Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 14:47
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].
47 52. Summary account of Saul’s wars and family
47. So Saul took the kingdom ] The various wars undertaken by Saul whom the people elected king “to go out before them and fight their battles” are here summarily noticed. (1) Against Moab. See note on 1Sa 11:1. (2) Against the children of Ammon, as recorded in ch. 11, and perhaps upon other occasions. (3) Against the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, surnamed Edom (Gen 25:30), who occupied Edom or Idumaea, previously called Mount Seir (= rugged), the mountainous district stretching from the Dead Sea to the head of the Gulf of Elath. The Edomites were conquered by David (2Sa 8:14), and remained subject to Judah till the reign of Jehoram (2Ki 8:20). They are fiercely denounced by the later prophets, especially Obadiah, for their hostility to Judah. (4) Against the Syrian kingdom of Zobah on the north-east. This kingdom was probably situated between Damascus and the Euphrates, but its exact position and limits are undetermined. The “kings” were apparently independent chiefs; in David’s time it was ruled by a single king Hadadezer, and the account of David’s wars with it testify to its power and importance (2Sa 8:3-10). (5) Against the Philistines throughout his reign ( 1Sa 14:52). No special account of the wars against Moab, Edom and Zobah is given, for the object of the book is not to give a complete history of Saul’s reign, but to describe its salient features, and the sins which led to his rejection.
he vexed them ] The word means literally “to condemn,” and so (if the reading is correct) “to conquer,” the war being regarded as a suit against the enemies of God, in which defeat was tantamount to a verdict of condemnation. The Sept. however reads simply, “he was victorious.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Compare 2Sa 8:15. The preceding narrative shows that before this time Saul had been king in name only, since his country was occupied by the Philistines, and he could only muster 600 men, and those but half armed and pent up in a narrow stronghold. Now, however, on the expulsion of the Philistines from his country, and the return of the Israelites from their vassalage and from their hiding places 1Sa 14:21-22, Saul became king in deed as well as in name, and acted the part of a king through the rest of his reign in defending his people against their enemies round about. A comprehensive list of these enemies, including the Ammonite war which had already been described 1Sa 11:1-15, and the Amalekite war which follows in 1 Sam. 15, is given in 1Sa 14:47-48. There is not the slightest indication from the words whether this taking the kingdom occurred soon or really years after Sauls anointing at Gilgal. Hence, some would place the clause 1Sa 14:47-52 immediately after 1Sa 11:1-15, or 1 Sam. 12, as a summary of Sauls reign. The details of the reign, namely, of the Philistine war in 1 Sam. 13; 14, of the Amalekite war in 1 Sam. 15, and the other events down to the end of 1Sa 31:1-13, preceded by the formulary, 1Sa 13:1, would then follow according to the common method of Hebrew historical narrative.
Zobah – This was one of the petty Ara-roman kingdoms flourishing at this time (Psa 60:1-12 title). It seems to have been situated between Damascus and the Euphrates.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 47. So Saul took the kingdom] The Targum appears to give the meaning of this expression: “Saul prospered in his government over Israel.” And the proofs of his prosperity are immediately subjoined.
Fought against all his enemies] Of the wars which are mentioned here we have no particulars; they must have endured a long time, and have been, at least in general, successful.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Took the kingdom, i.e. recovered it, and resumed the administration of it, after he had in a manner lost it, partly by Samuels sentence, 1Sa 13:14, and partly by the Philistines, who had almost turned him out of it. But now, being encouraged by this success, he returns to the exercise of his kingly office.
Zobah lay not far from Damascus. See 2Sa 8:5.
He vexed them, Heb. he condemned them, he treated them like wicked people, and enemies to God and his people; or, he punished them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
47, 48. So Saul . . . fought againstall his enemies on every sideThis signal triumph over thePhilistines was followed, not only by their expulsion from the landof Israel, but by successful incursions against various hostileneighbors, whom he harassed though he did not subdue them.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So Saul took the kingdom over Israel,…. Which seemed to be almost taken from him when he was shut up in Gibeah, and the Philistines ravaged his country at pleasure; but now, having obtained a victory over them, he recovered his kingdom, and reassumed his power and authority; or he was now strengthened in it, as Kimchi interprets it; the people seeing that he succeeded in his wars with their enemies, they readily submitted to his government without any hesitation, and obeyed his commands; so the Targum,
“Saul prospered in the kingdom over Israel;”
and, according to Abarbinel, these words will admit of another sense, that whereas, after he was anointed and made king, he followed the herd, and attended rustic affairs; but now, after this victory over the Philistines, he took upon him the state and majesty of a king, and no more concerned himself with his farm and cattle, but betook himself wholly to regal and military affairs, as follows:
and fought against all his enemies on every side; who invaded his kingdom from different quarters; he defended himself against them, and preserved his kingdom:
against Moab, and against the children of Ammon; who lay to the east of him:
and against Edom; which was on the southern border of his land:
and against the king of Zobah; a part of Syria, which was to the north of the land of Israel, and was near Damascus, see 2Sa 8:3, and, according to Benjamin of Tudela o, the same with Haleb, or Aleppo, There never were but two kings of it, Rehob and Hadadezer, who lived in the reigns of Saul and David, 2Sa 8:3
and against the Philistines; who were on the western border of the land of Canaan:
and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them; disturbed and disquieted them, and made them very uneasy; he terrified and distressed them; the Targum is, he “condemned” them, he treated them as wicked and ungodly persons, and punished them as such.
o Itinerar. p. 59.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
General Summary of Saul’s other Wars, and Account of his Family. – 1Sa 14:47. “ But Saul had taken the sovereignty.” As Saul had first of all secured a recognition of himself as king on the part of all the tribes of Israel, through his victory over the Ammonites at Jabesh (1Sa 11:12.), so it was through the victory which he had gained over the Philistines, and by which these obstinate foes of Israel were driven back into their own land, that he first acquired the kingship over Israel, i.e., first really secured the regal authority over the Israelites. This is the meaning of ; and this statement is not at variance either with the election of Saul by lot (1Sa 10:17.), or with his confirmation at Gilgal ( 1Sa 11:14-15). But as Saul had to fight for the sovereignty, and could only secure it by successful warfare, his other wars are placed in the foreground in the summary account of his reign which follows (1Sa 14:47, 1Sa 14:48), whilst the notices concerning his family, which stand at the very beginning in the case of other kings, are not mentioned till afterwards (1Sa 14:49-51). Saul fought successfully against all the enemies of Israel round about; against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, a district of Syria on this side the Euphrates (see at 2Sa 8:3), and against the Philistines. The war against the Ammonites is described in 1Sa 11:1-15; but with the Philistines Saul had to wage repeated war all the days of his life (1Sa 14:52). The other wars are none of them more fully described, simply because they were of no importance to the history of the kingdom of God, having neither furnished occasion for any miraculous displays of divine omnipotence, nor brought about the subjection of hostile nations to the power of Israel. “ Whithersoever he turned, he inflicted punishment.” This is the rendering which Luther has very aptly given to ; for signifies to declare wrong, hence to condemn, more especially as applied to judges: here it denotes sentence or condemnation by deeds. Saul chastised these nations for their attacks upon Israel.
1Sa 14:48 “ And he acquired power;” (as in Num 24:18) does not merely signify he proved himself brave, or he formed an army, but denotes the development and unfolding of power in various respects. Here it relates more particularly to the development of strength in the war against Amalek, by virtue of which Saul smote this arch-enemy of Israel, and put an end to their depredations. This war is described more fully in 1 Samuel 15, on account of its consequences in relation to Saul’s own sovereignty.
1Sa 14:49-51 Saul’s family. – 1Sa 14:49. Only three of his sons are mentioned, namely those who fell with him, according to 1Sa 31:2, in the war with the Philistines. Jisvi is only another name for Abinadab (1Sa 31:2; 1Ch 8:33; 1Ch 9:39). In these passages in the Chronicles there is a fourth mentioned, Esh-baal, i.e., the one who is called Ish-bosheth in 2Sa 2:8, etc., and who was set up by Abner as the antagonist of David. The reason why he is not mentioned here it is impossible to determine. It may be that the name has fallen out simply through some mistake in copying: the daughters Michal and Merab are mentioned, with special reference to the occurrence described in 1Sa 18:17.
1Sa 14:50-51 Abner the general was also Saul’s cousin. For “ son of Abiel ” ( ben Abiel) we must read “ sons of Abiel ” ( bne Abiel: see 1Sa 9:1).
1Sa 14:52 The statement, “ and the war was hard (severe) against the Philistines as long as Saul lived,” merely serves to explain the notice which follows, namely, that Saul took or drew to himself every strong man and every brave man that he saw. If we observe this, which is the true relation between the two clauses in this verse, the appearance of abruptness which we find in the first notice completely vanishes, and the verse follows very suitably upon the allusion to the general. The meaning might be expressed in this manner: And as Saul had to carry on a severe war against the Philistines his whole life long, he drew to himself every powerful man and every brave man that he met with.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| The Amalekites Destroyed. | B. C. 1067. |
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, 1Sa 14:47; 1Sa 14:48. 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.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Saul’s Kingdom, vs. 47-52
Chapter 14 concludes with a resum6 of Saul’s kingdom. Only in this passage is revealed many of the military campaigns of Saul. Without this passage one might conclude that Saul did not have many accomplishments in behalf of Israel during his long reign. It is revealed here, however, that he encountered people on every side of him and “vexed them,” evidently coming out victorious. Only his wars with the Philistines, Ammonites, and the Amalekites are related in any detail in the Scriptures. Largely Saul brought to Israel independence from the surrounding enemies, though the greatest difficulty was with the Philistines. The last verse reveals that Israel was almost constantly at war with the Philistines, and that it was very severe, during the reign of Saul.
The three older of Saul’s sons are named here. The fourth is not named, until after his father’s death, the reason for which is not revealed. Saul also had sons by his concubine, Rizpah, who are not named here. His two daughters, Merab and Michal, are named. Both were offered to David later, and he eventually married the younger, Michal. His wife, Ahinoam, is not known further, though she is mention occasionally. Abner, the captain of Saul’s host, was his cousin, and was a very able and valiant man. Saul’s father was Kish, his grandfather Abiel. His army was strengthened by his draft of every strong and valiant man he found in Israel. (See 2Sa 2:12; 2Sa 21:8; 1Sa 18:17; 1Sa 20:30; 1Sa 26:13 ff, etc.)
Lessons from chapter fourteen include: 1) One may lose his opportunity to serve the Lord by hesitation; 2) when God’s will is known one should go forward and not worry about the odds; 3) though the Lord uses men, He does not have to use them to accomplish His purposes; 4) when one stands for the Lord many others may also be encouraged to stand forth; 5) a bad oath is not pleasing to the Lord and will only bring evil as its result; 6) in the end the predictions of the Lord turn out just as He foretold.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
1Sa. 14:47. So Saul took the kingdom. As Saul had first of all secured a recognition of himself as king on the part of all the tribes of Israel by his victories over the Ammonites at Jabesh (1Sa. 11:12), so it was through the victory which he had gained over the Philistines, and by which these obstinate foes of Israel were driven back into their own land, that he first acquired the kingship over Israel, i.e., first really secured the regal authority over the Israelites. The war against the Ammonites is described in chap. 11; but with the Philistines Saul had to wage war all the days of his life (1Sa. 14:52). The other wars are none of them more fully described, simply because they were of no importance to the kingdom of God. (Keil.) Dr. Erdmann takes a different view of these words. He says: The words do not stand in pragmatical connection with the preceding narrative of the battle against the Philistines, as if the intention was to state that thus Saul gained royal authority. His accession to the throne is mentioned merely as starting-point for the historical statistical statement of the various wars which he carried on from the beginning of his government. What is said of them before and after this is determined by the theocratic point of view, and is designed to show how Saul, in fulfilling his royal calling (essentially a warlike one), came into principal conflict with the theocratic task and significance of the kingdom, and therefore incurred of necessity the judgment of God. There seems to be something of disapprobation in this expression, as if Saul took it as his own, rather than received it from God. (Wordsworth.) Zobah. This was one of the petty Araman kingdoms flourishing at this time (Psalms 60, title). It seems to have been situated between Damascus and the Euphrates. The details given in 2Sa. 8:3-8; 2Sa. 8:12; 2Sa. 10:6-8; 2Ch. 8:3, show it to have been a wealthy and powerful tribe, and to have asserted its independence in Solomons reign. (Biblical Commentary.)
1Sa. 14:49. Ishni. Abinadab stands for this name in 1Sa. 31:2; 1Ch. 8:33; 1Ch. 9:39. In the passages in Chronicles there is a fourth son mentioned, named Esh-baal, who is doubtless the one called Ishbosheth in 2Sa. 2:8. It is impossible to say why he is not mentioned here.
1Sa. 14:51. This verse should be read: And Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel.
1Sa. 14:52. When Saul saw any strong man, etc. This remark is probably made in anticipation of Davids being taken into Sauls service, 1Sa. 16:18-19; 1Sa. 18:2, where the expressions are the same as here. (Biblical Commentary.)
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Sauls Other Battles and His Family. 1Sa. 14:47-52
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 Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
50 And the name of Sauls wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Sauls 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.
24.
Over what kingdoms did Saul have victory? 1Sa. 14:47-48
Saul won victories over practically all of the surrounding kingdoms. Those specifically mentioned include Moab, the land just east of the Jordan river; Edom, the kingdom of the descendants of Esau, being the land lying in the south of the Dead Sea, Philistia, the land bordering along the Mediterranean Sea, and extending from the River of Egypt to the Bay of Acre along the west of the land allotted to the twelve tribes; Zobah, the land lying in and around the Lebanon Mountains; and the Amalekites, the land lying in the wilderness to the west of the land of Edom. The people could with propriety sing, Saul has slain his thousands (1Sa. 18:7).
25.
How many sons did Saul have? 1Sa. 14:49
Only three sons of Saul are mentioned in this early part of his reignJonathan, Ishui, and Melchi-shua. From later history and references in genalogies, we learn that he also had a son named Ish-baal (Esh-baal in 1Ch. 9:39) or Ish-bosheth. It was Ish-bosheth who was made king over Israel with his capital at Mahanaim in Gilead after Sauls death (2Sa. 2:8). Ishui is called Abinadab in 1Ch. 9:39 and in 1Sa. 31:2. The three older sons of Saul were killed with him in the battle on Mount Gilboa, leaving only Ish-bosheth as a survivor and a claimant of the throne.
26.
How many daughters did Saul have? 1Sa. 14:49 b
Daughters are not often mentioned in the Bible unless they enter into important events. Of Adam it was written that he begat sons and daughters ( Gen. 5:5 b), but only the sonsCain, Abel, and Sethare named. Jacobs daughter, Dinah, was named along with his twelve sons (Gen. 30:21); but probably this was because she occasioned the unhappy experience at Shechem (Genesis 34). Two of Sauls daughters are mentioned. Merab was the older of the two. She should have been given to David as his wife; but when the time for the marriage was fulfilled, Saul gave her to be another mans wife (1Sa. 18:19). Michal, Sauls younger daughter, loved David, and Saul did give her to be Davids wife (1Sa. 18:27).
27.
Who was Sauls wife? 1Sa. 14:50
Sauls wife was named Ahinoam. As far as the Scripture narrative describes his marital relations, there is mention of only this one wife. He did have a concubine whose name was Rizpah (2Sa. 3:7). Ahinoam is identified as the daughter of Ahimaaz, but nothing more is known of her father or the other members of the family. Ahimaaz is a rather common name for a man in Israel, and in later history the name was given to one of the sons of the priests (2Sa. 17:17). Saul called his wife a perverse and rebellious woman (1Sa. 20:30), but we do not have any knowledge of why he should call her this except our understanding that Saul was almost insanely jealous and selfish. Probably she was a good woman.
28.
Who was the captain of Sauls army? 1Sa. 14:50 b
Abner, the son or Ner, was the leader of Sauls army. He was a cousin of Saul, since Kish and Ner were brothers. In 1Sa. 9:1 Kish is identified as also being the son of Abiel. Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel (1Sa. 14:51). The family appears to have been rather closely related to one another, since it was Sauls uncle who made inquiry about the search for the asses of Kish when Saul and his servant returned from their meeting with Samuel (1Sa. 10:14). Abner remained with Saul throughout his reign and upheld the honor of the family after Sauls death by placing Sauls son on the throne of Israel (2Sa. 2:8). He entered into negotiations with David in an attempt to put David on the throne of all the tribes; but he was killed by Joab, who thought Abner should have spared Asahel (see 2Sa. 3:27). David respected Abner and called him a prince and a great man (2Sa. 3:38).
29.
What was the nature of Sauls reign? 1Sa. 14:52
Most of Sauls time on the throne was spent in battle. The war against the Philistines was described as being sore; and when he ascended to the throne, he went out to battle against the Ammonites (1Sa. 11:1-15). His failure to slay the Amalekites had brought about his being rejected as king (1Sa. 15:1-35). Samuel had warned the Israelites that the king would take their sons to fight in his army (1Sa. 8:11); and this had come to pass as when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him (1Sa. 14:52 b).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(47) So Saul took the kingdom over Israel.Some expositors closely connect this verse with the successful termination of the Philistine war, considering that it was through this great victory over the nation which had so long harassed and impoverished Israel that Saul really acquired for the first time the regal authority over all Israel, and that previously his rule had only been acknowledged in certain of the tribes. It is, however, better to consider the statement contained in this verse as simply a general view of Sauls reign, which was a reign of perpetual wars. The words, then, of our verse are simply introductory to the list of wars waged from the very beginning of his government. It should be observed that this view is supported by the mention of the Ammonite war, which took place a considerable time before the events just related. Such a mention would, therefore, be out of place, unless we take this verse as containing a general statementin other words, Saul assumed the reins of government, and during his reign he waged the following wars.
On every side . . . Moab . . . Ammon . . . Edom . . . Zobah . . . Philistines.This enumeration of the nations with whom he fought literally included the countries on every side of the Land of Promise. Moab and Ammon bounded the Israelites on the east; Edom on the south; the Philistines on the west, along the coast of the Mediterranean; while Zobah was a district of Syria on the north-east of the territory of the twelve tribes, lying between the Euphrates and the Syrian Orontes.
He vexed them.The exact sense of the Hebrew word yarshia, rendered in our version he vexed, has puzzled all commentators. The LXX. evidently read another word here, as they translate it by eszeto, he was preserved. The majority of the versions and Gesenius, however, give the real sense: Whithersoever he (Saul) turned himself lie was victorious. Luthers rendering is scholarly: Whithersoever he turned he inflicted punishment, and is adopted by Keil.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SAUL’S WARS AND GENEALOGY, 1Sa 14:47-52.
Several things occurred during this last Philistine invasion to weaken the people’s confidence in Saul. Nevertheless he was now established in the kingdom, and other successful battles served to strengthen his regal authority and power.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
47. Against Moab These enemies had sought to injure Israel in the days of Moses. Numbers 22.
Against the children of Ammon As described in chap. 11.
Against Edom The descendants of Esau, who had refused the Israelites a passage through their country. Num 20:14-21.
The kings of Zobah Zobah seems to have lain somewhere between Damascus and the Euphrates, but its exact position has not been determined. In the days of David it was ruled by a single king, named Hadadezer. 2Sa 8:3.
Against the Philistines Against these inveterate foes he carried on war, at intervals, all his days, (1Sa 14:52,) and at last was conquered by them. Chap. 31.
He vexed them The Hebrew word thus rendered here is the Hiphil form of the verb , and has been rendered variously. Septuagint, He saved himself. Vulgate, He was victorious. So Gesenius and Furst. Luther, He executed punishment. This last is best supported by the usage of the language.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A Summary Of Saul’s Earlier Reign And Its Successes And Of His Close Family ( 1Sa 14:47-52 ).
Having demonstrated both Saul’s partial success, mainly through the faith of Jonathan, and his partial failure as a result of his own distorted religious ideas, the writer looks back and summarises his reign from when he took over the kingship. It will be noted that he could not have said what he did about the Philistines, firstly of Israel’s subjection to them, and then of their triumph over them, had he not previously described the situation above. These had not occurred at the commencement of his reign. But now the Philistines too could be listed among the defeated nations, and thus a complete list of victories can be given. This explains why these words come after the incident above. The order is intended to be topical, not chronological.
Even then, however, the writer will not let all the credit go to Saul and he therefore introduces another figure, Saul’s uncle, whose name is Abner, who is the commander-in-chief of the armies of Saul. It is almost as though he was saying, ‘Remember that Saul did not do it on his own’.
Analysis.
a
b And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who despoiled them (1Sa 14:48).
c Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal, and the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz (1Sa 14:49-50 a).
b And the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, the uncle of Saul. And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel (1Sa 14:50-51).
a And there was fierce war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him (1Sa 14:52).
Note that in ‘a’ we are informed of the victories of Saul, while in the parallel we learn that in the case of the Philistines the warfare continued throughout the days of Saul with the result that he had always to be on the look out for good warriors so that he could maintain a standing army and as a result keep them in check. In ‘b’ he delivered Israel out of the hands of those who despoiled them, while in the parallel it is emphasised that he had in this the assistance of his uncle, the mighty Abner, commander-in-chief of his forces. Centrally in ‘c’ we have described the family of Saul.
1Sa 14:47
‘ Now when Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he 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 wherever he turned himself, he put them to the worse.’
Note the reference back to ‘when he had taken over the kingship’. What we learn here indicates how little we know about Saul’s genuine early achievements, for it is made quite clear that he had been kept constantly busy, especially in Transjordan against the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites, and against threats from the north from the Aramean kingdom of Zobah. But he had defeated them all. Only against the Philistines had he been unable to achieve victory, and now that too had been accomplished.
1Sa 14:48
‘ And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who despoiled them.’
The separate reference here to the smiting of the Amalekites may refer to 1 Samuel 15, or it may have in mind earlier attempts by the Amalekites to invade Israel. The Amalekites were ferocious, wandering desert tribes (similar to the Bedouin) who would constantly swoop down on any nation that they found to be in a weak condition in order to kill simply for the pleasure of it, and in order to obtain tribute and booty, often in alliance with others (compare Jdg 3:13; Jdg 6:3). They were unholy predators. That was why in the end they had to be utterly destroyed.
Up to this point then Saul’s reign could be said to have been reasonably successful, for while he had had to wait for success against the Philistines, he had succeeded admirably against others. And now at last even the defeat of the Philistines had been achieved.
However, as the writer has already indicated throughout 1 Samuel 13-14, Saul has also begun to go downhill, and this will be brought home in the chapters that follow where it will be demonstrated how the last part of Saul’s reign reveals his continuing disobedience, his consequent rejection by YHWH, his subsequent illness, his sense of absolute monarchy, the murderous nature of his own inclinations, his opposition to David, the man of God’s choice, and his own rapidly deteriorating spiritual state.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Saul’s Campaigns
v. 47. So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, v. 48. And he gathered an host, v. 49. Now, the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: v. 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, v. 51. And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
v. 52. And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
(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 an 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.
The victory, which begun from such small and inconsiderable means, as Jonathan and his armour bearer, was prosecuted to great exploits. It should seem, as if the Lord meant that Israel should learn from it, how much his mercy was with his people, notwithstanding their undeservings. if we spiritualize the subject, as it concerns God’s people, the same gracious lesson is exhibited to us now. We may, without going far in the enquiry of our lives, see enough to discover that our success is wholly in God’s favor, not man’s desert; that grace is not bestowed for our merit, nor withheld for our transgressions. The rich and full salvation by Jesus, founded as it is in free and sovereign love, like the dew of heaven, waiteth not for man, neither tarrieth for the sons of men; but comes to us of the Lord’s own bounty, and hath for its beginning God’s love, and for its end God’s glory. For of him and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory, forever, and ever. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 14:47 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].
Ver. 47. So Saul took the kingdom. ] Out of which he had been well nigh ousted by the Philistines; he took it, that is, he undertook the managing administration of it. Or, he took it, though God had said he should lose it, as it were in opposition to God; and therefore gathered a host and beat his enemies round about. Like as wicked Ahab, to cross the oracle concerning the rooting out of his posterity, so followed the work of generation, that he left seventy sons behind him. 2Ki 10:1
And against the kings of Zobah.
He vexed them.
a Lib. vi. cap. 28.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) in verses: 1Sa 14:47-48.
children = sons.
he vexed them = he put them to the worse. But Septuagint reads “he was victorious”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Saul: 1Sa 13:1
fought: 2Ki 14:27
Ammon: 1Sa 11:11, 1Sa 12:2
Zobah: 2Sa 10:6, 1Ki 11:23
Reciprocal: 1Sa 20:13 – he hath been with my father 1Sa 22:3 – the king 2Sa 8:2 – he smote 2Sa 8:3 – Zobah 1Ch 18:3 – Zobah 1Ch 18:5 – Zobah 1Ch 19:6 – Zobah 1Ch 26:28 – Abner
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 14:47-48. Saul took the kingdom That is, resumed the administration of it, after he had, in a manner, lost it by the Philistines, who had almost got the entire possession of it, and enslaved Israel. And fought against all his enemies on every side He did not invade them, as may be gathered from the next verse, but repelled them, and kept them within their own limits. He gathered a host, and smote the Amalekites; which war is described at large in the next chapter.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 14:47-51. In this section the editor gives a concluding summary concerning Saul as king, before narrating his deposition in the next chapter. In the editors eyes, Saul ceased to be king de jure, when Samuel anointed David to supersede him. But, according to the older documents, David himself did not take this view (1Sa 24:6, 1Sa 26:11). Saul fought successfully against a number of the neighbouring tribes: Moab; Ammon; Edom; Zobah, a Syrian state to the NE. of Palestine; Philistines; Amalekites. Next, a list of Sauls children; here Ishvi is for Ishyo, a contraction of Ish-Yahweh, Man of Yahweh, the same as Ishbaal. In early times Baal was used quite innocently as a title of Yahweh (cf. Hos 2:16). In 2 Samuel 23, etc., the name is given in the form Ishbosheth, Man of Shame, the later Jews expressing their repugnance to Baal by substituting bosheth for his name (Num 32:38*, 1Ki 16:32*). Then we are told that the commander-in-chief was the kings cousin: we should probably follow Josephus (Ant. VI. vi. 6) in reading 1Sa 14:51 as And Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel. Ner is Sauls uncle, not (as 1Ch 8:33; 1Ch 9:36) Abner (Driver and Cent.B).
1Sa 14:52. The ancient narrative, continues 1Sa 14:46.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
4. Saul’s limited effectiveness in battle 14:47-52
Saul was an active warrior and was effective to an extent due to his native abilities and God’s limited blessing. He punished the enemies of Israel (1Sa 14:47-48), which was God’s will. Yet he did not subdue and defeat them all as David did.
The information concerning Saul’s family members that the writer recorded here corresponds to other similar ancient Near Eastern texts. It was common to give this information as part of a summary of a king’s accomplishments (cf. 2 Samuel 8). Ishvi is probably an alternative name for Ishbosheth.
God would later bring valiant warriors to David as He had previously brought to Saul (1Sa 10:26), but Saul now had to select recruits by personally evaluating them. This is another indication of God’s limited blessing on Saul. In contrast, hundreds of soldiers volunteered to serve with David. Saul established a standing army in Israel for the first time (cf. 1Sa 8:11).