Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 13:3

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that [was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

3. the garrison of the Philistines ] See note on 1Sa 10:5.

Saul blew the trumpet ] Heralds blowing trumpets to attract attention carried the news of Jonathan’s daring exploit throughout the country to prepare the people for a speedy summons to fight for their liberty. Cp. Jdg 3:27; Jdg 6:34 ; 2Sa 20:1.

Let the Hebrews hear ] The name “Hebrews” is generally employed only by foreigners, or in speaking to foreigners. See note on 1Sa 4:6. If the text is correct, it is here used (cp. 1Sa 13:7) to place the nationality of Israel in contrast with the Philistines, or to describe them from the Philistine point of view as the subject race. But the Sept. reads “The slaves have revolted,” and it may be conjectured that we should transpose the words, and read “The Philistines heard saying, The slaves (or, the Hebrews) have revolted.” The consonants of the Hebrew words for “slaves” and “Hebrews” are almost identical, and are constantly liable to be confused.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

This was the first act in the war of independence, and probably the first feat in arms of the young hero Jonathan.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 3. Jonathan smote] He appears to have taken this garrison by surprise, for his men had no arms for a regular battle, or taking the place by storm. This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible.

Let the Hebrews hear.] Probably this means the people who dwelt beyond Jordan, who might very naturally be termed here haibrim, from abar, he passed over; those who are beyond the river Jordan: as Abraham was called Ibri because he dwelt beyond the river Euphrates.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The first design of Saul and Jonathan was to free then land from the garrisons which the Philistines had in it; and they first begin to clear their own country of Benjamin.

Geba; not the same place called Gibeah, 1Sa 13:2, (for if the place were the same, why should he vary the name of it in the same story, and in the next verse? nor is it likely that Jonathan would choose that place for his camp where the Philistines had a garrison,) but another place in the same tribe, in which there were two distinct places, Geba and Gibeah, Jos 18:24,28.

Let the Hebrews hear, i.e. he sent messengers to tell them all what Jonathan had done, and how the Philistines were enraged at it, and made great preparations for war; and therefore what necessity there was of gathering themselves together, and coming to him, for his and their own defence.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

3, 4. And Jonathanthat is,”God-given.”

smote the garrison of thePhilistines . . . in GebaGeba and Gibeah were towns inBenjamin, very close to each other (Jos 18:24;Jos 18:28). The word rendered”garrison” is different from that of 1Sa 13:23;1Sa 14:1, and signifies,literally, something erected; probably a pillar or flagstaff,indicative of Philistine ascendency. That the secret demolition ofthis standard, so obnoxious to a young and noble-hearted patriot, wasthe feat of Jonathan referred to, is evident from the words, “thePhilistines heard of it,” which is not the way we should expectan attack on a fortress to be noticed.

Saul blew the trumpetthroughout all the landThis, a well-known sound, was the usualHebrew war-summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon firein the neighboring places. A second blast was blownthen answeredby a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation wasspeedily diffused over the whole country. As the Philistines resentedwhat Jonathan had done as an overt attempt to throw off their yoke, alevy, en masse, of the people was immediately ordered, the rendezvousto be the old camping-ground at Gilgal.

1Sa13:5. THE PHILISTINES’GREAT HOST.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba,…. Not the same with Gibeah of Benjamin, as Jarchi; for it can hardly be thought that Jonathan should place himself with his thousand men where the Philistines had a garrison; or that if this was the same with that in the preceding verse, that it should be called by another name in this; but Gibeah and Geba were two places, as Kimchi observes, both indeed in the tribe of Benjamin, and it is very probable not far from one another; see Jos 18:24. This seems to be the same with the hill of God, where was a garrison of the Philistines, 1Sa 10:5, who after their defeat by Samuel contented themselves with some strong holds and garrisons in some parts of the land to keep Israel in awe; the Targum understands this of a single person, a governor of the Philistines in this place, whom Jonathan slew, and so Jarchi; and according to R. Isaiah he was one that was appointed to gather the tax for them:

and the Philistines heard of it, which alarmed them, and made them prepare for war:

and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land; not he in person, for he was at Gilgal, as the next verse shows; but he ordered it to be blown, being aware of the preparations the Philistines were making to attack him:

saying, let the Hebrews hear; both what his son had done, and what the Philistines were doing.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(3) And Jonathan smote the garrison.Jonathan throughout this history appears as the perfect type of a warrior, according to the requirements of his age; he is everywhere the first in courage and activity and speed, slender also, and of well-made figure. This personal beauty and swiftness of foot in attack or retreat gained for him among the troops the name of gazelle. (The first lines of the song, 2Sa. 1:19, can only be explained on the supposition that Jonathan was well known by this name in the army.) In all this, as in his uprightness and fidelity, he showed himself the right worthy son of a king.Ewald. Some translate the word rightly rendered garrison as pillar, a sign of the authority of the Philistines; otherse.g., Ewaldas a proper name, supposing that the officer appointed to collect tribute from Israel in that part of the country is meant.

And Saul blew the trumpet.This was evidently more than a communication of good news to the people. Saul intended it as a summons to Israel to prepare at once for war.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

3. The garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba Geba was situated between Gibeah and Michmash, about three miles from the former place and two from the latter. It was a city of Benjamin (Jos 18:24) assigned to the priests. Jos 21:17. The English version confounds it in 1Sa 13:16 with Gibeah. Its name still lingers in the modern Jeba, a small, half-ruined village on an eminence which commands an extensive view of the Dead Sea and the mountains beyond. “Across the deep ravine on the north,” says Robinson, “we could see the next village on our route, the ancient Michmash, lying directly over against Jeba in a direction about northeast.” Here, as on the heights of Gibeah, (1Sa 10:5,) the Philistines had intrenched themselves; though, this may have been the same garrison that is there mentioned, but which had in the meantime, while Israel was at war for the rescue of Jabesh-gilead, advanced as far as Geba. Jonathan probably took this garrison by surprise, as he and his armourbearer did the one mentioned in the following chapter.

The Philistines heard And regarded it as an indication of hostile action on the part of the Israelites.

Saul blew the trumpet Ordered it to be blown. The sound of the trumpet was the usual accompaniment of important proclamations, designed as a signal to arouse the attention of the people. Compare 2Sa 15:10; 2Sa 20:1 ; 1Ki 1:34; 2Ki 9:13.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(3) And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. (4) And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

Here is an act of presumption in Saul, unadvised of God, and as it should seem, treacherous to men. The Philistines throughout the land soon heard of the treachery done by the Israelites to one of their garrisons, and as is common among men, the whole nation took indignation at it. Let the Reader fail not to trace the hand of God in it. For as there is no intercourse between Saul and the Lord by prayer, there is no communion by way of counsel to direct him.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1Sa 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that [was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

Ver. 3. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines. ] By his father’s command no doubt, 1Sa 13:4 – else he might have been served as T. Manlius dealt by his son; for overcoming the enemy without order, he put him to death, – but a God was not consulted with, and therefore the issue of this that Jonathan did was not so happy.

That was in Geba. ] Or, Gibeah, his own native country: here this iuvenis animosus et audax, this black prince – so he might be called for his dreaded acts in battle; for “from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back”; 2Sa 1:22 likeas of our Black Prince it is said, b that he assailed no nation which he overcame not, he besieged no city which he took not – made his first enterprise and foiled the enemy. If it be demanded what weapons Jonathan and his regiment made use of, since they had scarcely any of iron, 1Sa 13:19 Lucretius answereth,

“ Arma antiqua manas, c ungues. ”

So Virgil,

“ hic torre armatus obusto,

Stipitis hic gravidi nodis. ”

And again,

“ Stipitibus duris agitur, sudibusve praeustis. ” – Aeneid. 7.

And Saul blew the trumpet. ] Omnes ad arma classico convocat, he sounds an alarm all the country over: for he knew how he had angered those wasps the Philistines.

a Livy.

b Speed, 723.

c Pugnis rem agebant, a quibus pugna dicitur. – Cassidor.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)