1 Samuel · WEB-C
1 Samuel
14
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
Now it happened on a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father. See also: Micah 7:51 Samuel 18:1-41 Samuel 13:2Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron; and the people who were with him were about six hundred men, See also: 1 Samuel 13:15-16Isaiah 10:28-29including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone. See also: 1 Samuel 4:211 Samuel 2:281 Samuel 22:20Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. See also: 1 Samuel 13:23The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for there is no restraint on the LORD to save by many or by few.” See also: Matthew 19:26Romans 8:312 Chronicles 14:11His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go, and behold, I am with you according to your heart.” See also: 2 Samuel 7:31 Samuel 10:7Zechariah 8:23Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them. See also: Judges 7:9-14If they say this to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them. See also: Genesis 24:13-14Judges 6:36-40But if they say this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up, for the LORD has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us.” See also: Genesis 24:14Judges 7:111 Samuel 10:7Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!” See also: 1 Samuel 13:61 Samuel 14:22Judges 6:2The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” See also: 2 Samuel 5:241 Samuel 17:43-44Genesis 24:42Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him. See also: Deuteronomy 28:7Joshua 23:10Romans 8:31That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling. See also: 1 Samuel 13:17Genesis 35:5Exodus 19:18The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered. See also: Psalms 58:7Isaiah 19:22 Chronicles 20:22-25Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time. See also: Judges 20:182 Samuel 11:111 Samuel 4:3-5While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!” See also: 1 Samuel 14:24Numbers 27:21Isaiah 28:16Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion. See also: 2 Chronicles 20:23Judges 7:22Isaiah 19:2Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. See also: 1 Samuel 29:4Judges 7:23Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. See also: 1 Samuel 13:61 Samuel 31:7So the LORD saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven. See also: Exodus 14:301 Samuel 13:5Psalms 44:6-8The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. See also: Joshua 6:26Romans 10:2Leviticus 27:29All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. See also: Deuteronomy 9:28Exodus 3:8Numbers 13:27When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. See also: Ecclesiastes 9:2But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. See also: 1 Samuel 14:291 Samuel 30:12Proverbs 25:26Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” So the people were faint. See also: 1 Samuel 14:431 Samuel 14:24Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. See also: 1 Kings 18:18Joshua 7:25How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.” See also: Ecclesiastes 9:18They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; See also: Joshua 10:12Joshua 19:42and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. See also: 1 Samuel 15:19Leviticus 3:17Genesis 9:4Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!” Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against the LORD in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there. Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD. See also: 1 Samuel 7:171 Samuel 7:121 Samuel 7:9Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light. Let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.” See also: Psalms 73:28Isaiah 48:1-2Jeremiah 6:5Saul asked counsel of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day. See also: 1 Samuel 28:62 Samuel 5:191 Samuel 23:4Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today. See also: Judges 20:2Joshua 7:11Numbers 24:17For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. See also: 1 Samuel 14:442 Samuel 12:51 Samuel 14:24Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” See also: 1 Samuel 14:362 Samuel 15:151 Samuel 14:7Therefore Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped. See also: Acts 1:241 Samuel 10:20-21Joshua 7:16-18Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.” See also: Joshua 7:191 Samuel 14:27Jonah 1:7-10Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” See also: 1 Samuel 14:39Ruth 1:171 Samuel 25:22The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, so he didn’t die. See also: 2 Samuel 14:11Luke 21:18Acts 27:34Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place. Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them. See also: 2 Samuel 10:61 Samuel 14:521 Kings 11:23He did valiantly and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. See also: Deuteronomy 25:19Exodus 17:141 Samuel 15:3-7Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. See also: 1 Samuel 31:21 Chronicles 8:332 Samuel 6:20-23The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. See also: 2 Samuel 2:81 Samuel 17:552 Samuel 3:27Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. See also: 1 Samuel 9:11 Samuel 9:21There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he took him into his service. See also: 1 Samuel 8:111 Samuel 8:1
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)35 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
1 Samuel 14:1
Ver. 1. Day, while it was yet dark. Josephus. --- This action would seem rash, and contrary to military discipline, which requires that the general should be apprised of any hazardous enterprise. C. --- But it is thought that Jonathan was directed by God, who granted him success.
A. Lapide. --- The Rabbins say, "every augury which is not like that of Eleazar and Jonathan, is null. If they had done ill,...God would not have heard them."
Kimchi.
↑ 11 Samuel 14:2
Ver. 2. Magron, a village between Gabaa and Machmas. Isai. x. 28. Heb. reads
"Remmon,"
which means "a pomegranate tree," and denotes a famous impregnable rock, with extensive caverns, where an equal number of men had formerly saved themselves. Judg. xx. 47. C. T. M.
↑ 21 Samuel 14:3
Ver. 3. Ephod; or was high priest, v. 18. Achias is called Achimelech, C. xxii. 9.
C. --- He had succeeded his father, Achitob, in the beginning of Saul's reign, after the former had held the dignity twenty-two years. Salien, A. 2962.
↑ 31 Samuel 14:6
Ver. 6. Uncircumcised. The Hebrews looked upon the Gentiles as unclean and they, in their turn, spoke of the Jews in the most contemptuous manner. C. ---
It may. Lit. "if perchance." H. ---
This does not express any doubt. The hero found himself impelled to undertake this work, but he knew not by what means God would crown it with success. He therefore prays to him in this manner, as Abraham's servant had done. Gen. xxiv. 12. He does not tempt God no more than Gedeon and Moses, who begged that the Lord would manifest his will by miracles. C. --- Few.
These words are often repeated, (2 Par. xiv. 11. 1 Mac. iii. 18,) and were verified.
C. xvii. 47.
Judg. vii. 4. M.
↑ 61 Samuel 14:10
Ver. 10. This shall be a sign. It is likely Jonathan was instructed by divine inspiration, to make choice of this sign; otherwise, the observation of omens is superstitious and sinful. Ch. M. W.
↑ 101 Samuel 14:11
Ver. 11. Philistines, probably on the northern rock, as they afterwards climbed up that on the south, (C.) where they had not been discovered. Salien.
↑ 111 Samuel 14:12
Ver. 12. A thing, making you pay dear for this temerity. Herodotus (v.) mentions, that the Peonians were commanded by the oracle not to attack the Perinthians, unless they were challenged. They did so, and gained a complete victory.
↑ 121 Samuel 14:14
Ver. 14. Day. Varro, &c. allow 120 feet, Columella only 70, for a day's work, so that these twenty men were slain in the space of 60 or 35 feet. Louis de Dieu rejects all the other versions, and would translate the Heb. "in almost the half of the length of a furrow, and in the breadth which is between two furrows in a field," so that the enemy would be very close together. Lit.
"almost in the half of a furrow of a yoke of the field," which seems rather to be understood of the length, (C.) if indeed it have any meaning. Prot. are forced to help out the text: "within as it were a half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough. " H. --- But a whole acre was the usual allowance. M. --- Hallet observes, "the Sept. read the Heb. in a different manner, and have rendered the verse thus, 'That first slaughter was...of about twenty men, with darts, and stones, and flints of the field:' I suppose the read, Betsim ubomauth."
Kennicott adds, and ubgomri, as the Arabs still use gomer, to denote "a small flint." Golius. H.
↑ 141 Samuel 14:15
Ver. 15. Miracle. Heb. charada, "consternation or trembling," a panic fear, as the Philistines imagined that all the army of Israel had got into the camp. "In the terrors sent by demons, ( or superior beings) even the sons of the gods flee away." Pindar. Nem. The earth quaked (C.) to increase the enemies'
apprehensions, so that those who had gone out to plunder, hearing of the disaster, which report had greatly magnified, and all the people feeling this unusual and alarming motion of the earth, perceiving that God was fighting against them, and trembled. H.
↑ 151 Samuel 14:16
Ver. 16. Gabaa, where they were stationed to observe the enemies' motions, and to give notice of them to Saul, at Remmon, v. 2. C. --- Overthrown. Heb.
"melted down, (without courage) and they went crushing" one another is the narrow passes, (H.) and turning their arms against all they met. Josephus.
↑ 161 Samuel 14:17
Ver. 17. Were not. Heb. "when they had numbered, behold Jonathan, &c. not"
in the number. H.
↑ 171 Samuel 14:18
Ver. 18. Ark. Sept. "the ephod." Kimchi, &c. --- Spencer follows the sentiment of the Rabbins, and explains it of a little box, in which the ephod and pectoral were placed, when they were brought to the army. But what need of this explication? C. --- How the oracle was given is uncertain. M.
↑ 181 Samuel 14:19
Ver. 19. Hand. He prayed with his hands extended. Saul believed that God had sufficiently intimated his will, by affording such a favourable opportunity. "The best of omens is to revenge our country's wrongs." Hector. Iliad. M. --- Optimis auspiciis ea geri, quæ pro Reip. salute fierent, was the observation of Q. F.
Maximus. Senect. C. --- Saul did not wait for God's answer, and therefore had nearly lost his son by a rash vow, and by too eager zeal. W.
↑ 191 Samuel 14:21
Ver. 21. Before; that is, for some time, as slaves. M. --- Having retired to their camp, to avoid the plunderers, (C.) they rose upon their oppressors, as Christian slaves have often done upon the Turks, when a galley has been engaged, and fallen into the hands of their friends. M. --- Camp.
Heb. adds, "round about," as if they guarded the baggage, (Piscator) or had retreated thither from the environs. C.
↑ 211 Samuel 14:22
Ver. 22. And there, &c. This is not found in Heb. &c. nor in many Latin copies.
The Sept.
specify the number, (v. 24) where it is not in the original. C.
↑ 221 Samuel 14:23
Ver. 23. Bethaven. They pursued the stragglers thither, as well as to Aialon, v.
31. H.
↑ 231 Samuel 14:24
Ver. 24. Together. Which interpretation is more natural (C.) than the Prot.
"where distressed,...for Saul had adjured," &c. H. --- Sept. "And all the people was with Saul, about 10,000, and the war was spread through all the city in Mount Ephraim, and Saul was guilty of great ignorance that day, and he adjures (H. or cursed) the people," &c. He saw not that he was acting against his own interest. The sequel does not evince that God approved of his conduct.
But the people were to be taught not to make light of oaths, nor to neglect the curses which their rulers should denounce. C. --- Food. Lit. "bread," which comprises all sorts of food, honey, &c.
(v. 25. H.) but not drink, which might lawfully have been taken, as thirst is more difficult to bear.
M. --- Salien (A. 2964) defends the conduct of Saul, and condemns Jonathan.
↑ 241 Samuel 14:25
Ver. 25. Ground. Even still travellers perceived the smell of honey very frequently in that country. Maundrell. --- The people use honey almost in every sauce and in every repast. Virgil assures us, that "bees dwell in holes under ground, in hollow stones, and trees." Georg. iv. The Scripture frequently mentions honey flowing. Ex. ii. 8. Ps. lxx. 17. Job xx. 17.
Mella fluant illi, ferat & rubus asper amomum. Virg. Ec. iii.
Sanctius says, that in Spain, streams of honey may be seen on the ground; and Maldonet observes, that the countrymen get a livelihood by gathering it from the trees in Betica, or Andalusia.
↑ 251 Samuel 14:27
Ver. 27. Enlightened. Extreme hunger and fatigue hurt the eyes. Jer. xiv. 6.
Sanctius saw a man who through fasting lost his sight, and recovered it again as soon as he had eaten. This is conformable to the observations of Hippocrates, and to nature. C. --- Tenebræ oboriuntur, genua inedia succedunt.
Perii, prospicio parum. "Through hunger...I see but little." Plautus. H.
↑ 271 Samuel 14:29
Ver. 29. Land. Chal. "the people of the land." M. --- He speaks his sentiments freely. But we ought not to find fault, in public, with the conduct of the prince.
C. --- The people might have eaten a little without stopping the pursuit, as they generally carried provisions with them, or might find some easily on the road, so as to run with fresh vigour, (See Jos. x.) and make ample amends for the time that they were delayed. H.
↑ 291 Samuel 14:31
Ver. 31. Aialon, in the tribe of Dan. It might be about ten miles from Machmas.
↑ 311 Samuel 14:32
Ver. 32. Blood, contrary to a two-fold law. Gen. ix. 4. Lev. xvii. 14. The blood ought to have been carefully extracted and buried. C. --- This was another bad effect of Saul's rash oath. W.
↑ 321 Samuel 14:34
Ver. 34. With the blood, as you have done. M.
↑ 341 Samuel 14:35
Ver. 35. First. Saul begins to exercise himself in acts of religion, which only belonged to a prophet, &c. He thought he might do so in quality of king, thus consecrating a monument of his victory to the God of armies. It was perhaps the very stone on which the oxen had been just before killed for the people. C.
↑ 351 Samuel 14:36
Ver. 36. God, to consult him, whether the enterprise met with his approbation.
Saul is too eager to follow his own prudence. H. --- He would not before wait for God's answer; (v. 19) now he can get none. W.
↑ 361 Samuel 14:38
Ver. 38. Corners, to the very last; or all the princes. Judg. xviii. 9.
↑ 381 Samuel 14:39
Ver. 39. Gainsayed him, out of respect. Saul gives another proof of his precipitation, in swearing; and the people, by this silence, acquiesce, not suspecting that Jonathan could have offended in what he had done. C. --- One of them, at least, knew that he had transgressed the order of his father, v. 28.
But extreme necessity might plead his excuse. H. --- They might be silent through fear, or reverence, without giving their consent. Salien.
↑ 391 Samuel 14:41
Ver. 41. A sign, (judicium;) "pass sentence;" declare why, &c. H. --- Heb. "give purity." Shew who is innocent. C. --- Sept. "give the proofs" by the Thummim, which they seem to have read.
C.
↑ 411 Samuel 14:42
Ver. 42. Jonathan was taken. Though Jonathan was excused from sin, through ignorance of the prohibition, yet God was pleased on this occasion to let the lot fall upon him, to shew to all, the great obligation of obedience to princes and parents, (Ch.) the sacred nature of an oath, and at the same time to give Saul a warning not to swear rashly. C. --- How must he have been afflicted, when he saw that he had brought his beloved son into such danger! M.
↑ 421 Samuel 14:44
Ver. 44. Die. We may here admire the respect which the ancients had for an oath, without seeking for any modification; and the blindness of Saul, who condemns his son with as much haste as he had pronounced the curse, thinking thus to honour God. The thing surely required some deliberation, and he ought to have consulted the Lord about it. The action of Jonathan was not criminal, and the former silence of God did not prove that he deserved death.
C. --- If it had, the people would never have been able to have rescued him, no more than the unhappy Achan.
Jos. vii. H. --- If Saul had been more enlightened, and more humble, he would have concluded that God was displeased at him, and not at Jonathan. C. --- Yet Cajetan and Serarius find fault with the latter. M.
↑ 441 Samuel 14:45
Ver. 45. The people, directed probably by the high priest, who pronounced the oath null. Salien.
--- Ground. He shall not be hurt. M. --- With God. He has been visibly "the minister of God's mercy." Sept. --- Die. They obtained his pardon. They ought not to have permitted the king's oath to be put in execution, as it was so horribly unjust. Grot. Jur. ii. 13. 6. C.
↑ 451 Samuel 14:47
Ver. 47. Soba, in the north. M. --- Rohab was the capital of another part of Cœlosyria. 1 Par.
xviii. 3. 2 K. x. 6. --- Overcame. We are not to judge of the virtue of a man from his success in the world. C. --- Under the reign of Saul, the tribe of Ruben overcame the Agarites. 1 Par. v. 10.
18. Salien, A. 2965.
↑ 471 Samuel 14:48
Ver. 48. Amalec. The particulars of this war will be given C. xv. as it explains the cause of Saul's rejection, and David's advancement to the throne. Salien.
↑ 481 Samuel 14:49
Ver. 49. Sons, who accompanied Saul in his wars. Isboseth was too young. ---
Jessui is called Abinadab, 1 Par. viii. 33. C.
↑ 491 Samuel 14:50
Ver. 50. Achinoam. After he came to the throne, he had Respha. 2 K. iii. 7. M.
↑ 50License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses