I
S A M U E L
CHAP. XIV.
We
left the host of Israel in a very ill posture, in the close of the foregoing
chapter; we saw in them no wisdom, nor strength, nor goodness, to give us
ground to expect any other than that they should all be cut off by the army of
the Philistines; yet here we find that infinite power which works without
means, and that infinite goodness which gives without merit, glorified in a
happy turn to their affairs, that still Samuel's words may be made good:
"The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake," (ch.
xii. 22. In this chapter we have, I. The host of the Philistines trampled
upon, and triumphed over, by the faith and courage of Jonathan, who unknown to
his father (ver. 1-3), with his armour-bearer only, made a brave attack upon
them, encouraging himself in the Lord his God, ver. 4-7. He challenged them
(ver. 8-12), and, upon their acceptance of the challenge, charged them with
such fury, or rather such faith, that he put them to flight, and set them one
against another (ver. 13-15), which gave opportunity to Saul and his forces,
with other Israelites, to follow the blow, and gain a victory, ver. 16-23. II.
The host of Israel troubled and perplexed by the rashness and folly of Saul,
who adjured the people to eat no food till night, which 1. Brought Jonathan to
a præmunire, ver. 24-30. 2. Was a temptation to the people, when the time of
their fast had expired, to eat with the blood, ver. 31-35. Jonathan's error,
through ignorance, had like to have been his death, but the people rescued
him, ver. 36-46. III. In the close we have a general account of Saul's
exploits (ver. 47, 48) and of his family, ver. 49-52.
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Jonathan
Smites the Philistines.
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B.
C. 1067.
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1 Now it came to pass
upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare
his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is
on the other side. But he told not his father. 2 And Saul tarried
in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in
Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred
men; 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of
Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's
priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was
gone. 4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go
over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one
side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was
Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The forefront of the one
was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward
over against Gibeah. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man that
bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these
uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD
will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD
to save by many or by few. 7 And his armourbearer said unto him,
Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee
according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass
over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand
still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they
say thus, Come up unto
us; then we will go up: for the LORD
hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto
us. 11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of
the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out
of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the
garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and
we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up
after me: for the LORD
hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan
climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him:
and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was
about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of
oxen might plow. 15 And there was trembling in the host, in
the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also
trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
We must here take notice,
I. Of the goodness of God in restraining the Philistines, who had a vast army
of valiant men in the field, from falling upon that little handful of timorous
trembling people that Saul had with him, whom they would easily have swallowed
up at once. It is an invisible power that sets bounds to the malice of the
church's enemies, and suffers them not to do that which we should think there
is nothing to hinder them from.
II. Of the weakness of Saul, who seems here to have been quite at a loss, and
unable to help himself. 1. He pitched his tent under a tree, and had but 600
men with him, v. 2. Where were now the 3000 men he had chosen, and put
such a confidence in? ch. xiii. 2. Those whom he trusted too much to
failed him when he most needed them. He durst not stay in Gibeah, but got into
some obscure place, in the uttermost part of the city, under a
pomegranate-tree, under Rimmon (so the word is), Ha-Rimmon, that
Rimmon near Gibeah, in the caves of which those 600 Benjamites that escaped
his themselves, Judg. xx. 47. Some think that there Saul took shelter, so mean
and abject was his spirit, now that he had fallen under God's displeasure,
every hour expecting the Philistines upon him, and thereby the accomplishment
of Samuel's threatening, ch. xiii. 14. Those can never think themselves
safe that see themselves cast out of God's protection. 2. Now he sent for a
priest, and the ark, a priest from Shiloh, and the ark from Kirjath-jearim, v.
3, 18. Saul had once offended by offering sacrifice himself, ch. xiii.
9. Now he resolves never to fall into that error again, and therefore sends
for a priest, and hopes to compromise the matter with God Almighty by a
particular reformation, as many do whose hearts are unhumbled and unchanged.
Samuel, the Lord's prophet, had forsaken him, but he thinks he can make up
that loss by commanding Ahiah, the Lord's priest, to attend him, and he
will not make him stay for him nor reprove him, as Samuel had done, but will
do just as he bids him, v. 18, 19. Many love to have such ministers as
will be what they would have them to be, and prophesy smooth things to them;
and their caressing them because they are priests, they hope, will atone for
their enmity to those ministers that deal faithfully and plainly with them. He
will also have the ark brought, perhaps to upbraid Samuel, who in the days of
his government, for aught that appears, had not made any public use of it; or
in hopes that this would make up the deficiency of his forces; one would have
supposed that they would never bring the ark into the camp again, since, the
last time, it not only did not save them, but did itself fall into the
Philistines' hands. But it is common for those that have lost the substance of
religion to be most fond of the shadows of it, as here is a deserted prince
courting a deserted priest.
III. Of the bravery and piety of Jonathan, the son of Saul, who was much
fitter than the father to wear the crown. "A sweet imp (says bishop Hall)
out of a crab-stock."
1. He resolved to go incognito--unknown to any one, into the
camp of the Philistines; he did not acquaint his father with his design, for
he knew he would forbid him; nor the people, for he knew they would all
discourage him, and, because he resolved not to heed their objections, he
resolved not to hear them, nor ask their advice, v. 1, 3. Nor had he so
great an opinion of the priest as to consult him, but, being conscious of a
divine impulse putting him upon it, he threw himself into the mouth of danger,
in hope of doing service to his country. The way of access to the enemies'
camp is described (v. 4, 5) as being peculiarly difficult, and their
natural entrenchments impregnable, yet this does not discourage him; the
strength and sharpness of the rocks do but harden and whet his resolutions.
Great and generous souls are animated by opposition and take a pleasure in
breaking through it.
2. He encouraged his armour-bearer, a young man that attended him, to go along
with him in the daring enterprise, (v. 6): "Come, and let us
put our lives in our hands, and go over to the enemies' garrison,
and try what we can do to put them into confusion." See whence he draws
his encouragements. (1.) "They are uncircumcised, and have not the seal
of the covenant in their flesh, as we have. Fear not, we shall do well enough
with them, for they are not under the protection of God's covenant as we are,
cannot call him theirs as we can, by the sign of circumcision." If such
as are enemies to us are also strangers to God, we need not fear them. (2.)
"God is able to make us two victorious over their unnumbered regiments. There
is no restraint in the Lord, no limitation to the holy One of Israel, but
it is all one to him to save by many or by few." This is a true
easily granted in general, that it is all alike to Omnipotence what the
instruments are by which it works; and yet it is not so easy to apply it to a
particular case; when we are but few and feeble then to believe that God can
not only save us, but save by us, this is an instance of faith, which,
wherever it is, shall obtain a good report. Let this strengthen the weak and
encourage the timid: let it be pleaded with God for the enforcing of our
petitions and with ourselves for the silencing of our fears: It is nothing
with God to help, whether with many or with those that have no power, 2
Chron. xiv. 11. (3.) "Who knows but he that can use us for his glory will
do it? It may be the Lord will work for us, work with us, work a sign
or miracle for us." So the Chaldee. We may encourage ourselves with hope
that God will appear for us, though we have not ground on which to build an
assurance. An active faith will venture far in God's cause upon an it may
be. Jonathan's armour-bearer, or esquire, as if he had learned to carry,
not his arms only, but his heart, promised to stand by him and to follow him
whithersoever he went, v. 7. We have reason to think that Jonathan felt
a divine impulse and impression putting him upon this bold adventure, in which
he was encouraged by his servant's concurrence, otherwise the danger was so
great which he ran upon that he would have tempted God rather than trusted
him. And perhaps he had an actual regard to that word of Joshua (Josh. xxiii.
10), One man of you shall chase a thousand, borrowed from Moses, Deut.
xxxii. 30.
3. How bold soever his resolution was, he resolved to follow Providence in the
execution of it, which, he believed, would guide him with its eye (Ps.
xxxii. 8), and which therefore he would carefully attend and take hints of
direction from. See how he put himself upon Providence, and resolved to be
determined by it. "Come" (says he to his confidant), "we will
discover ourselves to the enemy, as those that are not afraid to look them in
the face (v. 8), and then, if they be so cautious as to bid us stand,
we will advance no further, taking it for an intimation of Providence that God
would have us act defensively, and we will prepare as well as we can to give
them a warm reception (v. 9); but if they be so presumptuous as to
challenge us, and the first sentinel we meet with bid us march on, we will
push forward, and make as brisk an onset, assuredly gathering thence that it
is the will of God we should act offensively, and then not doubting but he
will stand by us," v. 10. And upon this issue he puts it,
firmly believing, as we all should, (1.) That God has the governing of the
hearts and tongues of all men, even of those that know him not, nor have any
regard to him, and serves his own purposes by them, though they mean not so,
neither do their hearts think so. Jonathan knew God could discover his mind to
him if he pleased, and would do it, since he depended upon him, as surely by
the mouth of a Philistine as by the mouth of a priest. (2.) That God will,
some way or other, direct the steps of those that acknowledge him in all
their ways, and seek unto him for direction, with full purpose of heart to
follow it. Sometimes we find most comfort in that which is least our own
doing, and into which we have been led by the unexpected, but well observed,
turns of Providence.
4. Providence gave him the sign he expected, and he answered the signal. He
and his armour-bearer did not surprise the Philistines when they were asleep,
but discovered themselves to them by day-light, v. 11. The guards of
the Philistines, (1.) Disdained them, upbraided them with the cowardice of
many of their people, and looked upon them to be of the regiment of sneakers: Behold,
the Hebrews come forth out of their holes. If some of Christ's soldiers
play the coward, others that play the man may perhaps be upbraided with it.
(2.) They defied them (v. 12): Come, and we will show you a thing,
as if they came like children to gaze about them; but meaning, as Goliath (ch.
xvii. 44), that they would give them as meat to the fowls of the air.
They bantered them, not doubting but to make a prey of them. This greatly
emboldened Jonathan. With it he encouraged his servant; he had spoken with
uncertainty (v. 6): It may be the Lord will work for us; but now
he speaks with assurance (v. 12): The Lord has delivered them,
not into our hands (he sought not his own glory), but into the hand of
Israel, for he aimed at nothing but the advantage of the public. His faith
being thus strengthened, no difficulty can stand before him; he climbs up the
rock upon all four (v. 13), though he has nothing to cover him, nor any
but his own servant to second him, nor any human probability of any thing but
death before him.
5. The wonderful success of this daring enterprise. The Philistines, instead
of falling upon Jonathan, to slay him, or take him prisoner, fell before him (v.
13) unaccountably, upon the first blows he gave. They fell, that is, (1.) They
were many of them slain by him and his armour-bearer, v. 14. Twenty
Philistines fell presently. It was not so much the name of Jonathan that made
them yield so tamely (though some think that this had become terrible to them,
since he smote one of their garrisons, ch. xiii. 3), but it was God's
right hand and his arm that got him this victory. (2.) The rest were put to
flight, and fell foul upon one another (v. 15): There was trembling
in the host. There was no visible cause for fear; they were so numerous,
bold, and advantageously posted; the Israelites had fled before them; not an
enemy made head against them, but one gentleman and his man; and yet they
shook like an aspen-leaf. The consternation was general: they all trembled;
even the spoilers, those that had been most bold and forward, shared in
the common fright, the joints of their loins were loosed, and their knees
smote one against another, and yet none of them could tell why or wherefore.
It is called a trembling of God (so the original phrase is), signifying
not only, as we render it, a very great trembling, which they could not resist
nor reason themselves clear of, but that it was supernatural, and came
immediately from the hand of God. He that made the heart knows how to make it
tremble. To complete the confusion, even the earth quaked, and made them ready
to fear that it would sink under them. Those that will not fear the eternal
God, he can make afraid of a shadow. See Prov. xxi. 1; Isa. xxxiii. 14.
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The
Philistines Destroyed.
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16 And the watchmen of
Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and
they went on beating down one another. 17 Then said Saul
unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone
from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were
not there. 18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the
ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of
Israel. 19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest,
that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and
increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 20
And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves,
and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his
fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 21
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time,
which went up with them into the camp from the country round about,
even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with
Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid
themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled,
even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD
saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.
We have here the prosecution and improvement of the wonderful advantages which
Jonathan and his armour-bearer gained against the Philistines.
I. The Philistines were, by the power of God, set against one another. They
melted away like snow before the sun, and went on beating down one another
(v. 16), for (v. 20) every man's sword was against his
fellow. When they fled for fear, instead of turning back upon those that
chased them, they reckoned those only their enemies that stood in their way,
and treated them accordingly. The Philistines were very secure, because all
the swords and spears were in their hands. Israel had none except what Saul
and Jonathan had. But now God showed them the folly of that confidence, by
making their own swords and spears the instruments of their own destruction,
and more fatal in their own hands than if they had been in the hands of
Israel. See the like done, Judg. vii. 22; 2 Chron. xx. 23.
II. The Israelites were hereby animated against them.
1. Notice was soon taken of it by the watchmen of Saul, those that stood
sentinel at Gibeah, v. 16. They were aware that the host of the enemy
was in great confusion, and that a great slaughter was made among them, and
yet, upon search, they found none of their own forces absent, but only
Jonathan and his servant (v. 17), which no doubt greatly animated them,
and assured them that it could be no other than the Lord's doing, when there
was no more of man's doing than what those two could do against a great host.
2. Saul began to enquire of God, but soon desisted. His spirit had not come
down so far as to allow him to consult Samuel, though, it is probable, he was
near him; for we read (ch. xiii. 15) that he had come to Gibeah of
Benjamin; but he called for the ark (v. 18), desiring to know whether
it would be safe for him to attack the Philistines, upon the disorder they
perceived them to be in. Many will consult God about their safety that would
never consult him about their duty. But, perceiving by his scouts that the
noise in the enemy's camp increased, he commanded the priest that officiated
to break off abruptly: "Withdraw thy hand (v. 19), consult
no more, wait no longer for an answer." He was very unwise indeed if (as
some think) he forbade him to lift up his hands in prayer; for when Joshua was
actually engaged with Amalek Moses continued still to lift up his hands. It is
rather a prohibition to his enquiring of the Lord, either, (1.) Because now he
thought he did not need an answer, the case was plain enough. And yet the more
evident it was that God did all the more reason he had to enquire whether he
would give him leave to do any thing. Or, (2.) Because now he would not stay
for it; he was in such haste to fight a falling enemy that he would not stay
to make and end of his devotions, nor hear what answer God would give him. A
little thing will divert a vain and carnal mind from religious exercises. He
that believeth will not make haste, such haste as this, nor reckon any
business so urgent as not to allow time to take God along with him.
3. He, and all the little force he had, made a vigorous attack upon the enemy;
and all the people were cried together (so the word is, v. 20),
for want of the silver trumpets wherewith God appointed them to sound an alarm
in the day of battle, Num. x. 9. They summoned them together by shouting, and
their number was not so great but that they might soon be got together. And
now they seem bold and brave when the work is done to their hands. Our Lord
Jesus had conquered our spiritual enemies, routed and dispersed them, so that
we are cowards indeed if we will not stand to our arms when it is only to
pursue the victory and to divide the spoil.
4. Every Hebrew, even those from whom one would least have expected it, now
turned his hand against the Philistines. (1.) Those that had deserted and gone
over to the enemy, and were among them, now fought against them, v. 21.
Some think, they were such as had been taken prisoners by them, and now they
were goads in their sides. It rather seems that they went in to them
voluntarily, but, now that they saw them falling, recovered the hearts of
Israelites, and did valiantly for their country. (2.) Those that had fled
their colours, and hid themselves in the mountains, returned to their posts,
and joined in with the pursuers (v. 22), hoping by their great zeal and
officiousness, now that the danger was over and the victory sure, to atone for
their former cowardice. It was not much to their praise to appear now, but it
would have been more their reproach if they had not appeared. Those that are
remiss and faint-hearted indeed that will not act in the cause of God when
they see it victorious, as well as righteous. Thus all hands were at work
against the Philistines, and every Israelite slew as many as he could, without
sword or spear; yet it is said (v. 23), it was the Lord that saved
Israel that day. He did it by them, for without him they could do nothing.
Salvation is of the Lord.
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Saul's
Rash Oath.
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24 And the men of Israel
were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be
the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on
mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 25 And
all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the
ground. 26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold,
the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared
the oath. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the
people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was
in his hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and
his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and
said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be
the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how
mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this
honey. 30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to
day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now
a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? 31 And they smote
the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very
faint. 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and
oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them
with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people
sin against the LORD,
in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a
great stone unto me this day. 34 And Saul said, Disperse
yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his
ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not
against the LORD
in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him
that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar
unto the LORD:
the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
We have here an account of the distress of the children of Israel, even in the
day of their triumphs. Such alloys are all present joys subject to. And such
obstructions does many a good cause meet with, even when it seems most
prosperous, through the mismanagement of instruments.
I. Saul forbade the people, under the penalty of a curse, to taste any food
that day, v. 24. Here we will suppose, 1. That as king he had power to
put his soldiers under this interdict, and to bind it on with a curse; and
therefore they submitted to it, and God so far owned it as to discover, by the
lot, that Jonathan was the delinquent that had meddled with the accursed thing
(though ignorantly), on which account God would not be at that time enquired
of by them. 2. That he did it with a good intention, lest the people, who
perhaps had been kept for some time at short allowance, when they found plenty
of victuals in the deserted camp of the Philistines, should fall greedily upon
that, and so lose time in pursing the enemy, and some of them, it may be, glut
themselves to such a degree as not to be fit for any more service that day. To
prevent this, he forbade them to taste any food, and laid himself, it is
likely, under the same restraint. And yet his making this severe order was,
(1.) Impolitic and very unwise; for, if it gained time, it lost strength, for
the pursuit. (2.) It was imperious, and disobliging to the people, and worse
than muzzling the mouth of the ox when he treads out the corn. To
forbid them to feast would have been commendable, but to forbid them so much
as to taste, though ever so hungry, was barbarous. (3.) It was impious to
enforce the prohibition with a curse and an oath. Had he no penalty less than
an anathema wherewith to support his military discipline? Death for such a
crime would have been too much, but especially death with a curse. Though
superiors may chide and correct, they may not curse their inferiors; our rule
is, Bless, and curse not. When David speaks of an enemy he had that
loved cursing perhaps he meant Saul, Ps. cix. 17, 18.
II. The people observed his order, but it had many inconveniences attending
it. 1. The soldiers were tantalized; for, in their pursuit of the enemy, it
happened that they went through a wood so full of wild honey that it dropped
from the trees upon the ground, the Philistines having perhaps, in their
flight, broken in upon the honeycombs, for their own refreshment, and left
them running. Canaan flowed with honey, and here is an instance of it. They
sucked honey out of the rock, the flinty rock (Deut. xxxii. 13); yet,
for fear of the curse, they did not so much as taste the honey, v. 25,
26. Those are worthy of the name of Israelites that can deny themselves and
their own appetites even when they are most craving, and the delights of sense
most tempting, for fear of guilt and a curse, and the table becoming a snare.
Let us never feed ourselves, much less feast ourselves, without fear. 2.
Jonathan fell under the curse through ignorance. He heard not of the charge
his father had given; for, having bravely forced the lines, he was then
following the chase, and therefore might justly be looked upon as exempted
from the charge and intended in it. But it seems it was taken for granted, and
he himself did not object against it afterwards, that it extended to him,
though absent upon so good an occasion. He, not knowing any peril in it, took
up a piece of a honey-comb, upon the end of his staff, and sucked it (v.
27), and was sensibly refreshed by it: His eyes were enlightened, which
began to grow dim through hunger and faintness; it made his countenance look
pleasant and cheerful, for it was such as a stander-by might discern (v.
29): See how my eyes have been enlightened. He thought no harm, nor
feared any, till one of the people acquainted him with the order, and then he
found himself in a snare. Many a good son has been thus entangled and
distressed, in more ways than one, by the rashness of an inconsiderate father.
Jonathan, for his part, lost the crown he was heir to by his father's folly,
which, it may be, this was an ill omen of. 3. The soldiers were faint, and
grew feeble, in the pursuit of the Philistines. Jonathan foresaw this would be
the effect of it; their spirits would flag, and their strength would fail, for
want of sustenance. Such is the nature of our bodies that they soon grow unfit
for service if they be not supplied with fresh recruits. Daily work cannot be
done without daily bread, which our Father in heaven graciously gives us. It
is bread that strengthens man's heart; therefore Jonathan
reasoned very well, If the people had eaten freely, there would have
been a much greater slaughter (v. 30); but, as it was, they were
very faint, too much fatigued (so the Chaldee), and began to think more
of their meat than of their work. 4. The worst effect of all was that at
evening, when the restraint was taken off and they returned to their food
again, they were so greedy and eager upon it that they ate the flesh with the
blood, expressly contrary to the law of God, v. 32. Two hungry meals,
we say, make the third a glutton; it was so here. They would not stay to have
their meat either duly killed (for they slew the cattle upon the ground, and
did not hang them up, as they used to do, that the blood might all run out of
them) or duly dressed, but fell greedily upon it before it was half boiled or
half roasted, v. 32. Saul, being informed of it, reproved them for the
sin (v. 33): You have transgressed; but did not, as he should
have done, reflect upon himself as having been accessory to it, and having made
the Lord's people to transgress. To put a stop to this irregularity, Saul
ordered them to set up a great stone before him, and let all that had cattle
to kill, for their present use, bring them thither, and kill them under his
eye upon that stone (v. 33), and the people did so (v. 34), so
easily were they restrained and reformed when their prince took care to do his
part. If magistrates would but use their power as they might, people would be
made better than they are with more ease than is imagined.
III. On this occasion Saul built an altar (v. 35), that he might offer
sacrifice, either by way of acknowledgment of the victory they had obtained or
by the way of atonement for the sin they had been guilty of. The same was
the first altar that he built, and perhaps the rolling of the great stone
to kill the beasts on reminded him of converting it into an altar, else he
would not have thought of it. Saul was turning aside from God, and yet now he
began to build altars, being most zealous (as many are) for the form of
godliness when he was denying the power of it. See Hos. viii. 14, Israel
has forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples. Some read it, He began
to build that altar; he laid the first stone, but was so hasty to pursue
his victory that he could not stay to finish it.
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Jonathan
Condemned to Die; Jonathan Rescued.
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B.
C. 1067.
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36 And Saul said, Let us
go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning
light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever
seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto
God. 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered
him not that day. 38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the
chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this
day. 39 For, as the LORD
liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely
die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered
him. 40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and
Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do
what seemeth good unto thee. 41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD
God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken:
but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between
me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said
to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I
did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine
hand, and, lo, I must die. 44 And Saul answered, God do so
and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45 And the
people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great
salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD
liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath
wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died
not. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the
Philistines went to their own place.
Here is, I. Saul's boasting against the Philistines. He proposed, as soon as
his soldiers had got their suppers, to pursue them all night, and not leave
a man of them, v. 36. Here he showed much zeal, but little
discretion; for his army, thus fatigued, could as ill spare a night's sleep as
a meal's meat. But it is common for rash and foolish men to consider nobody
but themselves, and, so that they might but have their humour, not to care
what hardships they put upon those that are under them. However, the people
were so obsequious to their king that they would by no means oppose the
motion, but resolved to make the best of it, and, if he will go on, they will
follow him: Do whatsoever seemeth good to thee. Only the priest thought
it convenient to go on with the devotions that were broken off abruptly (v.
19), and to consult the oracle: Let us draw near hither unto God.
Princes and great men have need of such about them as will thus be their
remembrancers, wherever they go, to take God along with them. And, when the
priest proposed it, Saul could not for shame reject the proposal, but asked
counsel of God (v. 37): "Shall I go down after the
Philistines? And shall I speed?"
II. His falling foul on his son Jonathan: and the rest of this paragraph is
wholly concerning him: for, while he is prosecuted, the Philistines make their
escape. We know not what mischief may ensue upon on rash resolve.
1. God, by giving an intimation of his displeasure, put Saul upon searching
for an accursed thing. When, by the priest, he consulted the oracle, God answered
him not, v. 37. Note, When God denies our prayers it concerns us to
enquire what the sin is that has provoked him to do so. Let us see where
the sin is, v. 38. For God's ear is not heavy that it cannot hear,
but it is sin that separates between us and him. If God turns away our prayer,
we have reason to suspect it is for some iniquity regarding our hearts, which
we are concerned to find out, that we may put it away, may mortify it, and put
it to death. Saul swears by his Maker that whoever was the Achan that troubled
the camp, by eating the forbidden fruit, should certainly die, though it were
Jonathan himself, that is, though ever so dear to himself and the people,
little thinking that Jonathan was the man (v. 39): He shall surely
die, the curse shall be executed upon him. But none of the people answered
him, that is, none of those who knew Jonathan had broken the order would
inform against him.
2. Jonathan was discovered by lot to be the offender. Saul would have lots
cast between himself and Jonathan on the one side, and the people on the
other, perhaps because he was as confident of Jonathan's innocency in this
matter as of his own, v. 40. The people, seeing him in a heat, durst
not gainsay any thing he proposed, but acquiesced: Do as seemeth good unto
thee. Before he cast lots, he prayed that God would give a perfect lot
(v. 41), that is, make a full discovery of this matter, or, as it is in
the margin, that he would show the innocent. This was with an air of impartial
justice. Judges should desire that truth may come out, whoever may suffer by
it. Lots should be cast with prayer, because they are a solemn appeal to
Providence, and by them we beg of God to direct and determine us (Acts i. 24),
for which reason some have condemned games that depend purely upon lot or
chance as making too bold with a sacred thing. Jonathan at length was taken (v.
42), Providence designing hereby to countenance and support a lawful
authority, and to put an honour upon the administration of public justice in
general, reserving another way to bring off one that had done nothing worthy
of death.
3. Jonathan ingenuously confesses the fact, and Saul, with an angry curse,
passes sentence upon him. Jonathan denies not the truth, nor goes about to
conceal it, only he thinks it hard that he must die for it, v.
43. He might very fairly have pleaded his invincible ignorance of the law, or
have insisted upon his merit, but he submitted to the necessity with a great
and generous mind: "God's and my father's will be done:" thus he
showed as much valour in receiving the messengers of death himself as in
sending them among the Philistines. It is as brave to yield in some cases as
it is in other cases to fight. Saul is not mollified by his filial submission
nor the hardness of his case; but as one that affected to be thought firm to
his word, and much more to his oath; even when it bound him hardest, with
another imprecation he gives judgment upon Jonathan (v. 44): "God
do so and more also to me if I do not execute the law upon thee, for
thou shalt surely die, Jonathan." (1.) He passed this sentence too
hastily, without consulting the oracle. Jonathan had a very good plea in
arrest of the judgment. What he had done was not malum in se--bad in
itself; and, as for the prohibition of it, he was ignorant of that, so
that he could not be charged with rebellion or disobedience. (2.) He did it in
fury. Had Jonathan been worthy to die, yet it would have become a judge, much
more a father, to pass sentence with tenderness and compassion, and not with
such an air of triumph, like a man perfectly divested of all humanity and
natural affection. Justice is debased when it is administered with wrath and
bitterness. (3.) He backed it with a curse upon himself if he did not see the
sentence executed; and this curse did return upon his own head. Jonathan
escaped, but God did so to Saul, and more also; for he was rejected of God and
made anathema. Let none upon any occasion dare to use such imprecations as
these, lest God say Amen to them, and make their own tongues to fall upon
them, Ps. lxiv. 8. This stone will return upon him that rolleth it. Yet we
have reason to think that Saul's bowels yearned toward Jonathan, so that he
really punished himself, and very justly, when he seemed so severe upon
Jonathan. God made him feel the smart of his own rash edict, which might make
him fear being again guilty of the like. By all these vexatious accidents God
did likewise correct him for his presumption in offering sacrifice without
Samuel. An expedition so ill begun could not end without some rebukes.
4. The people rescued Jonathan out of his father's hands, v. 45.
Hitherto they had expressed themselves very observant of Saul. What seemed
good to him they acquiesced in, v. 36, 40. But, when Jonathan is in
danger, Saul's word is no longer a law to them, but with the utmost zeal they
oppose the execution of his sentence: "Shall Jonathan die--that
blessing, that darling, of his country? Shall that life be sacrificed to a
punctilio of law and honour which was so bravely exposed for the public
service, and to which we owe our lives and triumphs? No, we will never stand
by and see him thus treated whom God delights to honour." It is good to
see Israelites zealous for the protection of those whom God has made
instruments of public good. Saul had sworn that Jonathan should die, but they
oppose their oath to his, and swear he shall not die: "As the Lord
liveth there shall not only not his head, but not a hair of his head
fall to the ground;" they did not rescue him by violence, but by
reason and resolution; and Josephus says they made their prayer to God that he
might be loosed from the curse. They pleaded for him that he has wrought
with God this day; that is, "he has owned God's cause, and God has
owned his endeavours, and therefore his life is too precious to be thrown away
upon a nicety." We may suppose Saul had not so perfectly forgotten the
relation of a father but that he was willing enough to have Jonathan rescued,
and well pleased to have that done which yet he would not do himself: and he
that knows the heart of a father knows not how to blame him.
5. The design against the Philistines is quashed by this incident (v.
46): Saul went up from following them, and so an opportunity was lost
of completing the victory. When Israel's shields are clashing with one another
the public safety and service suffer by it.
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The
Amalekites Destroyed.
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B.
C. 1067.
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47 So Saul took the
kingdom over Israel, and 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: and whithersoever he turned
himself, he vexed them. 48 And he gathered a host, and
smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that
spoiled them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui,
and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name
of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 50 And
the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the
name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's
uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the
father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 And there was sore
war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong
man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp. 1. Of his court and
family, the names of his sons and daughters (v. 49), and of his wife
and his cousin-german that was general of his army, v. 50. There is
mention of another wife of Saul's (2 Sam. xxi. 8), Rizpah, a secondary wife,
and of the children he had by her. 2. Of his camp and military actions. (1.)
How he levied his army: When he saw any strong valiant man, that was
remarkably fit for service, he took him unto him (v. 52), as
Samuel had told them the manner of the king would be (ch. viii. 11);
and, if he must have a standing army, it was his prudence to fill it up with
the ablest men he could make choice of. (2.) How he employed his army. He
guarded his country against the insults of its enemies on every side, and
prevented their incursions, v. 47, 48. It is supposed that he acted
only defensively against those that used to invade the borders of Israel; and
whithersoever he turned himself, as there was occasion, he vexed them,
by checking and disappointing them. But the enemies he struggled most with
were the Philistines, with whom he had sore war all his days, v.
52. He had little reason to be proud of his royal dignity, nor had any of his
neighbours cause to envy him, for he had little enjoyment of himself after he
took the kingdom. He could not vex his enemies without some vexation to
himself, such thorns are crowns quilted with.
Contents
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Next
Section
