or elſe this Ahiah, who was come with the Ark and the ephod to Saul, was the ſame that is there called Ahimelech, which indeed moſt Interpreters do hold. After the death of Eli (his ſonne Phinehas being before ſlain in the battell) Ahitub his grandchild, the ſonne of Phinehas ſucceeded him in the preiſthood, who it ſeems long enjoyed not that dignity, but dyed; (for God had threatned Eli that his children ſhould die in the flower of their age, chap. 2.23.) and ſo Ahiah his ſonne was now high-preiſt in his room.
Verſ. 4. And between the paſſages by which Jonathan ſought to go over unto the Philiſtines garriſon, &c.] The diſcription of this place, through or over which Jonathan and his armour-bearer were to go, that they might come to the garriſon of the Philiſtines, is doubtleſſe here inſerted purpoſely to ſhew how hard an adventure it was that they undertook; but ſo exceeding intricate and obſcure it is, that it is very hard to conceive thereby, how theſe rocks and paſſages lay; which may be the reaſon, that the moſt Expoſitours do not ſo much as undertake to explain the many difficulties that are in the Text; and indeed all that can be ſaid herein, I conceive is this: It is evident that Michmaſh where the Philiſtines camp was, and Gibeah where Saul and Jonathan, and the forces of the Iſraelites were, chap. 13.16. lay North and South the one from the other; and that theſe two rocks here mentioned, Bozez and Seneh lay together in the midſt, the one Northward, the other Southward; for how elſe could it be ſaid in the following verſe, that the forefront of the one was ſituate Northward over againſt Michmaſh, and the other Southward over againſt Gibeah? But now the difficulty is, how therefore it can be here ſaid, that theſe rocks were between the paſſages by which Jonathan ſought to go over, and yet withall, that there was a ſharp rock on the one ſide, and a ſharp rock on the other ſide, which ſeem to be contrary the one to the other. But for the reſolving of this, I know no other probable anſwer that can be given but this, to wit, firſt, that the paſſages between which the rocks are ſaid to be, were the two ſeverall ſtreights or inlets, whereat there was a paſſable way, though craggy through theſe rocks, the one as they came from Michmaſh to go to Gibeah, the other as they went from Gibeah to go to Michmaſh; ſo that indeed there was but one paſſage through theſe rocks (and that was ſurely the paſſage mentioned in the laſt verſe of the foregoing chapter, which the Philiſtines had ſurprized) onelyonly the two inlets into this are the paſſages here intended, the one called the paſſage of Michmaſh, as we ſee chap. 13.23. the other the paſſage of Gibeah. And ſecondly, that whereas it is ſaid there was a ſharp rock on the one ſide, & a ſharp rock on the other, the meaning is, not that as men went along in this paſſage there was a ſharp rock on each ſide, to wit, on the right hand and on the left (for the rocks ſtanding the one with the forefront Northward, and the other with the forefront Southward, that could not be. He that went through this paſſage from Gibeah to Michmaſh, muſt go over both rocks, one after another, and could not have one on his right hand, and the other on his left) but that there was a ſharp rock on the one ſide toward Michmaſh, and a ſharp rock on the other ſide toward Gibeah, which is mentioned to ſhew that unleſſe it were by that paſſage which the Philiſtines kept, there was no going over; a ſharp ſteep craggie rock making the way unpaſſeable in all other places; all which notwithſtanding, Jonathan with his armour-bearer clambered over this rock on his hands and feet, and ſo got to the garriſon of the Philiſtines.
Verſ. 6. Come, and let us go over unto the garriſon of theſe uncircumciſed.] This calling the Philiſtines uncircumciſed, was to intimate that Jonathan relyed upon the covenant which God had made with his people, and conſequently upon the promiſes which the Lord had given them that they ſhould vanquiſh their enemies, and happely more particularly, upon that which the Lord had ſaid concerning Saul, that he ſhould ſave his people out of the hand of the Philiſtines, chap. 9.16. Yet he addes, It may be that the Lord will work for us; for though he were carried to this attempt by a powerfull inſtinct of Gods ſpirit, and a ſtrong faith in the promiſes of God, yet becauſe he had not a ſpeciall promiſe of victory at this time, he is not confident of the ſucceſſe, but leaveth that to God. It may be, &c.
Verſ. 7. Behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.] That is, as willing and ready to follow thee in this enterpriſe, as thine own ſoul can deſire.
Verſ. 9. If they ſay thus unto us, Tarty untill we come to you; then we will ſtand ſtill▪ &c.] By the ſecret guidance of Gods holy ſpirit, he pitcheth no doubt upon this, as a ſigne whereby he ſhould know whether they might with hope of ſucceſſe undertake this attempt, and no doubt prayed that it might prove a true token, as Abrahams ſervant did in alike caſe, Gen. 24.13. (concerning which ſee the note there.) Yet was not this choſen without ſome ground of naturall reaſon; for if they ſaid, Tarry untill we come to you, it might argue courage and boldneſſe: but if they ſaid, Come up to us, that might bewray ſome fearfulneſſe in them.
Verſ. 11. And both of them diſcovered themſelves unto the garriſon of the Philiſtines, &c.] To wit, in the way that led to the ordinary paſſage, which was now kept by the Philiſtines. As for that ſcoff of the Philiſtines when they eſpied them, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes, ſee the note above, verſ. 2.
Verſ. 12. And the men of the garriſon anſwered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and ſaid, Come up to us, and we will ſhew you a thing.] This they ſay by way of deriſion, as implying that they durſt not come up, or that if they did, they would give them their payment; but God intended it as a token adviſing Jonathan what he ſhould do.
Verſ. 13. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, &c.] To wit, becauſe the way where they went was ſo ſteep, that otherwiſe they could not have clambered up, and becauſe by this means they might the better ſhelter themſelves under the rocks, and ſo get up uneſpyed; for we muſt know that they went not up in the ordinary paſſage which was kept by the Philiſtines, but when they had diſcovered themſelves to the Philiſtines in that way, and the Philiſtines had in a ſcoffing manner challenged them to come up, as is before noted, verſ. 11, 12. then they turned aſide and crept up on the ſharp rock above mentioned, verſ. 4. where the Philiſtines never dreamt of an enemies coming upon them, and ſo came upon them unawares. Had they climbed up in any place where the Philiſtines could have ſeen them, we may well think that they might eaſily have beaten them down; but they therefore wound about ſome other way, and clambering up on all foure (as we uſe to ſay) did ſhelter themſelves under the covert of thoſe craggy rocks, till they were gotten up in a place where the Philiſtines looked not for them.
Verſ. 15. And there was trembling in the hoſt, &c.] In theſe words is ſhewn, whence it was that Jonathan and his armour-bearer ſhould ſo ſtrangely beat down the garriſon of the Philiſtines before them, and that preſently upon this, the whole army of the Philiſtines ſhould ſo eaſily be put to diſorder and flight; it was becauſe the Lord had ſtricken them all with a mighty terrour, there was trembling in the hoſt, &c. not onelyonly the garriſon was thus affrighted whom Jonathan at firſt aſſaulted, but thoſe alſo in the camp, and the ſpoilers, to wit, thoſe mentioned before, chap. 13.17. they alſo trembled; all which too was helped forward with a terrible earthquake that was ſent at the ſame time; the earth quaked, that is, that alſo was moved under them, and ſeemed as it were to quake for fear; which, I ſay, no doubt the Lord ſent, the more to terrifie and affright the Philiſtines.
Verſ. 18. And Saul ſaid unto Ahiah, Bring hither the Ark of God, &c.] This he enjoyned, that Ahiah having put on the Ephod, might enquire of God what was the cauſe of that tumult in the camp of the Philiſtines, and what he ſhould do. Saul had already been a long time in great ſtraits; for all his ſouldiers except ſix hundred were gone away from him, the Philiſtines lay cloſe upon him with a mighty army, inſomuch that he durſt not ſtirre out of his trenches in Gibeah; and the enemy taking the advantage thereof, had ſent out three companies of ſpoilers to waſt and ſpoil the countrey round about; and yet all this while we reade no that he enquired of God, though he had the Ark all this while with him. But now when his watchman had deſcried a tumult in the camp of the Philiſtines, and that he perceived by the abſence of his ſonne and his armour-bearer, that they were engaged amongſt them, and that it was probable by the relation of his watchman, that the Philiſtines were diſordered; now on a ſudden not knowing what he ſhould do, the Prieſt was called to enquire of God; and yet it was but a ſudden fit of devotion to which he was forced by his preſent diſtreſſe, as is evident by that which follows immediately in the next verſe.
Verſ. 19. The noiſe that was in the hoſt of the Philistines went on and increaſed; and Saul ſaid unto the Prieſt, Withdraw thine hand.] This did notably diſcover Sauls profaneneſſe; being at firſt perplexed and not knowing what to do, he called for the Ark to enquire of God; but preſently again perceiving by the increaſing noiſe and tumult in the camp of the Philiſtines, that ſome greivous diſaſter had indeed befallen them, then away with the Ark, away with the Prieſt and his Ephod; Ahiah, ſaith he, withdraw thine hand, as if he ſhould have ſaid, Give over, it is no time now to ſtand conſulting and enquiring of God; the increaſing of the tumult ſheweth evidently enough what we have to do; we ſhall loſe an opportunity of victory, which afterwards we may wiſh for when it is too late, and therefore muſt not now loſe time to ask counſel of God. And indeed, by the many ſad effects that accompanied the following victory, we may ſee how much God was diſpleaſed with this his profane contempt of the ordinance of God.
Verſ. 21. Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philiſtines, even they alſo turned to be with the Iſraelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.] That is, their bondmen and ſervants; yea, and thoſe alſo that for fear were forced to come up with their carriages and proviſion, &c. to the camp of the Philiſtines.
Verſ. 24. And the men of Iſrael were diſtreſſed that day.] Being weary through labour and toil, and ready to faint, they durſt not eat any thing becauſe of Sauls oath; and herein they were diſtreſſed. But if beſides they were hunger-bitten before, by reaſon of the ſpoiling bands of the Philiſtines, that kept all proviſions from them, this muſt needs make their miſery the greater.
For Saul had adjured the people, ſaying, Curſed be the man that eateth any food untill evening.] That is, he had with an oath pronounced concerning the people, that he ſhould be accurſed, and as an accurſed thing ſhould be put to death, whoſoever he was amongſt them that ſhould eat any thing untill the evening, as is evident by that ſentence pronounced againſt Jonathan, when he had onelyonly taſted of the honey in the wood, verſ. 44. And Saul anſwered, God do ſo, and more alſo; for thou ſhalt ſurely die Jonathan. The reaſon why Saul did this, was that the people might not looſe any time from purſuing the enemy. But the oath was raſh and inconſiderate, and like enough to have proceeded from a proud deſire to ſeem very zealous in the purſuing of theſe enemies, againſt whom erewhile he durſt not ſhew his head.
Verſ. 27. He put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipt it in an hony-combe, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.] Being enfeebled with extreme labour and emptineſſe, his eyes waxed dimme, which now by this little refreſhing were enlightened again.
Verſ. 28. Then anſwered one of the people, and ſaid, Thy father ſtraitly charged the people with an oath, &c.] That which is ſpoken with reference to any thing before done by another man, is called an anſwer in the Scripture phraſe, as well as that which is ſpoken with reference to ſomething before ſaid by another; ſo when Chriſt had whipped out thoſe that profaned the Temple, it is ſaid, Joh. 2.18 Then anſwered the Jews and ſaid unto him, What ſigne, &c. and ſo it is here. Yet it may be conceived, that Jonathan encouraging the people in the purſuit of the enemy, one of the company returned him this anſwer, to ſhew the reaſon why the ſouldiers were faint and could not follow on.
Verſ. 31. And they ſmote the Philiſtines that day, from Michmaſh to Aijalon.] Which was in the tribe of Dan, Joſh. 19.42. and therefore not farre from the Philiſtines countrey: yet ſome hold that it was anothet Ajalon in the tribe of Judah, 2. Chron. 11.10.
Verſ. 32. And the people flew upon the ſpoil, and took ſheep and oxen, &c.] To wit, when the evening was come, and the time prefixed by Saul expired; being then preſſed with extreme hunger through long faſting and labour, they greedily flew upon the ſpoyl, dreſſed and eat it, not ſtaying till it could be throughly cleanſed of the bloud, the life as it were yet panting in the fleſh, which was contrary to the Law, Deut. 12.16. OnelyOnly ye ſhall not eat the bloud, ye ſhall poure it upon the earth as water; and thus they that were ſo very carefull to obſerve the kings edict, never regarded the breach of Gods commandment.
Verſ. 33. And he ſaid, Ye have tranſgreſſed.] Or, Ye have dealt treacherouſly; Thus he was eager againſt the people for eating with the bloud, but never charged himſelf, who by a raſh vow had thus cauſed the people to ſinne.
Roll a great ſtone unto me this day.] To wit, either that thereon in Sauls ſight they might kill and eat, to the end he might ſee them let the bloud run clearly out from the cattell they killed: or elſe, for the building of the Altar mentioned, verſ. 35. that they might kill and eat as it were in the preſence both of God and their king, that ſo he might be ſure to prevent their eating with the bloud any more.
Verſ. 35. And Saul built an altar unto the Lord.] To wit, either as a monument of this his late victory, or rather that he might offer thereon gratulatory ſacrifices for that glorious victory which God had given them. And this is ſaid to be the firſt altar that he built unto the Lord; either becauſe thoſe altars in Gilgal and elſewhere, whereon he had formerly ſacrificed, were built by others before, and this was the firſt which he built himſelf, or elſe becauſe thoſe altars were onelyonly ſet up for preſent uſe, and then demoliſhed again; but this was the firſt which he built for a ſtanding continuing altar; which then is noted, becauſe it was directly againſt the law of God, as we may ſee in the notes, Exod. 20.24.
Verſ. 36. Then ſaid the Priests, Let us draw near hither unto God.] That is, let us enquire of God before the Ark: becauſe the proſecuting of the enemies by night, which Saul had motioned to the people, was an act of ſome danger, and the people were very forward to do what he adviſed, therefore the Prieſt interpoſed himſelf, and wiſhed them by all means to enquire firſt of the Lord; and this perhaps he did the rather, becauſe he ſaw what ill effects had followed upon Sauls neglecting to do this before, ver. 19. to wit, that Saul by a raſh and unadviſed oath had weakened the hands of the people in the purſuance of their victory, and had been withall the occaſion of a grievous ſinne amongſt the people, which was their eating of the ſpoil with the bloud, verſ. 32.
Verſ. 37. But he anſwered him not that day.] When Saul had enquired of the Lord by the judgement of Urim and Thummim, the Lord anſwered him not: but whence was this? doubtleſſe the Lords diſpleaſure was againſt Saul, not againſt Jonathan, who though he had done what his father had forbidden, and that with an oath, that whoſoever ſhould offend therein ſhould be accurſed, and ſo put to death; yet he did it ignorantly, not knowing that his father had made ſuch a vow, and was compelled too by neceſſity, being ready to faint when he reached out his rod, and ſo by taſting a little honey refreſhed himſelf: yet it is evident too, that the Lords refuſing to anſwer Saul tended to this, that it might be diſcovered that Jonathan had tranſgreſſed the command and vow of his father; but why? not ſo much to diſcover Jonathan to be the party with whom the Lord was offended; as firſt, to diſcover to Saul his hypocriſie, and the raſhneſſe of his unadviſed oath, who had hereby hindred the victory, cauſed the people to ſinne, and now brought his own ſonne under the danger of being accurſed and put to death: and ſecondly, to ſhew the religious reſpect that was due to an oath.
Verſ. 38. And Saul ſaid, Draw ye near hither all the chief of the people; and know and ſee wherein this ſinne hath been this day.] Saul concluded that God was offended, when he had enquired of him by the Prieſt, and he would not anſwer him: and therefore preſently commanded all the chief of the people, that is, all the heads of the Tribes and families to draw near unto him, to wit, that by drawing lots it might be diſcovered who it was that had ſinned and offended God amongſt them: for though himſelf had ſinned in that raſh and unadviſed oath that he took, ver. 24. and and that he knew the people had ſinned grievouſly in eating with the bloud, verſ. 32. yet like a true hypocrite, he never minded theſe things, but concluded that the breach of his vow and command, muſt needs be the great offence which cauſed the Lord to be ſilent; and therefore for the finding out of this, he would have them draw lots.
Verſ. 43. I did but taſt a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and lo I muſt die.] As if he had ſaid, That which I did was a very ſmall offence, if any, eſpecially conſidering that I knew not of the oath, and yet it ſeems I muſt die for it.
Verſ. 44. And Saul anſwered, God do ſo, and more alſo.] See the note Ruth. 1.17.
Verſ. 45. As the Lord liveth, there ſhall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day.] That is, through Gods bleſſing and aſſiſtance, he hath been the means of procuring a moſt glorious victory to the children of Iſrael.
Verſ. 47. So Saul took the kingdome over Iſrael, and fought againſt all his enemies, &c.] That is, being confirmed in his kingdome by this glorious victory over the Philiſtines, he again undertook the managing and adminiſtration of it; or elſe this may be ſpoken with reference to that which went before, to wit, that thus as we have heard he took upon him the kingdome, being choſen thereto of God, and in defence of the people fought againſt all their enemies.
Verſ. 49. Now the ſonnes of Saul were Jonathan, and Iſhui, &c.] This Iſhui is alſo called Abinadab, chap. 31.2. and 1. Chron. 8.33. and 10.2. Iſhboſheth (who is alſo called Eſhbaal. 1. Chron. 8.33.) is not here mentioned though now above twenty years old, 2. Sam. 2.10. happely becauſe he ſurvived his father, and thoſe onelyonly are here mentioned that died with him, chap. 31.2. As for his ſonnes which he had by Rizpah, 2. Sam. 21.8. they are not here named, becauſe ſhe was not his wife, but his concubine.