Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 13:22
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 [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
This seems to be mentioned here, in anticipation of the narrative in the next chapter, to enhance the victory gained, through Gods help 1Sa 14:23, by the comparatively unarmed Israelites over their enemies. What with occasional skirmishes with the Philistines, the necessity of using their arms for domestic purposes, accidental losses, and the ordinary wear and tear, coupled with the impossibility of renewing their arms from the want of smiths and forges, the people that were with Saul and Jonathan came to be very imperfectly armed. It has been observed, moreover, that the Benjamites were more famous for the use of the sling than for any other weapon Jdg 20:16, and this would be an additional cause of the paucity of swords and spears.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. In the day of battle – these was neither sword nor spear] But if the Israelites enjoyed such profound peace and undisturbed dominion under Samuel, how is it that they were totally destitute of arms, a state which argues the lowest circumstances of oppression and vassalage? In answer to this we may observe, that the bow and the sling were the principal arms of the Israelites; for these they needed no smith: the most barbarous nations, who have never seen iron, have nevertheless bows and arrows; the arrow heads generally made of flint. Arrows of this kind are found among the inhabitants of the South Sea islands; and even axes, and different implements of war, all made of stone, cut and polished by stone, are frequent among them. The arms of the aboriginal Irish have been of this kind. I have frequently seen heads of axes and arrows of stone, which have been dug up out of the ground, formed with considerable taste and elegance. The former the common people term thunderbolts; the latter, elf-stones. Several of these from Ireland, from Zetland, and from the South Sea islands, are now before me.
Now it is possible that the Israelites had still bows and arrows: these they could have without the smith; and it is as likely that they had slings, and for these they needed none. But then these were missiles; if they came into close fight, they would avail them nothing: for attacks of this kind they would require swords and spears; of these none were found but with Saul and Jonathan.
WE see, in this chapter, Israel brought to as low a state as they were under Eli; when they were totally discomfited, their priests slain, their ark taken, and the judge dead. After that, they rose by the strong hand of God; and in this way they are now to rise, principally by means of David, whose history will soon commence.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Quest. How could the Israelites smite either the garrison of the Philistines, above, 1Sa 13:3, or the host of the Ammonites, 1Sa 11:11, without arms? And when they had conquered them, why did they not take away their arms, and reserve them to their own use?
Answ. 1. This want of swords and spears is not affirmed concerning all Israel, but is restrained unto those six hundred who were with Saul and Jonathan, whom God by his providence might suffer to be without those arms, that the glory of the following victory might be wholly ascribed to God; as for the very same reason God would have but three hundred men left with Gideon, and those armed only with trumpets, and pitchers, and lamps Jdg 7. There were no doubt a considerable number of swords and spears among the Israelites, but they generally hid them, as now they did their persons, from the Philistines. And the Philistines had not yet attained to so great a power over them, as wholly to disarm them, but thought it sufficient to prevent the making of new arms, knowing that the old ones would shortly be decayed and useless.
2. There were other arms more common in those times and places than swords and spears, to wit, bows and arrows, and slings and stones; as appears from Jdg 20:16; 2Sa 1:18,22; 2Ki 3:25; 1Ch 12:1,2; besides clubs, and instruments of agriculture, which might easily be turned into weapons of war.
3. God so governed the affairs of the Israelites, that they had no great number of swords or spears, Jdg 5:8, that so they might be kept in more dependence upon and subjection unto God, wherein their safety and happiness consisted. And therefore that famous victory obtained against the Philistines in Samuels days, was not got by the sword of men, but only by thunder from heaven, 1Sa 7:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So it came to pass in the day of battle,…. When that drew near, and they were called to it, and obliged to fight or flee, or surrender:
that there were neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: which was not owing to their leaving them behind in the camp, or casting them away from them through fear, as they followed Saul with trembling, but to the cause now mentioned. In what manner some preceding battles were fought with the Philistines and Ammonites, notwithstanding, have been accounted for on
1Sa 13:19, but it is strange that the Israelites did not furnish themselves with the arms of the Philistines at the defeat of them in Ebenezer, 1Sa 7:10 and with the arms of the Ammonites at Jabeshgilead, 1Sa 11:11 and that such a warlike prince as Saul appeared at his first setting out to be should not in the first place take care to provide armour for his men by some means or another; for that those that left him should have arms, and not those that abode with him, does not seem reasonable. It may be the Benjamites, being expert in slinging, were indifferent to and neglected the use of any other weapon, or method of fighting:
but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found; swords and spears, and with them only.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(22) There was neither sword nor spear.These words must not be pressed too literally. The general result of the raids alluded to in 1Sa. 13:16-17 was that in the open valleys of Southern Canaan, especially in the Benjamite territory, the districts whence Saul and Jonathan could most easily recruit their thinned and dispirited forces, there was an absence of arms. This fact is especially dwelt upon, for the Philistines appear to have armed their fighting men to the teeth. (Compare the description of their champion, Goliath, who is described as clad in armour.)
But with Saul.These words probably signify that the companies of regulars, who throughout this disastrous period were always with the king and prince, werein contrast to the country people aroundfully armed. (See allusion, for instance, to Jonathan and his armour-bearer in the next chapter.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 13:22 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 [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
Ver. 22. There was neither sword nor spear found. ] And yet the Israelites had the day, and returned laden both with arms and victory. No armour is of proof against the Almighty. Excellently Gregory, Armati ab inermibus victi sunt ut totum quod vincitur Omnipotentis Dei laudibus tribuatur.
But with Saul and with Jonathan his son.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
with Saul = with those who were with Saul and Jonathan: a picked force.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
there was neither: 1Sa 17:47, 1Sa 17:50, Jdg 5:8, Zec 4:6, 1Co 1:27-29, 2Co 4:7
Reciprocal: 1Sa 14:1 – Jonathan 1Ch 9:39 – and Saul
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 13:22. There was neither sword nor spear This, it seems, must be restrained to the six hundred that were with Saul and Jonathan; for there were, no doubt, a considerable number of swords and spears among the Israelites, but they generally hid them, as now they did their persons, from the Philistines. And the Philistines had not yet attained to so great a power over them as wholly to disarm them, but thought it sufficient to prevent the making of new arms, knowing that the old ones would shortly be decayed and useless. There were likewise other arms more common in those times and places than swords and spears; to wit, bows and arrows, and slings and stones. And besides these, people anciently often used clubs, wherewith to beat down their enemies; and, before the invention of spears with iron points, they had sharp stakes hardened in the fire, as many authors inform us.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither {n} sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
(n) To declare that the victory only came from God, and not by their force.