1 Samuel 13:4-9 WEB

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 13:5

1 Samuel 13:5. Thirty thousand chariots.— {Three thousand chariots. Syr. Arab.} {A thousand princes in chariots. Bucher. Praef.} Houbigant also reads three thousand; a reading, says he, which Bochart has shewn to be just, for very good reasons; for it appears that the number of thirty thousand chariots was never heard of even in the largest armies. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:5

5. The Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen—Either this number must include chariots of every kind—or the word "chariots" must mean the men fighting in them (2 Samuel 10:18; 1 Kings 20:21; 1 Chronicles 19:18); or, as some eminent critics maintain, Sheloshim ("thirty"), has crept into the text, instead of Shelosh ("three"). The gathering of the chariots and horsemen must be understood to be on the Philistine plain,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:6

6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait—Though Saul's gallantry was unabated, his subjects displayed no degree of zeal and energy. Instead of venturing an encounter, they fled in all directions. Some, in their panic, left the country (1 Samuel 13:7), but most took refuge in the hiding-places which the broken ridges of the neighborhood abundantly afford. The rocks are perforated in every direction with "caves," and "holes," and "pits"—crevices and fissures sunk deep in the rocky... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:8

8. he—that is, Saul. tarried seven days—He was still in the eastern borders of his kingdom, in the valley of Jordan. Some bolder spirits had ventured to join the camp at Gilgal; but even the courage of those stout-hearted men gave way in prospect of this terrible visitation; and as many of them were stealing away, he thought some immediate and decided step must be taken. :-. SAUL, WEARY OF WAITING FOR SAMUEL, SACRIFICES. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:9

9-14. Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings—Saul, though patriotic enough in his own way, was more ambitious of gaining the glory of a triumph to himself than ascribing it to God. He did not understand his proper position as king of Israel; and although aware of the restrictions under which he held the sovereignty, he wished to rule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power both in civil and sacred things. This occasion was his first trial. Samuel waited till... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 13:1-15

1. Saul’s disobedience at Gilgal 13:1-15The writer introduced the history of Saul’s reign by referring to the king’s age and possibly the length of his reign. Verse one contains a textual corruption in the Hebrew text. [Note: On the many problems with the Hebrew text of Samuel, see Martin, pp. 209-222.] There the verse reads, "Saul was . . . years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . two years over Israel." My ellipses indicate omissions (lacunas) in the Hebrew text.The first... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

Saul’s War against the Philistines1. The age of Saul at his accession has fallen out of the text and also one of the two numbers representing the length of his reign. Our present text is ’Saul was.. years old when he began to reign, and he reigned.. and two years.’ We have no means of recovering the former number. For the latter Keil, with great probability, conjectures 22: see on 2 Samuel 2:10 and Intro. § 9. 2. Michtnash] still retains its ancient name; it is a village 9 m. from Jerusalem,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 13:4

(4) And all Israel heard.—Saul is put for “Jonathan,” though the bold deed had been performed by the young prince, Saul being the general-in-chief. The expression “smitten” implies that the garrison in question had been utterly routed, probably put to the sword. The intense hatred with which the Philistines hated the Hebrews is often brought forward. From the first conquest by Joshua they regarded them as interlopers and intruders; between the two peoples there was ceaseless warfare, until the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 13:5

(5) And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel.—The figures here, again, of the numbers of this vast army are perfectly untrustworthy. In the rolls of ancient armies (and we possess many a one in the sacred records) the number of war chariots is always smaller than that of the horsemen; here the chariots are represented as four times as numerous. In the rolls of the most famous armies there never appear anything like this number. For instance, Jabin (Judges 4:3) had... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 13:6

(6) Saw that they were in a strait.—It was evidently no ordinary Philistine foray or invasion which the Israelites had to make head against. The tradition preserved by Josephus tells us that a host of foreign allies had joined the Phœnician armies in this war. This accounts for the great numbers alluded to in the text: “People as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude” (1 Samuel 13:5). The hearts of the as yet undisciplined Hebrews sank at the tidings of such an invasion. And in high... read more

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 13:5

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:5

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:6

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:8

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 13:1-15

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 13:4

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 13:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 13:6

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