mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 13.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xiv" n="xiv" next="iSam.xv" prev="iSam.xiii" progress="30.55%" title="Chapter XIII">
<h2 id="iSam.xiv-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xiv-p0.2">CHAP. XIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xiv-p1">Those that desired a king like all the nations
fancied that, when they had one, they should look very great and
considerable; but in this chapter we find it proved much otherwise.
While Samuel was joined in commission with Saul things went well,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.7" parsed="|1Sam|11|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:7"><i>ch.</i> xi. 7</scripRef>. But, now
that Saul began to reign alone, all went to decay, and Samuel's
words began to be fulfilled: "You shall be consumed, both you and
your king;" for never was the state of Israel further gone in a
consumption than in this chapter. I. Saul appears here a very silly
prince. 1. Infatuated in his counsels, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.1-1Sam.13.3" parsed="|1Sam|13|1|13|3" passage="1Sa 13:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. 2. Invaded by his neighbours,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.4-1Sam.13.5" parsed="|1Sam|13|4|13|5" passage="1Sa 13:4,5">ver. 4, 5</scripRef>. 3. Deserted by
his soldiers, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.6-1Sam.13.7" parsed="|1Sam|13|6|13|7" passage="1Sa 13:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>.
4. Disordered in his own spirit, and sacrificing in confusion,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.8-1Sam.13.10" parsed="|1Sam|13|8|13|10" passage="1Sa 13:8-10">ver. 8-10</scripRef>. 5. Chidden by
Samuel, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.11-1Sam.13.13" parsed="|1Sam|13|11|13|13" passage="1Sa 13:11-13">ver. 11-13</scripRef>. 6.
Rejected of God from being king, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.14" parsed="|1Sam|13|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:14">ver.
14</scripRef>. II. The people appear here a very miserable people.
1. Disheartened and dispersed, ver. <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.6-1Sam.13.7" parsed="|1Sam|13|6|13|7" passage="1Sa 13:6,7">6, 7</scripRef>. 2. Diminished, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.15-1Sam.13.16" parsed="|1Sam|13|15|13|16" passage="1Sa 13:15,16">ver. 15, 16</scripRef>. 3. Plundered, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.17-1Sam.13.18" parsed="|1Sam|13|17|13|18" passage="1Sa 13:17,18">ver. 17, 18</scripRef>. 4. Disarmed,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.19-1Sam.13.23" parsed="|1Sam|13|19|13|23" passage="1Sa 13:19-23">ver. 19-23</scripRef>. This they
got by casting off God's government, and making themselves like the
nations: all their glory departed from them.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xiv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13" parsed="|1Sam|13|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 13" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xiv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.1-1Sam.13.7" parsed="|1Sam|13|1|13|7" passage="1Sa 13:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.13.1-1Sam.13.7">
<h4 id="iSam.xiv-p1.14">The Philistines War against
Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p1.15">b. c.</span> 1067.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xiv-p2">1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned
two years over Israel,   2 Saul chose him three thousand
<i>men</i> of Israel; <i>whereof</i> two thousand were with Saul in
Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in
Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to
his tent.   3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the
Philistines that <i>was</i> in Geba, and the Philistines heard
<i>of it.</i> And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land,
saying, Let the Hebrews hear.   4 And all Israel heard say
<i>that</i> Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and
<i>that</i> Israel also was had in abomination with the
Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to
Gilgal.   5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together
to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand
horsemen, and people as the sand which <i>is</i> on the sea shore
in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward
from Beth-aven.   6 When the men of Israel saw that they were
in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did
hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in
high places, and in pits.   7 And <i>some of</i> the Hebrews
went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he
<i>was</i> yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him
trembling.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p3">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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.12.15" parsed="|1Sam|12|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 12:15"><i>ch.</i> xii. 15</scripRef>); but doubtless
they left God, else he would not have left them, as here it appears
he did; for,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p4">I. Saul was very weak and impolitic, and
did not order his affairs with discretion. <i>Saul was the son of
one year</i> (so the first words are in the original), a phrase
which we make to signify the date of his reign, but ordinarily it
signifies the date of one's birth, and therefore some understand it
figuratively—he was as innocent and good as a child of a year old;
so the Chaldee paraphrase: he was <i>without fault, like the son of
a year.</i> But, if we admit a figurative sense, it may as well
intimate that he was ignorant and imprudent, and as unfit for
business as a child of a year old: and the subsequent particulars
make this more accordant with his character than the former. But we
take it rather, as our own translation has it, <i>Saul reigned one
year,</i> and nothing happened that was considerable, it was a year
of no action; but in his second year he did as follows:—1. he
chose a band of 3000 men, of whom he himself commanded 2000, and
his son Jonathan 1000, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.2" parsed="|1Sam|13|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. The rest of the people he dismissed to their tents.
If he intended these only for the guard of his person and his
honorary attendants, it was impolitic to have so many, if for a
standing army, in apprehension of danger from the Philistines, it
was no less impolitic to have so few; and perhaps the confidence he
put in this select number, and his disbanding the rest of that
brave army with which he had lately beaten the Ammonites (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.8-1Sam.11.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|8|11|11" passage="1Sa 11:8-11"><i>ch.</i> xi. 8-11</scripRef>), was looked
upon as an affront to the kingdom, excited general disgust, and was
the reason he had so few at his call when he had occasion for them.
The prince that relies on a particular party weakens his own
interest in the whole community. 2. He ordered his son Jonathan to
surprise and destroy the garrison of the Philistines that lay near
him in Geba, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.3" parsed="|1Sam|13|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. I
wish there were no ground for supposing that this was a violation
or infraction of some articles with the Philistines, and that it
was done treacherously and perfidiously. The reason why I suspect
it is because it is said that, for doing it, <i>Israel was had in
abomination,</i> or, as the word is, <i>did stink with the
Philistines</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.4" parsed="|1Sam|13|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>), as men void of common honesty and whose word could
not be relied on. If it was so, we will lay the blame, not on
Jonathan who did it, but on Saul, his prince and father, who
ordered him to do it, and perhaps kept him in ignorance of the
truth of the matter. Nothing makes the name of Israel odious to
those that are without so much as the fraud and dishonesty of those
that are called by that worthy name. If professors of religion
cheat and over-reach, break their word and betray their trust,
religion suffers by it, and is <i>had in abomination with the
Philistines.</i> Whom may one trust if not an Israelite, one that,
it is expected, should be <i>without guile?</i> 3. When he had thus
exasperated the Philistines, then he began to raise forces, which,
if he had acted wisely, he would have done before. When the
Philistines had a vast army ready to pour in upon him, to avenge
the wrong he had done them, then was he <i>blowing the trumpet
through the land,</i> among a careless, if not a disaffected
people, saying, <i>Let the Hebrews hear</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.3" parsed="|1Sam|13|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), and so as many as thought fit
came to Saul to Gilgal, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.4" parsed="|1Sam|13|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. But now the generality, we may suppose, drew back
(either in dislike of Saul's politics or in dread of the
Philistines' power), who, if he had summoned them sooner, would
have been as ready at his beck as they were when he marched against
the Ammonites. We often find that after-wit would have done much
better before and have prevented much inconvenience.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p5">II. Never did the Philistines appear in
such a formidable body as they did now, upon this provocation which
Saul gave them. We may suppose they had great assistance from their
allies, for (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.5" parsed="|1Sam|13|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>),
besides 6000 horse, which in those times, when horses were not so
much used in war as they are now, was a great body, they had an
incredible number of chariots, 30,000 in all: most of them, we may
suppose, were carriages for the bag and baggage of so vast an army,
not chariots of war. But their foot was <i>innumerable as the sand
of the sea-shore,</i> so jealous were they for the honour of their
nation and so much enraged at the baseness of the Israelites in
destroying their garrison. If Saul had asked counsel of God before
he had given the Philistines this provocation, he and his people
might the better have borne this threatening trouble which they had
now brought on themselves by their own folly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p6">III. Never were the people of Israel so
faint-hearted, so sneaking, so very cowardly, as they were now.
Some considerable numbers, it may be, came to Saul to Gilgal; but,
hearing of the Philistines' numbers and preparations, their spirits
sunk within them, some think because they did not find Samuel there
with Saul. Those that, awhile ago, were weary of him, and wished
for a king, now had small joy of their king unless they could see
him under Samuel's direction. Sooner or later, men will be made to
see that God and his prophets are their best friends. Now that they
saw the Philistines making war upon them, and Samuel not coming in
to help them, they knew not what to do; <i>men's hearts failed them
for fear.</i> And. 1. Some absconded. Rather than run upon death
among the Philistines, they buried themselves alive in caves and
thickets, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.6" parsed="|1Sam|13|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. See
what work sin makes; it exposes men to perils, and then robs them
of their courage and dispirits them. A single person, by faith, can
say, <i>I will not be afraid of</i> 10,000 (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.3.6" parsed="|Ps|3|6|0|0" passage="Ps 3:6">Ps. iii. 6</scripRef>); but here thousands of degenerate
Israelites tremble at the approach of a great crowd of Philistines.
Guilt makes men cowards. 2. Others fled (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.7" parsed="|1Sam|13|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): They <i>went over Jordan to the
land of Gilead,</i> as far as they could from the danger, and to a
place where they had lately been victorious over the Ammonites.
Where they had triumphed they hoped to be sheltered. 3. Those that
staid with Saul <i>followed him trembling,</i> expecting no other
than to be cut off, and having their hands and hearts very much
weakened by the desertion of so many of their troops. And perhaps
Saul himself, though he had so much honour as to stand his ground,
yet had no courage to spare wherewith to inspire his trembling
soldiers.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xiv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.8-1Sam.13.14" parsed="|1Sam|13|8|13|14" passage="1Sa 13:8-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.13.8-1Sam.13.14">
<h4 id="iSam.xiv-p6.5">Saul Reproved by Samuel; Sentence Passed
upon Saul. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p6.6">b. c.</span> 1067.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xiv-p7">8 And he tarried seven days, according to the
set time that Samuel <i>had appointed:</i> but Samuel came not to
Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.   9 And Saul
said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And
he offered the burnt offering.   10 And it came to pass, that
as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering,
behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might
salute him.   11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And
Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me,
and <i>that</i> thou camest not within the days appointed, and
<i>that</i> the Philistines gathered themselves together at
Michmash;   12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come
down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p7.1">Lord</span>: I forced myself therefore,
and offered a burnt offering.   13 And Samuel said to Saul,
Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p7.2">Lord</span> thy God, which he commanded
thee: for now would the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p7.3">Lord</span> have
established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.   14 But now thy
kingdom shall not continue: the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p7.4">Lord</span>
hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p7.5">Lord</span> hath commanded him <i>to be</i> captain
over his people, because thou hast not kept <i>that</i> which the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p7.6">Lord</span> commanded thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p8">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 <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.10.8" parsed="|1Sam|10|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 10:8"><i>ch.</i> x. 8</scripRef>.
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 probable, though
not mentioned again, was lately repeated with reference to this
particular occasion; for it is plain that Saul himself understood
it as obliging him from God now to stay till Samuel came, else he
would not have made so many excuses as he did for not staying,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.11" parsed="|1Sam|13|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. This order
Saul broke. He staid till the seventh day, yet had not patience to
wait till the end of the seventh day. Perhaps he began to reproach
Samuel as false to his word, careless of his country, and
disrespectful of his prince, and thought it more fit that Samuel
should wait for him than he for Samuel. However, 1. He presumed to
offer sacrifice without Samuel, and nothing appears to the contrary
but that he did it himself, though he was neither priest nor
prophet, as if, because he was a king, he might do any thing, a
piece of presumption which king Uzziah paid dearly for, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.26.16-2Chr.26.23" parsed="|2Chr|26|16|26|23" passage="2Ch 26:16-23">2 Chron. xxvi. 16</scripRef>, &amp;c. 2. He
determined to engage the Philistines without Samuel's directions,
though he had promised to <i>show him what he should do.</i> So
self-sufficient Saul was that he thought it not worth while to stay
for a prophet of the Lord, either to pray for him or to advise him.
This was Saul's offence, and that which aggravated it was, (1.)
That for aught that appears, he did not send any messenger to
Samuel, to know his mind, to represent the case to him, and to
receive fresh directions from him, though he had enough about him
that were swift enough of foot at this time. (2.) That when Samuel
came he rather seemed to boast of what he had done than to repent
of it; for he <i>went forth to salute him,</i> as his
brother-sacrificer, and seemed pleased with the opportunity he had
of letting Samuel know that he needed him not, but could do well
enough without him. He went out to <i>bless him,</i> so the word
is, as if he now thought himself a complete priest, empowered to
bless as well as sacrifice, whereas he should have gone out to be
blessed by him. (3.) That he charged Samuel with breach of promise:
<i>Thou camest not within the days appointed</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.11" parsed="|1Sam|13|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), and therefore if any
thing was amiss Samuel must bear the blame, who was God's minister;
whereas he did come according to his word, before the seven days
had expired. Thus the <i>scoffers of the latter days</i> think the
promise of Christ's coming is broken, because he does not come in
their time, though it is certain he will come at the set time. (4.)
That when he was charged with disobedience he justified himself in
what he had done, and gave no sign at all of repentance for it. It
is not sinning that ruins men, but sinning and not repenting,
falling and not getting up again. See what excuses he made,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.11-1Sam.13.12" parsed="|1Sam|13|11|13|12" passage="1Sa 13:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>. He
would have this act of disobedience pass, [1.] For an instance of
his prudence. The people were most of them scattered from him, and
he had no other way than this to keep those with him that remained
and to prevent their deserting too. If Samuel neglected the public
concerns, he would not. [2.] For an instance of his piety. He would
be thought very devout, and in great care not to engage the
Philistines till he had by prayer and sacrifice engaged God on his
side: "<i>The Philistines,</i>" said he, "<i>will come down upon
me, before I have made my supplication to the Lord,</i> and then I
am undone. What! go to war before I have said my prayers!" Thus he
covered his disobedience to God's command with a pretence of
concern for God's favour. Hypocrites lay a great stress upon the
external performances of religion, thinking thereby to excuse their
neglect of the <i>weightier matters of the law.</i> And yet,
lastly, He owns it went against his conscience to do it: <i>I
forced myself and offered a burnt-offering,</i> perhaps boasting
that he had broken through his convictions and got the better of
them, or at least thinking this extenuated his fault, that he knew
he should not have done as he did, but did it with reluctancy.
Foolish man! to think that God would be well pleased with
sacrifices offered in direct opposition both to his general and
particular command.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p9">II. The sentence passed upon Saul for this
offence. Samuel found him standing by his burnt-offering, but,
instead of an answer of peace, was sent to him with heavy tidings,
and let him know that <i>the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination
to the Lord,</i> much more when he brings it, as Saul did, <i>with
a wicked mind.</i> 1. He shows him the aggravations of his crime,
and says to this king, <i>Thou art wicked,</i> which it is not for
any but a prophet of the Lord to say, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.34.18" parsed="|Job|34|18|0|0" passage="Job 34:18">Job xxxiv. 18</scripRef>. He charges him with being an
enemy to himself and his interest—<i>Thou hast done foolishly,</i>
and a rebel to God and his government—"<i>Thou hast not kept the
commandment of the Lord thy God,</i> that commandment wherewith he
intended to try thy obedience." Note, Those that disobey the
commandments of God do foolishly for themselves. Sin is folly, and
sinners are the greatest fools. 2. He reads his doom (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.14" parsed="|1Sam|13|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): "<i>Thy kingdom shall
not continue</i> long to thee or thy family; God has his eye upon
another, <i>a man after his own heart,</i> and not like thee, that
will have thy own will and way." The sentence is in effect the same
with <i>Mene tekel,</i> only now there seems room left for Saul's
repentance, upon which this sentence would have been reversed; but,
upon the next act of disobedience, it was made irreversible,
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.15.29" parsed="|1Sam|15|29|0|0" passage="1Sa 15:29"><i>ch.</i> xv. 29</scripRef>. And
now, better a thousand times he had continued in obscurity tending
his asses than to be enthroned and so soon dethroned. But was not
this hard, to pass so severe a sentence upon him and his house for
a single error, an error that seemed so small, and in excuse for
which he had so much to say? No, <i>The Lord is righteous in all
his ways</i> and does no man any wrong, <i>will be justified when
he speaks and clear when he judges.</i> By this, (1.) He shows that
there is no sin little, because no little god to sin against; but
that every sin is a forfeiture of the heavenly kingdom, for which
we stood fair. (2.) He shows that disobedience to an express
command, though in a small matter, is a great provocation, as in
the case of our first parents. (3.) He warns us to <i>take heed of
our spirits,</i> for that which to men may seem but a small
offence, yet to him that knows from what principle and with what
disposition of mind it is done, may appear a heinous crime. (4.)
God, in rejecting Saul for an error seemingly little, sets off, as
by a foil, the lustre of his mercy in forgiving such great sins as
those of David, Manasseh, and others. (5.) We are taught hereby how
necessary it is that we <i>wait on our God continually.</i> Saul
lost his kingdom for want of two or three hours' patience.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xiv-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.15-1Sam.13.23" parsed="|1Sam|13|15|13|23" passage="1Sa 13:15-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.13.15-1Sam.13.23">
<h4 id="iSam.xiv-p9.5">The Israelites' Low
Condition. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xiv-p9.6">b. c.</span> 1067.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xiv-p10">15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal
unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people <i>that
were</i> present with him, about six hundred men.   16 And
Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people <i>that were</i> present
with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines
encamped in Michmash.   17 And the spoilers came out of the
camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto
the way <i>that leadeth to</i> Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
  18 And another company turned the way <i>to</i> Beth-horon:
and another company turned <i>to</i> the way of the border that
looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.   19
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for
the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make <i>them</i> swords or
spears:   20 But all the Israelites went down to the
Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and
his axe, and his mattock.   21 Yet they had a file for the
mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the
axes, and to sharpen the goads.   22 So it came to pass in the
day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the
hand of any of the people that <i>were</i> with Saul and Jonathan:
but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.   23
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of
Michmash.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xiv-p11">Here, 1. Samuel departs in displeasure.
Saul has set up for himself, and now he is left to himself:
<i>Samuel gat him from Gilgal</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.15" parsed="|1Sam|13|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), and it does not appear that
he either prayed with Saul or directed him. Yet in going up to
Gibeah of Benjamin, which was Saul's city, he intimated that he had
not quite abandoned him, but waited to do him a kindness another
time. Or he went to the college of the prophets there, to pray for
Saul when he did not think fit to pray with him. 2. Saul goes after
him to Gibeah, and there musters his army, and finds his whole
number to be but 600 men, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.15-1Sam.13.16" parsed="|1Sam|13|15|13|16" passage="1Sa 13:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. Thus were they for
their sin <i>diminished and brought low.</i> 3. The Philistines
ravage the country, and put all the adjacent parts under
contribution. The body of their army, or standing camp (as it is
called in the margin, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.23" parsed="|1Sam|13|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), lay in an advantageous pass at Michmash, but thence
they sent out three separate parties or detachments that took
several ways, to plunder the country, and bring in provisions for
the army, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.17-1Sam.13.18" parsed="|1Sam|13|17|13|18" passage="1Sa 13:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17,
18</scripRef>. By these the land of Israel was both terrified and
impoverished, and the Philistines were animated and enriched. This
the sin of Israel brought upon them, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.24" parsed="|Isa|42|24|0|0" passage="Isa 42:24">Isa. xlii. 24</scripRef>. 4. The Israelites that take
the field with Saul are unarmed, having only slings and clubs, not
a sword or spear among them all, except what Saul and Jonathan
themselves have, <scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.19 Bible:1Sam.13.22" parsed="|1Sam|13|19|0|0;|1Sam|13|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:19,22"><i>v.</i> 19,
22</scripRef>. See here, (1.) How politic the Philistines were,
when they had power in their hands, and did what they pleased in
Israel. They put down all the smiths' shops, transplanted the
smiths into their own country, and forbade any Israelite, under
severe penalties, to exercise the trade or mystery of working in
brass or iron, though they had rich mines of both (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.8.9" parsed="|Deut|8|9|0|0" passage="De 8:9">Deut. viii. 9</scripRef>) in such plenty that it
was said of Asher, <i>his shoes shall be iron and brass,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.25" parsed="|Deut|33|25|0|0" passage="De 33:25">Deut. xxxiii. 25</scripRef>. This was
subtilely done of the Philistines, for hereby they not only
prevented the people of Israel from making themselves weapons of
war (by which they would be both disused to military exercises and
unfurnished when there was occasion), but obliged them to a
dependence upon them even for the instruments of husbandry; they
must go to them, that is, to some or other of their garrisons,
which were dispersed in the country, to have all their iron-work
done, and no more might an Israelite do than use a file (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.20-1Sam.13.21" parsed="|1Sam|13|20|13|21" passage="1Sa 13:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>), and no doubt
the Philistines' smiths brought the Israelites long bills for work
done. (2.) How impolitic Saul was, that did not, in the beginning
of his reign, set himself to redress this grievance. Samuel's not
doing it was very excusable; he fought with other artillery;
thunder and lightning, in answer to his prayer, were to him instead
of sword and spear; but for Saul, that pretended to be a king like
the kings of the nations, to leave his soldiers without swords and
spears, and take no care to provide them, especially when he might
have done it out of the spoils of the Ammonites whom he conquered
in the beginning of his reign, was such a piece of negligence as
could by no means be excused. (3.) How slothful and mean-spirited
the Israelites were, that suffered the Philistines thus to impose
upon them and had no thought nor spirit to help themselves. It was
reckoned very bad with them when there was <i>not a shield or spear
found among</i> 40,000 <i>in Israel</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xiv-p11.10" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.8" parsed="|Judg|5|8|0|0" passage="Jdg 5:8">Judg. v. 8</scripRef>), and it was not better now, when
there was never an Israelite with a sword by his side but the king
and his son, never a soldier, never a gentleman; surely they were
reduced to this, or began to be so, in Samuel's time, for we never
find him with sword or spear in his hand. If they had not been
dispirited, they could not have been disarmed, but it was sin that
made them naked to their shame.</p>
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