Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Samuel · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
SAUL reigned one yeare; and when hee had reigned two yeares over Israel, V. 1.hee chose unto him 3000 out of Israel, &c. The Vulg. Latine, Saul was the sonne of one yeare, when hee began to reigne, and hee reigned two yeares, that is, saith Lyra, he was innocent and unblameable as a childe of one yeare old, Lyra.when hee began to reigne, and in this goodnesse he continued two yeares; but after that hee fell from it, and David was anointed King; so that although he reigned still 18 yeares more, yet that was by usurpation, and therefore hee is said onelyonly to have reigned two yeares,. But some, hee saith, read it, Saul's sonne was of one yeare, but this is confuted by 2 Sam. 2. 10. where …bosheth his sonne is said to bee 40 yeares old, when hee began to reigne, which was immediately after Saul's death, and therefore hee was now 20. The Chald. saith the same with Lyra, and others, of whom see my Notes upon Acts 13. 21. Theodoret saith the same with Lyra, but that the rest of his time was imputed to the administration of Samuel. Junius saith, it is meant onelyonly that hee was in his first yeare, when those things were done, which were before set downe. David Kimhi, and Ben Gerson, whom Vatablus followeth, and Peter Martyr D. Kimhi, Ben Gerson, Vatabl▪say, that it is meant, one yeare was past before his confirmation in Gilgal, after his anointing privately by Samuel, and two yeares hee reigned, before that for his sinne hee was rejected, of which it is spoken afterwards in this Chapter. And this is most probable, because his confirmation was spoken of immediately before, Chap. 12. Now then that wee might understand at what time that was done, it is here said, foreign the sonne of a yeare was Saul, when hee reigned by a generall consent, for before many were against him, and happily it is meant after this that hee reigned two yeares well, before his rejection, and after that 18 more; although Osiander hereupon gathereth, that hee Osiander. Genebrard. in Chronol Vatablus, Tostatus.reigned but two yeares in all, for so many battailes could not bee fought, and David so much pursued in so short a time. Some thinke, that the first and second yeare of his reigne are thus distinguished, to intimate, that he reigned, first, without any royall pompe, and then tooke a guard of men unto him, being attended like a King; and at this our Translation seemeth to aime, When hee had reigned two yeares, he chose 3000; but the word [when] is not in the Hebrew, but is added for more expression, yet not rightly, for then it must bee granted, that hee took him not this guard till after two yeares of his reigne expired; whereas it appeareth plainly to have been done at the time of this Assembly for his coronation in Gilgal, for that it is said, The rest of the people hee sent every one to his tent; therefore hee chose out the 3000, before that they departed from this Assembly. It is best therefore to render the Hebrew word for word, thus, And hee reigned two yeares over Israel, and chose him 3000 men; that is, after his publike inauguration till this time, he cannot properly bee said to have reigned any more then two yeares, and that hee might henceforth bee attended as a King, he now took from amongst the people this retinue of 3000.
Of these 3000 men, 2000 were with Saul in Michmash, and in mount Bethel; V. 2. Junius.and 1000 went with Jonathan to Gibeah, &c. Michmash, saith Junius, was no name of a City, but of a tract of ground extending to mount Bethel: here Saul tooke up his station, and Jonathan was most probably sent by him against the garison of the Philistims in Gibeah with 1000 men, and cut them off happily being but 200, or 500: of Gibeah see before, Chap. 10. 5. Saul divided himself most probably thus from Jonathan keeping at this place, that hee might after that exploit done by Jonathan both send out to call the people together against the Philistims, who hee knew before upon the smiting of their garison, would come against Israel, and that hee might the sooner bee at Gilgal, to which place Samuel had before appointed to come unto him.1 Sam. 10. 8.
Ionathan having smitten the garison of the Philistims, they heare of it, and Saul blew the Trumpet throughout all the land, that they might assemble together, V. 3.and bee prepared to goe against the Philistims to battail, and they were called together to Gilgal, to which place Saul went. Michmash, from whence hee went to Gilgal, saith one, was a City in the borders of Benjamin and Manasseh H. Bunting Patriar. travailes.4 miles from Gilgal, see Ezra 2. 27. Esa. 10. and this seemeth not to bee so probable, as that of Iunius before-going, because here pitched the huge Army of the Philistims, v. 5.
And the Philistims gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, 30000 chariots, V. 5.and 6000 horsemen, and people as the sand on the sea shore. Of warre chariots, see Judg. 4. 13. The people are said to be as the sand, by an Hyperbole, because they were an exceeding great multitude. Iosephus saith, they were 300000 Josephus. Lyra.footmen. And for the chariots, Lyra conjectureth that they were not 30000, but all the persons fighting in them were 30000, because Sisera his great Army Iudg. 4. 13. Exo. 14. 7.consisted but of 900 chariots, and Pharaoh's of 600: but Josephus saith the same with the sacred history, neither is it safe so to goe from the expresse words thereof. Here is rather set forth such an Army, as was never heard of in that land before, that the power of God might bee the more magnified for confounding it, as hee did, by such weake meanes, as is shewed, Chap. 14. that none may ever trust to the greatest multitudes and preparations, seeing all are vaine where God will destroy, as also appeared in the great Armies of Darius and Xerxes. The Philistims pitched in Michmash, the place where they heard Saul was before; and it is said to have been eastward from Bethaven, that is, not from Bethel, as some thinke, holding, that Bethel, whereby Michmash was described before, v. 2. and this Bethaven were all one place. Vatablus. Pellican.For although the name Bethaven was translated to Bethel by the Prophets, yet it was not so called now, but after that it was made a place of Idolatry by Jeroboam, who set up his Golden Calfe here, then it was Bethaven, that is, the house of iniquity, and no longer Bethel, that is, the house of God. But at the Junius.first Bethel and Bethaven were two distinct places not farre asunder, as we may read Josh: 18, 12, 13. Junius.
The People of Israel being terrified by so great a multitude of Enemies, some V. 6, 7.hide themselve in caves and thickets, and some flee over Jordan to Gilead and Gad: and some remaine with Saul in Gilgal trembling. Touching those that fled over Jordan, it is said, the Hebrewes passed over Jordan, for so it is Hebr: and not, some of the Hebrewes, as in our translation, and hereupon it is scanned by Hugo, who these were, for of the whole body of the people it is said before, Hugo Cardin.when the men of Israel saw themselves in a straight, they hid themselves, and here, the Hebrewes passed over. He resolveth, that they were some of them, who more properly retained the name of Hebrewes, because they used often to passe over Jordan, for the word foreign signifieth to passe, and here it is foreign the passengers passed, that is, they that would passe over, they that were right Hebrewes, according to their name. And why fled they that way? because, saith Lyra, it was Eastward, and the Philistims came against them, from the West, Lyra. Peter Martyr.where their country lay. Here, as Peter Martyr noteth, appeared presently their vanity in asking of a King, whom if they had once obtained, they thought they should be most safe from their Enemies, but now having one, they feare and are as much perplexed, as ever.
And be tar…d 7 dayes according to the time which Samuel had set, but Samuel came not V. 8.&c. Here is shewed how Saul sinned first, and was therefore rejected, viz. by offering sacrifice which was unlawfull for him to doe, but onelyonly for a Priest or Prophet. For Samuel had promised to come unto him within 7 dayes to Ch. 10. 8.sacrifice for his prosperity, which, how it is to be understood, see there. Some Tostatus. Cajetan, Vatablus.thinke, that he sacrificed not, but by the hands of others, as Elkanah is said to have sacrificed, and David and Solomon, but all the Rabbins say, that he himselfe sacrificed, so saith P. Martyr, and that Ben Gerson saith that Saul by sacrificing Peter Martyr.thought to obtaine the spirit of Prophecy, and so to know the will of God, and to direct himselfe without Samuels advice; so likewise Sulpitius Severus, Rupert, Lyra, Josephus. But it was a custome even amongst the Heathen to sacrifice before they went to warre, that they might have the Gods propitious unto them, and this doubtlesse was Sauls end in sacrificing.
Saul having made an end of offering his burnt offering, Samuel came, and he V. 11, 12.relating what he had done, was by Samuel reproved therefore, and threatned that his Kingdome should not continue. But here a question ariseth, how he brake the commandement of God, seeing he stayed 7 dayes, as Samuel had Hugo Card.appointed? To this Hugo answereth according to some, that no certaine number of dayes was set by Samuel, to the end whereof he should tarry for him, but that he should tarry till he came and then he would offer for him 7 dayes together, but this hath beene already confuted, Ch: 10. 8. Andreas saith Lyra.Lyra answereth, that Samuel meant he should tarry 7 dayes after the day, in which Saul sent for him, but he reckoning that day for one, tarryed but 6 more, and so transgressed. But he rather approveth of a third answer, viz. that Saul tarryed not 7 dayes compleate, but the time of the evening sacrifice approaching and Samuel not coming, he offered the same day, for when he had made an end of one sacrifice, before he had offered the Peace-offerings Samuel came. And to this do I subscribe, and this is spoken of by P. Martyr, Peter Martyr.as the onelyonly sinne of Saul at this time, and it was sinne enough, for which to be rejected, to doe against Gods command, in the smallest matter, as for our first Parents to eate of the forbidden fruite, so for Saul to anticipate the time set by the Lord, although never so little. But Lyra taxeth him for two other sinnes here. 1 That he presumed to sacrifice, which King Ʋzziah presuming to do afterwards was smitten with the Leprosie. 2 In that he excused himselfe in stead of confessing his sinne, but his excuse by the great danger that he was in was nothing, for his sacrificing was rather a provoking of God against him then a reconciling of his favour towards him. He should have kept to the time set him by the Lord, and by faith rested upon him, in how great a straight soever he saw himselfe to be: for God had promised to his people keeping his Commandements, One of you shall chase 1000, and 100 of you put 10000 to flight; and it had beene shewed in Gideons expedition, that God can as easily save by few as by many. Whereas Saul in excusing himselfe, saith, I forced my selfe and offered a burnt-offering, the Vulg: Lat: hath it, being compelled by necessity I offered, Vatabl. I was bold, but the word is foreign I refrained my selfe, as Joseph is said by the same word to have refrained himselfe from weeping before his Brethren. His meaning is then, that he refrained as long as he could from sacrificing, although in so great straights, but at length seeing not Samuel come within the time limited he offered. And herein Saul thought that he did wisely and providently, not to goe to the battell before that he had made supplication to the Lord, (for sacrificing was joyned with the confession of sinnes, and praising of God) but Samuel telleth him, that he did foolishly, because he transgressed the commandement of God; and so doe all carnall men, when they thinke that they do wisely, they do foolishly, for who so goeth from the commandement under what pretence soever doth foolishly, and shall Note. be rejected therefore, as Saul was. But how is it justifiable, that he should speake so unreverently to the King? Peter Martyr answereth well, that God P. Martyr.spake thus by the mouth of Samuel, and Esay, Eliab, and Elisha and other Prophets being carried by the Spirit have spoken to Kings without all respect, because in such cases they were Gods legates, and not meerely as their Subjects, in which regard at other times they humbled themselves before them. And as for Samuel in particular, he was more then another Prophet, a Judge, for it was said before, that he judged Israel all the dayes of his life; and he was set not onelyonly to judge the people but even the King himselfe, in that he both made him King and pronounced his doome of rejection, and set up David to be King in his stead.
And now would the Lord have establisht thy Kingdome over Israel for ever, but now V. 13.it shall not continue, &c. A question ariseth here, how it could be said thus, considering Qu. the Prophesie of Jacob, that the Scepter should not depart from Judah, so that the Kingdome was to be established in Judah, not in Benjamin? Some answer, Gen. 49. Ben Gerson. Vatablus Osiander. lunius.that by these words for ever, a long time only is to be understood, or all the time of Sauls life. Others, the Lord would have established thy Kingdome for ever, if thou hadst persisted in obedience to Gods commandements: for there was no promise made unto him, as afterwards to David, of an everlasting Peter Martyr. Pellican.continuance of his Kingdome, but being set up by the Lord, there was a foundation laid, so that he might have continued and his children after him, if he had not transgressed; and here D. Kimbi applyeth that Deut. 17. 20. that D. Kimhi.the King should read the booke of the Law continually and keepe it, that he might prolong his dayes in his Kingdome, and his Children after him, and saith, that according to this it is here spoken: see the like passage before 1 Sam. 2. 30. If it be said, then if Saul had not disobeyed, how should the prophesie touching Judah have taken effect? Answ. God, to whom all things to come Qu. are present, foresaw, that Saul would breake his expresse commandements, that he might justly cast him and his house off againe. If it be objected, then there was a necessity of Sauls sinning and rejection. I answer, it is true, he could not but sinne, yet he was carryed hereunto, not by any necessity of Gods decree, but by the corruption of his owne nature and will, for God tempteth no man James 1. 14.to evill, but every man is tempted when he is drawne away by his owne concupiscence. But it will be said, Is not the will of God immutable? Lyra answereth well, the will and decree of God, as it is in his divine prescience, is immutable, Qu. but as it is in reference to secundary causes, viz. the well or ill doings Lyra.of men, it is mutable, and so it is to be understood here, If thou hadst persisted in obedience, thy Kingdome should have stood for ever.
Samuel having thus taxed Saul went away to Gibeah, and Saul and Jonathan V. 15, 16.followed him, having but 600 men with them, and the Philistimes were still in Michmash. From Gilgal to Gibeah was 12 miles, from thence to Michmash 8 H. B. Patriarks travailes. Lyra.miles. They followed Samuel to Gibeah, saith Lyra, being so few, that they might have the comfort of his presence: and happily he went to Gibeah, or the hill of God, where the company of the Prophets was, that he might there together with them pray to God for the people being in this distresse. Some because Genevens:there is no preposition before Gibeah, read it, he left Gilgal in Gibeah, but because these two were distinct places and farre asunder, this cannot be. Josephus Josephus.saith, that Samuel went now to his owne house in Ramah, but it is more probable, that although in his anger he went away from Saul, yet he did not quite leave him in his danger, but let him understand, to what place he went, that he might come to him thither with his men, viz. to Gibeah. For although God by the mouth of Samuel rejected Saul, yet that he meant not that he should presently be cut off, appeareth by the good successe that he had by Jonathans meanes, now that he was come to Gibeah, against the Philistims, and therefore Samuel would not doubtlesse now give him over, but keepe neere unto him, and pray for him, and by his prayers most probably such a wonderfull victory was now immediately obtained. For he directed him after this to goe and fight against Amalek ch. 15. and still mourned for him ch. 16. 1.
The Philistims lying in Michmash were not idle, but sent out 3 companies V. 17. Lyra.to spoile the Country of the Israelites, which, saith Lyra, they were the more bold to doe because they knew them to be unarmed, and so could make little resistance, and if they should set upon their Campe, when these were gone, they made …doubt, but that they should resist them well enough with the company remaining. But God intended otherwise, as appeareth ch. 14. where by Jonathan and his Armour-bearer alone the whole Campe was troubled. One Company went in the way that leadeth to Ophrah in the Land of Shual. Opbrah, saith Junius, was in Benjamin, Josh. 18. 23. and the region of Shual was spoken Iunius.of before ch. 9. 4. but there it is Shalisha, it is therefore rather to be held, that it should be read in the Land of Saul, as Lyra readeth it, and the Vulg. Latin: for the Countrey of Benjamin might be called well the land of Saul because he was of Benjamin. And to spoile this land they sent out first and chiefly, because Jonathan the sonne of Saul had smitten their garison, whereby they were provoked to this warre. But whereas the Vulg: Latin hath it, by the way of Ephraim to the land of Saul, this Lyra taxeth, as a corruption in the translation, but yet he Lyra.erreth also in turning it Epbrata, whereas Hebr: it is Opbrah. The other compapany went the way of Betheron, that is, saith Junius, in the land of Epbraim Junius.Josh: 16. 3. the third company towards the valley of Zeboim towards the Wildernesse, that is, in the land of Benjamin neare unto Jordan, Nehem. 11. 34.
Now there was no smith in all the land of Israel, for the Philistims said, Lest the Hebrews V. 19.make them swords or speares. It was the policy of the Pbilistims, when they had the Hebrews under, not to permit them to have any weapons of war, & to this end not a smith, that could make them in all their land, or that could make any iron tooles for any other use, as Mattockes, Spades, Plough-shares, &c. onelyonly they were permitted to have files to sharpen these, and if they would have any made new, they must go to the Philistims for them: which sheweth, in what a miserable case they were in those dayes, seing this must needs be a wonderfull trouble unto them, and being naked of weapons they were alwayes lyable to the danger of their enemies. Thus the Pope depriveth the people of their spirituall weapons by debarring them from reading the holy Scriptures, and by keepeing them in an unknown tongue, and Iulian the Apostata by forbidding the learning of the liberall sciences unto Christians did the like, and thereby did more in danger the Christian religion, then all the persecuters, that were before him. And as Hugo noteth, they that take away faithfull preachers from the people, which should provide and put weapons into their hands to fight against their spirituall enemies. But how could the Philistims rule now thus over them, when as not long before they were subdued by Samuels prayers, and then it is said, they came no more into the land, and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistims all the dayes of Samuel? Moreover a little before this 1 Sam. 7. 13.Ch. 11. they obtalned a great victory against the Ammonites, and then there went out to warre 330000. how then could they bee all disarmed againe by this time? To the first Peter Martyr saith, according to the Robbines, that the Philistims had them in this subjection in the latter dayes of Samuel, when Peter Martyr.the people fell againe to idolatry. But this is against that 1 Sam. 7. 13. wherefore I rather thinke, that this was a policy used of old by the Philistims before that great overthrow given them by Samuel, when they had subdued the Hebrews at the end of Eli his prefecture, they interdicted them the use of smiths, and although a little before this they were exempt from the jurisdiction of the Philistims, yet through disuse having none expert in making armes amongst them, they remained without smiths to this day contenting themselves with slings, and bowes, and clubs, and pitchforks, and long stayes to fight with all, and the rather because without other warlike instruments they had prevailed against the Canaanites in the time of Deborah, who had also taken their weapons from them, when they reigned over them, and Shamgar with a ploughshare, had slaine 600. of the Philistims. And for husbandry businesse, although it was a great toyle unto them, when they would have any new iron tooles made to goe for them to the Philistine smiths, yet not knowing by this time, how to remedy it, for the present they made this shift. Tostatus thinketh Iudg. 58.that the men with Saul onelyonly were without sword or speare as being of Gibeah, where a Garrison of the Philistims had lyen to keep them under, if it shall seeme strange, that the armed should hide themselves, and these onelyonly stay, there was a speciall providence herein for Gods greater glory. For the ot… question an answer to that may bee gathered from this, which hath beene already said, they fought and prevailed against the Ammonites without sword, or speare, with such instruments, as were before spoken of, so David prevailed against Goliah armed with a sword and a speare, having nothing in his hand but a sling onelyonly, and amongst those of Gibeah 700. are said to have beene able to sling a stone at an haires breadth. And this of their being without sword or speare is premised here to magnifie Gods power the more, in giving them the victory, of which it is spoken Ch. 14. Yet some thinke, that the Israelites onelyonly in the land of Canaan were thus unprovided of weapons, they to whom the power Rabbini.of the Philistims had not extended on the other side of Iordan being sufficiently armed, and so in the expedition against the Ammonites; they had armour and weapons of them, seeing Iabesh Gilead, to the rescue whereof they went, lay there: and Kimhi saith, that they had old weapons, a few: but none new. But the D. Kimhitext is plaine against smiths throughout al the land of Israel. And all the Israelites went downe to the Philistims to sharpen their sheares and coulters, &c. yet they had a file V. 20.for the sheares &c. the Vulgar Latin, retusae it a{que}erant acies vomerum, &c. the edges of their sheares, &c. were therefore blunt unto the very oxe goad, expounded by Lyra, because after that Jonathan had smitten the Garison of the Philistims, Lyra.they durst no more goe downe to the smiths amongst them to sharpen them. But the Hebr. words are foreign and there was a file of mouths for the sheares, and by a file both David Kimhi and R. Solomon expound it, and Pagninus saith, it is called a file of mouthes because it hath many mouthes, as it were, and this they used commonly to sharpen their instruments of husbandry withall, but onelyonly when they were so worne, that they needed more to be done unto them, for then they had used to goe downe to the Philistims smiths, although now it is most probable, that they durst not doe so any more, so that there was now not any, that had sword or speare, except Saul and Ionathan, V. 22.who being Princes, it is no marvaile, though they were better provided then any of rest, so Lyra, who saith, that the Rabbins say, that these weapons were brought unto them miraculously, but he rejecteth it, as a fable, because if it had beene so, it should doubtlesse have been spoken of in the Scripture.
And a Garison of the Philistims went out to the passage of Michmash, that is, saith Junius.Iunius, that having taken it, the Countrey of Benjamin, which lay before it, might bee open to them, which is spoken in way of preparative to the history following, Ch. 14.
Mystically, saith Hugo, by smithes wanting in Israel, understand faithfull The Mystery. Hugo Cardin.Preachers failing in the Church, at what time they goe downe to Philosophers and Orators, which are set forth by the Philistims smiths to sharpen their instruments, that is, to set a glosse upon their teaching, which tendeth indeed, to the bringing in of worldly gaine, when the people are taken with their eloquence, but for the spirituall warfare they want weapons, all but a Saul and a Ionathan, that is, Christ and a few faithfull teachers.