Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 14:52
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.
52. he took him ] to serve in his permanent corps of picked soldiers (1Sa 13:4).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 52. When Saul saw any strong man] This was very politic. He thus continued to recruit his army with strong and effective men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Into his service, or army.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul,…. For notwithstanding the late victory over them, and slaughter made among them, they recovered themselves, and came out again to battle, and gave Saul a great deal of trouble, and he at last died in battle with them:
and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him; to be his bodyguard, as Josephus q says; or for soldiers and officers in his army, even such, as the same writer observes, that exceeded others in comeliness of person, and in largeness and height; such as were in some measure like himself, that were strong, able bodied men, and of courage, and valour, and fortitude of mind.
q Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(52) All the days of Saul.Although after the rout of Michmash the Philistines were driven out of their fastnesses in the land of Israel back into their own coast districts, yet all through the reign of Saul they continued to be powerful, and were a constant source of danger and trouble to the people. We know that in the end Saul lost his life in an engagement with this warlike and restless race, who were not finally crushed before the days of his successor, David. To keep them in check necessitated the maintenance of a standing army, which, in the days of David, became one of the great armed forces of the East. The reader of this verse is reminded at once of a similar military fancy of King Frederick William of Prussia, the founder of Prussian military greatness, and the father of the Great Frederick.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
52. Sore war all the days of Saul This statement is given as a reason why Saul pressed into his service every strong man of mark. In this he acted the part of a prudent general.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
PAUSE over this chapter, my soul, and mark, in the history of Saul, the sure consequences of rebellion against God. The word of the Lord assures us, that, when a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh, even his enemies to be at peace with him. But, when sinners neglect and despise the Lord, he can convert their very comforts into crosses. And Saul, though at the head of a kingdom, shall be afflicted, and his crown be filled with thorns.
But, my soul, while remarking, as in this man’s history, the sure consequences of sin, remark no less in his history, and in thine own, how gracious the Lord is, notwithstanding all our multiplied transgressions. The Lord will not retain his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. By some slender instrument, like that of Jonathan, he will work out deliverance for his people. Oh! my soul, learn to impress upon thy mind those precious things of God’s grace. And in all thy manifold undeservings, never lose sight of divine love. And when at any time trials and difficulties occur for the exercise of faith, keep a steady eye unto Jesus, that it may be enlightened with the droppings of his grace, as the honey did unto him. And depend upon it, in the strength of the Lord Jesus, it will be found that all difficulties are as nothing. He can, and will make thee more than conqueror, through the sovereignty of his power. All obstacles, in the way to the accomplishment of his holy purpose, will be as nothing, for there is no restraint to the Lord, he saveth, by many or by few.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
“… when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.” 1Sa 14:52 .
This should be the rule of the Church. Does not the Church too often look out for feeble, quiet, timid, inoffensive men? Is not negativeness of character a recommendation to the pulpit? We hear of ministers being so inoffensive, harmless, quiet, as really not to excite any painful attention; and this is supposed to be a compliment to the ministers in question. No such record is found in the New Testament. Wherever Jesus Christ went a storm was created. Of the apostles it was said, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” “Inoffensive” is the last epithet that would have been applied to an apostle. It does not follow that strong men or valiant men are to be noisy, demonstrative, or ostentatious; but it does mean that they are to be firm and clear in their testimony, resonant in their denunciation of wrong, and ever eloquent in their defence of that which is helpless and poor. Strong men and valiant men should be pre-eminently in the Church. The Church itself has become a controversial term because every one of its positions has been assailed, whether the position is doctrinal, ecclesiastical, or semi-political. Under such stress of assault we need strong and valiant men to repulse the enemy, and keep in full repair the bulwarks of the Church. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that a weak man may make a refuge of the pulpit. Congregations know when a man is weak, and they soon leave him in full possession of his undesirable reputation. A timid man in the Church not only does no good, he often does very serious harm. He seems to be insincere, and there he may do himself unconscious injustice, for sincerity and tempestuousness of manner do not necessarily go together. A man, however, must not only be sincere, he must appear to be sincere to those who are observing him; that is to say, he must be just to himself, and so give the full weight of his character and ability to the side which he has espoused. There is a common saying that the fool of the family is reserved for service in the Church; when Saul’s maxim is worked upon that policy will soon be discovered to be not only an error in morals but a mistake in economical calculation.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
1Sa 14:52 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.
Ver. 52. And when Saul saw any strong man. ] Robustum et pugnacem. This was not amiss, had he not placed too much confidence in them, as indeed he did.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
valiant man. Hebrew son of valour.
he took him. As Samuel had said (1Sa 8:11, 1Sa 8:16).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when Saul: 1Sa 8:1, 1Sa 8:11
Reciprocal: 1Sa 8:9 – the manner 1Sa 13:2 – chose 1Sa 17:1 – gathered 1Sa 18:5 – the men of war Son 3:7 – threescore Eze 25:15 – to destroy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 14:52. When Saul saw any strong man, he took him That is, when he saw any one behave well in battle, or of great strength, he took him into his band to be near to him on all occasions, and to go out to battle with him.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: {z} and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
(z) As Samuel had forewarned in 1Sa 8:11.