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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-7

We are not told wherein it was that the people of Israel offended God, so as to forfeit his presence and turn his hand against them, as Samuel had threatened (1 Sam. 12:15); but doubtless they left God, else he would not have left them, as here it appears he did; for, I. Saul was very weak and impolitic, and did not order his affairs with discretion. Saul was the son of one year (so the first words are in the original), a phrase which we make to signify the date of his reign, but ordinarily it... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:8-14

Here is, I. Saul's offence in offering sacrifice before Samuel came. Samuel, when he anointed him, had ordered him to tarry for him seven days in Gilgal, promising that, at the end of those days, he would be sure to come to him, and both offer sacrifices for him and direct him what he should do. This we had 1 Sam. 10:8. Perhaps that order, though inserted there, was given him afterwards, or was given him as a general rule to be observed in every public congress at Gilgal, or, as is most... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:4

And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines ,.... For though it was smitten by Jonathan, yet it was by the order of Saul, and so ascribed to him; it seems to be a concerted thing to fall upon the garrisons of the Philistines, and get them out of their hands, and so deliver Israel entirely from them; but it was not wise for Saul, if he had such a scheme in his head, to disband his large army, as he had lately done: and that Israel also was had in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:5

And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel ,.... To prevent their further encroachments on them, and designs against them; for they perceived they intended to cast off their yoke, and free themselves entirely from them: thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen ; it may seem incredible that so small a people as the Philistines were, who only were possessed of five cities, or lordships, with the villages belonging to them, except what they had taken... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw they were in a strait, for the people were distressed ,.... By reason of the vast army that the Philistines brought into the field, greatly superior to theirs, and were likely to be encompassed by them on every side; so that nothing but destruction was expected, which gave them the utmost anxiety and uneasiness; though Abarbinel refers this last clause, not to the people of Israel, but to the people of the Philistines, and takes it in this sense: for the people... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:7

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead ,.... As far off as they could from the Philistines, who lay on the west of the land of Israel, and these countries were to the east. Kimchi observes, that the land of Reuben is not mentioned, which was on the other side Jordan also; because that was nearer to it than what was inhabited by Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; and therefore they chose to go further, thinking themselves there safer: as for Saul, he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:8

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed ,.... He tarried to the seventh day, but not to the end of it, or towards the close of it, as he should have done: but Samuel came not to Gilgal ; so soon as Saul expected: and the people were scattered from him ; many deserted him, the Philistines drawing nigh, and Samuel not coming, as Saul expected, and had given the people reason to expect. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:9

And Saul said ,.... Being impatient, and seeing the people deserting him apace, and unwilling to engage in a battle without first sacrificing to God, and imploring his help and assistance: bring hither a burnt offering to me ; that is, a creature for a burnt offering, a bullock, sheep, goat, or lamb: and peace offerings ; which also were either of the herd, or of the flock: and he offered the burnt offering ; either he himself, or by a priest. In this unsettled time, while the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:4

The people were called together - The smiting of this garrison was the commencement of a war, and in effect the shaking off of the Philistine yoke; and now the people found that they must stand together, and fight for their lives. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:5

Thirty thousand chariots , and six thousand horsemen - There is no proportion here between the chariots and the cavalry. The largest armies ever brought into the field, even by mighty emperors, never were furnished with thirty thousand chariots. I think שלשים sheloshim , Thirty, is a false reading for שלש shalosh , Three. The Syriac has telotho alpin , and the Arabic thalathato alf , both signifying Three thousand; and this was a fair proportion to the horsemen.... read more

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