1 Samuel 13
1 Saul's select band.
3 He calls the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines, whose garrison Jonathan had smitten.
5 The Philistines' great host.
6 The distress of the Israelites.
8 Saul, weary of staying for Samuel, sacrifices.
11 Samuel reproves him.
17 The three spoiling bands of the Philistines.
19 The policy of the Philistines, to suffer no smith in Israel.
[A.M. 2911. B.C. 1093. An. Ex. Is. 398.]
reign ... ruled <04427 01121> [reigned one year. Heb. the son of one year in his reigning.]
This verse is variously interpreted; but probably it only means, according to the Hebrew idiom, that, during the first year nothing remarkable occurred; but after two years, (or in the second year of his reign,) the subsequent events took place.
selected <0977> [chose.]
Micmash <04363> [Michmash.]
Michmash was situated east of Bethaven, or Bethel; and Eusebius says it was in his time a considerable place, about nine miles from Jerusalem, towards Rama.
Gibeah <01390> [in Gibeah.]
outpost <05333> [the garrison.]
Geba <01387> [Geba. or, the hill.]
[Gaba.]
alerted <08628> [blew.]
repulsive <0887> [was had in abomination. Heb. did stink.]
Gilgal <01537> [to Gilgal.]
3,000 chariots 6,000 <07970 0505 07393> [thirty thousand chariots.]
The Philistines had no doubt collected troops in this emergency, from all the surrounding nation; but the number of chariots is immensely large beyond any example, and wholly disproportioned to the number of their cavalry. It is probable, therefore, that for {sheloshim aileph,} "thirty thousand," we should read {shelosh aileph,} "three thousand," with the Syriac and Arabic.
sand <02344> [as the sand.]
Beth Aven <01007> [Beth-aven.]
<06887> [in a strait.]
caves <04631> [in caves.]
Hebrews <05680> [the Hebrews.]
Gad <01410> [Gad.]
him ... terrified <0310 02729> [followed him trembling. Heb. trembled after him.]
waited <03176> [tarried.]
Then ... offered <05927> [he offered.]
Saul <07586> [Saul.]
greet <01288> [salute him. Heb. bless him.]
done <06213> [What hast.]
Micmash <04363> [Michmash.]
thought .... Philistines <0559 06430> [said I.]
sought .... favor <06440 02470> [made supplication unto. Heb. intreated the face of, etc. I forced.]
foolish <05528> [Thou hast done.]
obeyed <08104> [hast not kept.]
kingdom <04467> [But now.]
<03068> [the Lord.]
leader .... people <05057 05971> [captain over.]
Samuel <08050> [Samuel.]
The LXX. have, "Samuel arose and went away from Gilgal, and the remainder of the people went up along with the men of war after Samuel from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin." This is probably the true reading; for it does not appear that Samuel went to Gibeah, which was Saul's usual residence; and the Hebrew copyist, as Dr. Wall observes, seems to have missed a line, and added to the sentence concerning Samuel, that which ended the sentence concerning Saul. One MS. instead of Samuel, in the beginning of the sentence, reads Saul.
remained <04672> [present. Heb. found. about six.]
Gibeah <01387> [Gibeah. Heb. Gebah.]
three groups ... band <07969 07218> [in three companies.]
Ophrah <06084> [Ophrah.]
Shual <07777> [Shual.]
Beth Horon <01032> [Beth-horon.]
Zeboim <06650> [Zeboim.]
blacksmith <02796> [there was no.]
It is probable that the Philistines in the former wars had carried away all the smiths from Israel.
charged two-thirds of a shekel <06477> [a file. Heb. a file with mouths. sharpen. Heb. set.]
sword <02719> [there was neither.]
garrison <04673> [garrison. or, standing camp.]
pass <04569> [passage.]
