Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 13:7
And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
7. some of the Hebrews ] The soundness of the text is rendered doubtful by the peculiarity of the construction, and the use of the term “Hebrews” without apparent reason. The Sept., changing the vowels of the word Hebrews, renders, “And they who went over went over Jordan, &c.;” but this can hardly be right either.
all the people followed him trembling ] The nation obeyed his summons, but in the greatest alarm at the proximity of the Philistine host.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The words some of, which are the emphatic words in the King James Version, as distinguishing those who crossed the Jordan from those who hid themselves, are not in the Hebrew at all. The Hebrews seem to be distinguished from the men of Israel in 1Sa 13:6. (Compare 1Sa 14:21.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
All the people, to wit, his whole army, opposed to the common people, 1Sa 13:6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead,…. As far off as they could from the Philistines, who lay on the west of the land of Israel, and these countries were to the east. Kimchi observes, that the land of Reuben is not mentioned, which was on the other side Jordan also; because that was nearer to it than what was inhabited by Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; and therefore they chose to go further, thinking themselves there safer:
as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal; where he stayed till Samuel should come to him, as directed, 1Sa 10:8 to have his advice and counsel:
and all the people followed him trembling; all that were with him, the army as distinct from the common people; they abode by him, and were at his command, and were ready to go where he should direct them; but with trembling hearts when they saw the pain of the people, fleeing into holes and corners, and considered what a huge host the Philistines were coming upon them with, and Samuel their prophet not with them to encourage and counsel them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. Hebrews went over Jordan Which shows that the Gilgal where Saul tarried all this time was in the plains of Jericho, (see on 1Sa 13:4,) whence numbers might easily steal away to the land of Gad and Gilead, which lay across the Jordan immediately opposite Jericho.
Followed him trembling Those that did follow him, over and above the many that deserted to the caves and deserts, trembled through fear of soon falling into the hands of an enraged and cruel enemy.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Saul Offends YHWH ( 1Sa 13:7-14 ).
It would appear from what follows that the offering of sacrifices at Gilgal for seven days, followed by a special offerings made by Samuel on the seventh day, was seen as necessary whenever the tribal muster came together, in order that they might receive instructions from YHWH as their Divine War-Leader. This was in accordance with the practise laid down by Samuel in 1Sa 10:8. Thus it was necessary to wait at Gilgal, with the host partly in hiding, until Samuel arrived to perform the necessary sacrifices. This would suggest that there was still no official High Priest to do the honours, and that ordinary priests were simply not seen as sufficient. 1Sa 13:8 must not be seen as simply a fulfilment of 1Sa 10:8. It is far too disconnected from it for that, (a gathering at Michmash, a time spent by Saul on his farm, a foray against the Ammonites, and a time at Gilgal), especially as there had been visits to Gilgal in between.
1Sa 13:7
‘ Now (the) Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.’
This reference to the dispersal of ‘the Hebrews’ would fit in with the idea that it has in mind Habiru mercenaries who had retreated to safety across the Jordan to Gad and Gilead, leaving the people in general with Saul, while they on their part awaited the call to return. On the other hand ‘all the people’ may simply indicate ‘all those who were still with him’, and the definite article on ‘the Hebrews’ may be intended to be redundant so that we read simply as ‘Hebrews’ (the definite article in Hebrew often simply means ‘the ones we are talking about’ and nothing more). Thus it may simply be indicating that some of the Transjordanian tribes slipped back home, while the remainder remained at Gilgal in a sad state of funk (hidden among the rocks). The main importance of the statement, however, is that Saul and his levy had remained in Gilgal with the bravest of the people, even though many of them were in a blue funk.
1Sa 13:8
‘ And he waited seven days, according to the set time that Samuel expected, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him.’
Comparison with 10:8 suggests that whenever Saul came to Gilgal in order to prepare ritually for what YHWH might want him to do, seven days of sacrifices offered by ordinary priests were seen as essential preparation before the final burnt offering and peace offerings that Samuel would offer as substitute High Priest which would enable him then to show Saul what YHWH wanted him to do. (It is not likely that Saul and the people would be expected to wait at the Sanctuary for seven days and not offer sacrifices. They would be an expression of confidence in YHWH). However, when the seventh day came Samuel had not arrived at the time when Saul was expecting him, and meanwhile many of the people were slipping away, or were scattering in the hills in hiding. This was causing Saul to panic.
“The set time that Samuel expected/had fixed as a regular practise .” In the Hebrew there is no verb and we thus have to read in what we consider that the writer is trying to say.
1Sa 13:9
‘ And Saul said, “Bring here the burnt-offering to me, and the peace-offerings.” And he offered the burnt-offering.’
So when Samuel did not arrive at what he saw as the expected time the impatient Saul felt that he could wait no longer, and ordered that the burnt offering and peace offerings should be brought. ‘And he offered the burnt offering.’ This may mean that he called on the ordinary priests to offer it, and that his sin was in not waiting on YHWH’s timing. Alternately, many consider that it indicates that he himself offered it in the guise of a king-priest. Most local kings were king-priests, and the idea then is that he went beyond his station because he saw himself as ‘a king like all the nations’. Either way he was committing a gross sin, for the whole point of Israel’s unique relationship with YHWH was that they took their orders from Him.
1Sa 13:10
‘ And it came about that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, so that he might salute him.’
But the impatient Saul had acted too soon, for as soon as the offering of the burnt-offering had been finalised, Samuel arrived in time to fulfil his duty. And Saul went out to greet him so as to welcome him. It appears that he did not feel that what he had done was really so bad after all, which demonstrated how much he was spiritually lacking. He saw what he had done as a military necessity, not as disobedience to his Commander-in-Chief, simply because his trust was in the big battalions rather than in YHWH. What he should have recognised of course was that YHWH could save by many or by few, so that what was important was keeping YHWH on side.
1Sa 13:11-12
‘ And Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the fixed amount of days, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash, therefore I said, “Now will the Philistines come down on me to Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favour of YHWH’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering.” ’
But Samuel was aghast. To him what Saul had done indicated a total lack of faith in YHWH. It was rebellion of the highest order. ‘What have you done?’ he cried. This may have been because he saw Saul as having broken the levitical law concerning the limiting of the offering of sacrifices to the Aaronic priesthood, or because he saw him as not having waited for YHWH’s instructions, and thus as having interfered in the process laid down by YHWH by which Samuel received his guidance and direction from God and ensured YHWH’s blessing. Either way it was disobedience and sacrilege.
Saul replied that he had done what he did because:
1). He had seen the people slipping away (or scattering in the mountains in order to hide).
2). Samuel had not arrived at the time when he had expected him.
3) The Philistines were assembled at Michmash and were possibly waiting to come down on them.
4). He had not yet been able to seek the favour of YHWH.
Thus he had forced himself to offer the burnt offering. What he had failed to see was that it was more important to obey YHWH than to offer a burnt offering in disobedience. Doing the latter was not the way to obtain the favour of YHWH.
1Sa 13:13
‘ And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of YHWH your God, which he commanded you. For now would YHWH have established your kingship on Israel for ever.” ’
Samuel now told him that he had behaved very foolishly, because he had not kept the word that YHWH his God had commanded him. If only he had done so, and had demonstrated his faith in YHWH and had continued to be faithful, YHWH would have established his dynasty for ever. His descendants after him would have been kings over Israel.
Note that Samuel speaks of ‘YHWH your God’. He wants Saul to recognise his own direct responsibility to YHWH.
(If we consider this to be a little unfair we should note that in fact Saul’s dynasty did partly continue, but failed because it was no match for David. That is why Judah initially chose David as their king. It is probable that Ishbosheth’s (Abner’s) aim was to force Judah to rejoin Israel, but even with a larger ‘host’ it did not prove strong enough to cope with David’s military ability. The writer knew why. It was because David was possessed by the Spirit of YHWH).
1Sa 13:14
“ But now your kingship will not continue. YHWH has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and YHWH has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what YHWH commanded you.”
But now he learned that because he had not been obedient, while his kingship would continue, it would not continue beyond his own lifetime. For the fact was that YHWH has now looked elsewhere and found a man after His own heart, a man who would have waited, a man who would seek to do only His will, and He has already in His own mind appointed him to be the future war-leader of Israel. And all this because Saul had not fulfilled what YHWH had commanded him.
We should note that at this point Saul was not totally rejected by YHWH as a result of what he had done in not obeying Him. It was simply that the blessings that he would receive would be limited, and he would receive no directions from YHWH for this particular situation. But he would still continue as king. His final rejection would come later. We note here that he suffers the same judgment as Eli who was also not himself rejected, but whose dynasty was to be replaced by one more fitting to YHWH.
So one result of his failure was that Samuel now had no instruction for him from YHWH, and he was thus left to manage things on his own. YHWH, however, had not totally deserted His people for He would in the event enable him, along with his son Jonathan, eventually to defeat the Philistines and drive them back. But this would not be because of Saul, but because of Jonathan’s faith in Him. This was a tragedy for Saul because if Samuel had been guiding him perhaps he would not have committed the folly of making a rash vow, and the victory would have been all the greater (1Sa 14:24; 1Sa 14:30; 1Sa 14:46).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
“… all the people followed him trembling.” 1Sa 13:7 .
We are reminded of the words “Faint, yet pursuing.” The people were trembling, yet even in their trembling they were following their king and leader “The men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in the rocks, and in high places, and in pits.” It is in extremities that the quality of men is tested. Saul was now overborne; yet he was called upon to take some definite action, and the people, though with great misgiving and trembling of heart, went after him. There is a following that is the mere expression of despair; it is either attempting to follow, or it is dying in solitude and starvation; the very path seems to be but a choice of evils; no great credit therefore is due to the men who simply preferred one form of extinction to another. Here is the press of military discipline, even in this state of disorganisation. Saul was at the head, Saul was in his right place, and the people were following, though in great weakness and trepidation. It must be so with the followers of Christ; he is the Captain of our salvation; he is not to be superseded, or overrun, or in any way displaced: even when he seems to be going forth to a fruitless war he is to be followed by stout hearts. Trembling is permitted even in Christian experience. There is a trembling that is significant of reverence; there is also a trembling which means self-misgiving or self-distrust. When we are weak, then are we strong. If so be we renounce our own strength, and place absolute confidence in God, we may tremble so far as we are personally concerned, yet under all the trembling there is a rock of assurance, a complete and steadfast faith in the ultimate rule of God. “Perfect love casteth out fear.” A man may either pray that the Philistines may be diminished in strength, or that his own courage may be stimulated to a higher degree: the latter is the nobler prayer: to conquer simply because our enemies have been decimated by fire or tempest or plague is a very poor victory: but to rise to the occasion by the inspiration of love, by the confidence of growing faith, and to smite sharply and heavily in the strength of God, this is the victory which all Christians should seek to realise; this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Where faith is strong, one will chase a thousand, and two will put ten thousand to flight. Our prayer should not be that our enemies may be diminished, but that we may be the more perfectly qualified to encounter and overthrow them. This is also a call to victory over our own passions: we are not to wait until old age has cooled the blood, or until many infirmities have taken away all desire for the delights of sin; in the very heyday of life, when the blood is at fullest heat, when temptations are a thousand strong, all plying the soul with continual importunity, it is even then that we may rise to a sense of supreme strength, it is even then that we may live the noble and beneficent life. The great Christian lesson is that we are to follow Christ, however extreme the danger, however improbable the success, however hopeless the issue so far as our own strength is concerned, we go forward, we go to the battle in the name and strength of the Lord God, and though the Philistine be very strong, though bis tread seems to shake the earth, though his staff be as a weaver’s beam, yet we shall, being nerved by the Holy One, strike him with a deadly stroke. The battle is not ours, but God’s.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
1Sa 13:7 And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Ver. 7. And all the people followed him trembling. ] M ; they were quite dispirited; and now that all seemed to be on fire, they rang their bells backwards as it were. Such as whose hearts are not ballasted with grace, no marvel though they ride uncertainly, and sometimes dash fearfully.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Hebrews went over. Figure of speech Paronomasia (Ap 6), `ibrim `abru.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Hebrews: Lev 26:17, Lev 26:36, Lev 26:37, Deu 28:25
Gad: Num 32:1-5, Num 32:33-42, Deu 3:12, Jos 13:24-31
followed him trembling: Heb. trembled after him, Deu 20:8, Jdg 7:3, Hos 11:10, Hos 11:11
Reciprocal: Gen 31:46 – an heap 1Sa 13:15 – about six 1Sa 17:24 – him 1Ki 20:4 – I am thine 2Ki 13:7 – fifty horsemen Psa 60:1 – scattered Mar 14:54 – Peter
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 13:7-8. Some of the Hebrews went over Jordan They fled as far as they could from the present danger, even into the country of the two tribes and a half. All the people followed him trembling That is, all that were left, who, it appears, were not many. He tarried seven days Not seven complete days, for the last day was not finished. According to the set time that Samuel had appointed This seems to refer to the command given two years before, and recorded 1Sa 10:8 : see the note on that verse. But Samuel came not to Gilgal So soon as Saul expected him.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:7 And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of {f} Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
(f) Where the two tribes and the half remained.