2<\/strong>. Saul chose him three thousand men<\/em> ] And Saul chose, &c.<\/strong> The formation of a standing army<\/em> marks an important epoch in the history of a nation. It was a natural result of the election of a king, who was to be a military leader. Cp. 1Sa 14:52<\/span>. This body was only large enough to form a nucleus for the general levy of fighting men ( 1Sa 13:4<\/em><\/span>), like the hus-carls<\/em> of the Saxon kings for the Land-Fyrd<\/em>. See Green’s Hist. of the Engl. People<\/em>, p. 75.<\/p>\n in Michmash<\/em> ] The villages of Mkhms<\/em> and Jeba<\/em> preserve the names and mark the sites of Michmash and Geba. They stand on the N. and S. respectively of the Wady es Suweinit<\/em>, a deep ravine with precipitous sides running from the highlands of Benjamin to Jericho. “About two miles S. E. of Ai it becomes a narrow gorge with vertical precipices some 800 feet high.” Jonathan was in Gibeah, a few miles to the S. W. of Geba. See note on 1Sa 10:5<\/span>. We may conjecture that when Saul occupied Michmash the Philistines transferred their post, which had previously been at Gibeah (1Sa 10:5<\/span>), to Geba, in order to watch him more closely. Jonathan thereupon seized Gibeah, from which he made the successful sally described in 1Sa 13:3<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n mount Beth-el<\/em> ] The high ground between Bethel and Michmash.<\/p>\n Jonathan<\/em> ] The first mention of Saul’s eldest son, whose memory is famous not so much for his military achievements, as for his fast friendship with David. The name Jonathan<\/em> means “the gift of Jehovah,” and may be compared with the Greek Theodore<\/em>.<\/p>\n The state of things which preceded the events described in this chapter seems to have been a comparative peace between Israel and the Philistines, since Saul had only 3,000 men under arms. At the same time Philistine garrisons continued to occupy the country of the Israelites in certain strong places, whereof one was at Geba (Jeba), in the immediate neighborhood of Gibeah 1Sa 10:5<\/U><\/span>; 1Sa 13:3<\/span>, and exactly opposite Michmash (Mukhmas), which was on the northern edge of the great Wady Suweinit.<\/P><\/p>\n 1Sa 13:2-7<\/span><\/p>\n Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Aggression upon the camp of evil<\/strong><\/p>\n The spiritual application of this incident teaches us that every man in the Church is a soldier acting under Divine leadership, or human leadership Divinely appointed, and that the solemn and unchangeable duty of the great army is to make daily aggression upon the whole camp of evil. The very existence of that camp should be regarded as a challenge. There need be no waiting for formal defiance; the Christian army is justified in regarding the existence of any form or colour of evil as a call to immediate onslaught. We fight not against men, but against their corruptions. We do not kill our brother men, we seek by Divine instrumentalities to slay the evils which have debased their manhood. There must be war in the world until all evil is driven out of it. Physical carnage is incompatible with the Spirit of Christ, and is, therefore ever to be regarded with horror and inexpressible detestation; but the grand spiritual war is never to cease until the last black spot of wickedness is taken away from the fair robe of the moral creation. Judging by what is seen in the spirit and action of nominal Christians, who could justly regard them as men of intrepidity and invincible resoluteness? What trembling, what hesitation, what nightmare fancies, what ghostly noises in the night, what nameless spectres have combined to make the Church afraid! What a genius the Church has for creating fears! How afraid the Church is of sensationalism, offending the weak, annoying the sensitive, disturbing the slumbering! What wonder if amid all this unworthy hesitation the war should be going against the Divine standard! But we must not look at the people: our eyes must be upon the Captain of our salvation. In his heart there is no misgiving; he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet; he never turns back from the war; his sword is always highest in the air, pointing the road to danger and to victory. (J. Parker, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n Verse 2<\/span>. Two thousand were with Saul<\/B><\/I>] Saul, no doubt, meditated the redemption of his country from the Philistines; and having chosen three thousand men, he thought best to divide them into companies, and send one against the Philistine garrison at Michmash<\/I>, another against that at Beth-el<\/I>, and the third against that at Gibeah<\/I>: he perhaps hoped, by surprising<\/I> these garrisons, to get swords<\/I> and spears<\/I> for his men, of which we find, (1Sa 13:22<\/span>), they were entirely destitute.<\/P> <\/p>\n Saul chose, <\/B>Heb. and<\/I> (i.e. then, as that adverb is oft used, as Gen 3:5<\/span>; 18:10<\/span>, &c.) <\/P> Saul chose. Three thousand men of Israel; <\/B>which he thought sufficient for constant attendance and service, intending to summon the rest when need should be. <\/P> Michmash; <\/B>a tract of ground near Ramah and Beth-el, in the border of Benjamin, and near to the Philistines. <\/P> <\/p>\n 2. Saul chose him three thousand menof Israel<\/B>This band of picked men was a bodyguard, who werekept constantly on duty, while the rest of the people were dismissedtill their services might be needed. It seems to have been histactics to attack the Philistine garrisons in the country bydifferent detachments, rather than by risking a general engagement;and his first operations were directed to rid his native territory ofBenjamin of these enemies. <\/P> 1Sa 13:3<\/span>;1Sa 13:4<\/span>. HECALLS THE HEBREWSTO GILGAL AGAINST THEPHILISTINES.<\/P><\/p>\n Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel<\/strong>,…. Out of the 300,000 that went with him to fight the Ammonites, and returned with him to Gilgal, where he now was, and had stayed as may be supposed about a year, since now he had reigned two years. These 3000 men some of them doubtless were appointed as a guard about his person, and the rest were a standing army to preserve the peace of the nation, to protect them from their enemies, to watch the motions of the Philistines, and to be ready on any sudden invasion:<\/p>\n whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, and in Mount Bethel<\/strong>; “Michmash”, according to Bunting, s was four miles from Gilgal. Jerom t says, in his time it was shown a large village on the borders of Aella, or Jerusalem, retaining its ancient name, nine miles distant from it, near the village Rama. Adrichomius u says it is now called Byra, and Mr. Maundrell w observes that it is supposed by some to be the same with Beer, whither Jotham fled after he had delivered his parable, Jud 9:21<\/span>. Michmash is in the Misnah x celebrated for the best wheat being brought from it; and near to it, as appears from hence, was Bethel, and the mount of that name; and so Jerom y speaks of Bethel as over against Michmash; and this mount very probably is the same said to be on the east of Bethel, where Abraham built an altar, Ge 12:8<\/span> for Michmash lay to the east of Bethel:<\/p>\n and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin<\/strong>; the native place of Saul, and this Jonathan was the son of Saul, 1Sa 13:16<\/span>. According to Bunting z, Gibeah, where Jonathan was stationed, was eight miles from Michmash:<\/p>\n and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent<\/strong>; to their own houses; or, as the Targum, to their cities; these were they that came at his summons, and were numbered at Bezek, and went with him to the relief of Jabeshgilead, and had been with him ever since, and now dismissed.<\/p>\n s Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 126. t De loc Heb. fol. 93. F. u Thestrum Terrae S. p. 28. w Journey from Aleppo, p. 64. x Menachot, c. 8. sect. 1. y Ut supra, (De loc Heb.) fol. 89. G. z Ut supra, (Travels of the Patriarchs, &c.) p. 127.<\/p>\n The war with the Philistines<\/em> (1 Samuel 13-14) certainly falls, at least so far as the commencement is concerned, in the very earliest part of Saul’s reign. This we must infer partly from the fact, that at the very time when Saul was seeking for his father’s asses, there was a military post of the Philistines at Gibeah (1Sa 10:5<\/span>), and therefore the Philistines had already occupied certain places in the land; and partly also from the fact, that according to this chapter Saul selected an army of 3000 men out of the whole nation, took up his post at Michmash with 2000 of them, placing the other thousand at Gibeah under his son Jonathan, and sent the rest of the people home (1Sa 13:2<\/span>), because his first intention was simply to check the further advance of the Philistines. The dismission of the rest of the people to their own homes presupposes that the whole of the fighting men of the nation were assembled together. But as no other summoning together of the people has been mentioned before, except to the war upon the Ammonites at Jabesh (1Sa 11:6-7<\/span>), where all Israel gathered together, and at the close of which Samuel had called the people and their king to Gilgal (1Sa 11:14<\/span>), the assumption is a very probable one, that it was there at Gilgal, after the renewal of the monarchy, that Saul formed the resolution at once to make war upon the Philistines, and selected 3000 fighting men for the purpose out of the whole number that were collected together, and then dismissed the remainder to their homes. In all probability Saul did not consider that either he or the Israelites were sufficiently prepared as yet to undertake a war upon the Philistines generally, and therefore resolved, in the first place, only to attack the outpost of the Philistines, which was advanced as far as Gibeah, with a small number of picked soldiers. According to this simple view of affairs, the war here described took place at the very commencement of Saul’s reign; and the chapter before us is closely connected with the preceding one.<\/p>\n 1Sa 13:2<\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong> Saul posted himself at Michmash and on the mount of Bethel with his two thousand men. Michmash<\/em>, the present Mukhmas<\/em>, a village in ruins upon the northern ridge of the Wady Suweinit<\/em>, according to the Onom<\/em>. ( s. v. Machmas<\/em>), was only nine Roman miles to the north of Jerusalem, whereas it took Robinson<\/em> three hours and a half to go from one to the other ( Pal<\/em>. ii. p. 117). Bethel<\/em> ( Beitin<\/em>; see at Jos 7:2<\/span>) is to the north-west of this, at a distance of two hours’ journey, if you take the road past Deir-Diwan. The mountain ( ) of Bethel cannot be precisely determined. Bethel itself was situated upon very high ground; and the ruins of Beitin are completely surrounded by heights (Rob. ii. p. 126; and v. Raumer, Pal<\/em>. pp. 178-9). Jonathan stationed himself with his thousand men at (by) Gibeah of Benjamin, the native place and capital of Saul, which was situated upon Tell el Phul<\/em> (see at Jos 18:28<\/span>), about an hour and a half form Michmas.<\/p>\n 1Sa 13:3-4<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/strong> “ And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba<\/em>,” probably the military post mentioned in 1Sa 10:5<\/span>, which had been advanced in the meantime as far as Geba. For Geba<\/em> is not to be confounded with Gibeah<\/em>, from which it is clearly distinguished in 1Sa 13:16<\/span> as compared with 1Sa 13:15<\/span>, but is the modern Jeba<\/em>, between the Wady Suweinit<\/em> and Wady Fara<\/em>, to the north-west of Ramah (er-Rm; see at Jos 18:24<\/span>). “ The Philistines heard this. And Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the whole land, and proclamation made: let the Hebrews hear it<\/em>.” after points out the proclamation that was made after the alarm given by the shophar <\/em> (see 2Sa 20:1<\/span>; 1Ki 1:34<\/span>, 1Ki 1:39<\/span>, etc.). The object to “let them hear” may be easily supplied from the context, viz., Jonathan’s feat of arms. Saul had this trumpeted in the whole land, not only as a joyful message for the Hebrews, but also as an indirect summons to the whole nation to rise and make war upon the Philistines. In the word (hear), there is often involved the idea of observing, laying to heart that which is heard. If we understand in this sense here, and the next verse decidedly hints at it, there is no ground whatever for the objection which Thenius, who follows the lxx, has raised to . He proposes this emendation, , “let the Hebrews fall away,” according to the Alex. text , without reflecting that the very expression is sufficient to render the Alex. reading suspicious, and that Saul could not have summoned the people in all<\/em> the land to fall away from the Philistines, since they had not yet conquered and taken possession of the whole. Moreover, the correctness of is confirmed by in 1Sa 13:4<\/span>. “ All Israel heard<\/em>,” not the call to fall away, but the news, “ Saul has smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and Israel has also made itself stinking with the Philistines<\/em>,” i.e., hated in consequence of the bold and successful attack made by Jonathan, which proved that the Israelites would no longer allow themselves to be oppressed by the Philistines. “ And the people let themselves be called together after Saul to Gilgal<\/em>.” , to permit to summon to war (as in Jdg 7:23-24<\/span>). The words are incorrectly rendered by the Vulgate, “ clamavit ergo populus post Saul <\/em>,” and by Luther, “Then the people cried after Saul to Gilgal.” Saul drew back to Gilgal, when the Philistines advanced with a large army, to make preparations for the further conflict (see at 1Sa 13:13<\/span>).<\/p>\n 1Sa 13:5<\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong> The Philistines also did not delay to avenge the defeat at Geba. They collected an innumerable army: 30,000 chariots, 6000 horsemen, and people, i.e., foot-soldiers, without number (as the sand by the sea-shore; cf. Jdg 7:12<\/span>; Jos 11:4<\/span>, etc.). by the side of can only mean war chariots. 30,000 war chariots, however, bear no proportion whatever to 6000 horsemen, not only because the number of war chariots is invariably smaller than that of the horsemen (cf. 2Sa 10:18<\/span>; 1Ki 10:26<\/span>; 2Ch 12:3<\/span>), but also, as Bochart observes in his Hieroz<\/em>. p. i. lib. ii. c. 9, because such a number of war chariots is never met with either in sacred or profane history, not even in the case of nations that were much more powerful than the Philistines. The number is therefore certainly corrupt, and we must either read 3000 ( instead of ), according to the Syriac and Arabic, or else simply 1000; and in the latter case the origin of the number thirty must be attributed to the fact, that through the oversight of a copyist the of the word was written twice, and consequently the second was taken for the numeral thirty. This army was encamped “ at Michmash<\/em>, before<\/em> (i.e., in the front, or on the western side of) Bethaven<\/em>:” for, according to Jos 7:2<\/span>, Bethaven was to the east of Michmash; and when it occurs in geographical accounts, does not “always mean to the east,” as Thenius erroneously maintains, but invariably means simply “in front” (see at Gen 2:14<\/span>).<\/p>\n (Note: Consequently there is no ground whatever for altering the text according to the confused rendering of the lxx, , for the purpose of substituting for the correct statement in the text a description which would be geographically wrong, viz., to the south-east of Beth-horon, since Michmash was neither to the south nor to the south-east, but to the east of Beth-horon.) <\/p>\n 1Sa 13:6-7<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/strong> When the Israelites saw that they had come into a strait ( ), for the people were oppressed (by the Philistines), they hid themselves in the caves, thorn-bushes, rocks (i.e., clefts of the rocks), fortresses ( : see at Jdg 9:46<\/span>), and pits (which were to be found in the land); and Hebrews also went over the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead, whilst Saul was still at Gilgal; and all the people (the people of war who had been called together, v. 4) trembled behind him, i.e., were gathered together in his train, or assembled round him as leader, trembling or in despair.<\/p>\n The Gilgal<\/em> mentioned here cannot be Jiljilia, which is situated upon the high ground, as assumed in the Comm. on Joshua<\/em>, pp. 68f., but must be the Gilgal in the valley of the Jordan. This is not only favoured by the expression (the Philistines will come down<\/em> from Michmash to Gilgal, 1Sa 13:12<\/span>), but also by (Samuel went up<\/em> from Gilgal to Gibeah, 1Sa 13:15<\/span>), and by the general attitude of Saul and his army towards the Philistines. As the Philistines advanced with a powerful army, after Jonathan’s victory over their garrison at Geba (to the south of Michmash), and encamped at Michmash (1Sa 13:5<\/span>); and Saul, after withdrawing from Gilgal, where he had gathered the Israelites together (1Sa 13:4<\/span>, 1Sa 13:8<\/span>, 1Sa 13:12<\/span>), with Jonathan and the six hundred men who were with him when the muster took place, took up his position at Geba (1Sa 13:15<\/span>, 1Sa 13:16<\/span>), from which point Jonathan attacked the Philistine post in the pass of Michmash (1Sa 13:23<\/span>, and 1Sa 14:1<\/span>.): Saul must have drawn back from the advancing army of the Philistines to the Gilgal in the Jordan valley, to make ready for the battle by collecting soldiers and presenting sacrifices, and then, after this had been done, must have advanced once more to Gibeah and Geba to commence the war with the army of the Philistines that was encamped at Michmash. If, on the other hand, he had gone northwards to Jiljilia from Michmash, where he was first stationed, to escape the advancing army of the Philistines; he would have had to attack the Philistines from the north when they were encamped at Michmash, and could not possibly have returned to Geba without coming into conflict with the Philistines, since Michmash was situated between Jiljilia and Geba.<\/p>\n (2) Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel.<\/strong>This is a very important statement, as it tells us of the first beginning of a standing army in Israel. This was the first step towards the development of Israel into a great military power. It was Sauls military genius and foresight which enabled David and Solomon to make those great conquests which raised Israel for a time to the position of one of the greatest Eastern Powers. The really great life of Saul was frittered away in repelling what may be termed Israels domestic enemies. such as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites; but he left behind him a powerful and disciplined army, and a nation carefully trained to war. It has been asked, how was it, considering the position of Israel and the Philistines at that juncturethe latter people possessing evidently not a few strong places in the territories of the tribes, from whence they were in the habit of sallying forth, and harassing and pillaging the peoplethat Saul, instead of at once declaring war, dismissed the people gathered at Gilgal, only retaining so few? The probability is that Saul, with true military instinct, saw that Israel was at this period by no means trained or armed to undertake a regular war with such an enemy. He therefore adopted the wise course here related.<\/p>\n Whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash.<\/strong>Michmash was a position strongly situated at the head of a pass some nine miles north-east of Jerusalem. The one thousand he placed under the command of his son Jonathan, and stationed them in the neighbourhood of his old home, where he would have the benefit of the aid of his family and kinsfolk. This is the first mention of the gallant and chivalrous prince, the story of whose unbroken and romantic friendship with David is one of the most touching episodes of these books. If the substance of this narrative was written in Davids reign, we may perhaps see the effect of Davids generous and loving nature in the care taken to give Jonathan his due place of honour in the history.Speakers Commentary. 2<\/strong>. <\/strong> Saul chose three thousand of Israel <\/strong> This was probably the first act of his reign, and done at Gilgal immediately after the renewal of the kingdom there. Then all the fighting men of the nation were assembled, numbering over three hundred thousand, (1Sa 11:8<\/span>,) and there could have been no more opportune occasion on which to select a choice standing army. <\/p>\n Michmash <\/strong> This ancient city lay four miles southeast of Beth-el, and its site is identical with the modern Mukhmas, where the traveller still finds many foundations of large hewn stones, and columns lying among them. <\/p>\n Mount Beth-el <\/strong> Like mount Ephraim (1Sa 1:1<\/span>) not a single mountain, but a range of hills, intermediate between Beth-el and Michmash. On these heights Saul stationed his two thousand warriors, and for the time probably had his headquarters at Michmash. <\/p>\n A thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin <\/strong> This city was called Gibeah of Benjamin, because it belonged to that tribe. Jos 18:28<\/span>; Jdg 19:14<\/span>. Its site was at the base of the modern Tuleil-el-Ful, five miles southwest of Michmash. It appears from this passage that Saul had, at the beginning of his reign, a son old enough to take charge of a garrison of a thousand men. He must have been, then, at least forty years of age. Here we first meet with Jonathan, the strategic warrior and fast friend of David. <\/p>\n The rest of the people <\/strong> Who had assembled at Gilgal to witness the inauguration of Saul. Having chosen from among them three thousand valiant men, he dismissed the remainder to their homes.<\/p>\n Preparation For Revolt Against The Philistines ( 1Sa 13:2-6<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> ). <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The general summary nature of these verses is indicated by the fact that at the end of verse 2 Saul disbands the army, retaining only his own special fighting force, while in 1Sa 13:3<\/span> he summons all Israel together again. In the light of 13:19-23 this in itself suggests that 1Sa 13:2<\/span> points to a period of general guerilla warfare in which Saul and his small army probed at the Philistines while Israel as a whole was not called on to fight in what was seen as a hopeless cause. This would point to the fact that at some stage the Philistines had established themselves firmly in the parts of Israel that bordered on their own territory and probably even wider afield, even penetrating with their garrisons into the hills. It meant that the Israelites were now discovering what life without YHWH as their King meant. <\/p>\n 1Sa 13:2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> Saul chose for himself three military units of men of Israel, of which two units were with Saul in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and one unit were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin, and the remainder of the people he sent every man to his tent.’ <\/p>\n The phrase ‘sent every man to his tent’ usually means that they were sent home, being based on a technical phrase which had first been established when all did live in tents (compare 1Sa 4:10<\/span>; Jdg 7:8<\/span>). This would seem therefore to indicate that from the beginning of his reign Saul regularly operated only with his standing army, having sent the main body of the people home, or it may alternatively suggest that at some stage he and the army of Israel had suffered such a heavy defeat by the Philistines, that the result was that all the people had been sent home apart from this small guerilla force. Whichever way it was the host could not be kept together over an indefinite period for they had to be fed, (they could not pillage their own people), and there were also fields to be looked after and vineyards and oliveyards to be tended at home. These three military units were then probably stationed outside Philistine held territory in the hills in order to prevent further Philistine advance, and await an opportunity for retaliation. (The Philistines did not like fighting in the mountains where their chariots were useless, and the Israelites were ‘at home’). <\/p>\n Now, however, it appears that they had been brought to Michmash, the mount of Bethel and Gibeah (Saul’s home town) ready at last for an attack on the Philistine occupiers which would act as the beginning of a new campaign for freedom. No doubt one unit was stationed in each of the vantage points, one on the heights of Michmash, one on the Mount of Bethel and one on the heights at Gibeah. <\/p>\n So we may see here the writer as initially indicating very briefly the general situation with regard to Saul’s forces, a situation which had gone on over a lengthy period, that the host of Israel remained at home while Saul and his three units held back further expansion. It is, however, describing it in terms of the situation when the actions that followed took place, at which point his son Jonathan had come to maturity and had been given command of a unit. Michmash and the mount of Bethel (between Bethel and Michmash) were two high points where the small guerilla army could be safely garrisoned and remain relatively hidden, while Gibeah itself mean ‘high place’ and was clearly similar. <\/p>\n We note the advent of Jo-nathan (gift of YHWH). This would help to confirm that a good number of years had passed since Saul became king. That Jonathan was a good man is clearly revealed by his behaviour towards David, but what is also made clear in the narrative that follows is that he was a man of faith and a mighty warrior. <\/p>\n Saul’s First Major Transgression ( 1Sa 13:3-14<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> ). <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n In this passage we learn of Saul’s first major transgression against YHWH. While theoretically it could have happened at the beginning of his reign, it seems far more likely that it is describing the situation some years on when he had grown in self-esteem to such an extent that he was not too punctilious about his dealings with YHWH and His prophet. As we have seen already, most facts do seem to point to the majority of chapter 13 occurring well into Saul’s reign. <\/p>\n Initial Action Against The Philistines ( 1Sa 13:3-6<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> ). <\/p>\n 1Sa 13:3<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines which was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” ’ <\/p>\n At the time of this verse there was clearly a Philistine garrison stationed at Geba, which was a high point on the opposite side of a steep ravine from Michmash. Saul may well have been at Michmash precisely in order to keep it under observation because of the intended attack (or vice versa). Then, no doubt following a fixed plan which he had agreed with his father, while the smallish Philistine garrison were watching Saul on Michmash, Jonathan brought his own unit from Gibeah and attacked and destroyed the unsuspecting Philistine garrison on the height of Geba. This was clearly intended to be a first strike in a bid for freedom from occupation. The aim of destroying the outpost may well have been in order to delay any information getting back to the Philistines when the Israelites started to mobilise. Alternatively it might simply have been Saul’s plan to have a small success that he could present to the people, a success which would also put pressure on his fellow-tribesmen as they recognised that the die had now been cast. However that may be, it was inevitable that at some point it would reach the ears of the Philistine rulers, so meanwhile Saul had taken the next step of ‘blowing the ram’s horn throughout the land’ (compare Jdg 3:27<\/span>), with heralds going out in order to mobilise all the tribes of Israel far and wide in accordance with their treaty obligations. <\/p>\n “Let the Hebrews hear.”<\/strong> ‘Hebrews’ was a description of Israel usually used by foreigners, so we must ask ourselves why we find it on the lips of Saul. The probable answer is that it was Saul’s sarcastic repetition of dismissive taunts of the Philistines about the cowardly ‘Hebrews’ who would not want to hear (compare 1Sa 14:11<\/span>). He is simply saying, ‘Well, let us show them that we are not ‘cowardly Hebrews’. ‘The Hebrews’ would then prove otherwise by responding. Or it is possible, but less likely, that ‘let the Hebrews hear’ is a call to groups of Habiru mercenaries who had been hired in readiness for the occasion (compare 1Sa 14:21<\/span> where the Philistines had such mercenaries) and had been spread throughout Israel. ‘Habiru’ regularly refers to any group of stateless and landless people, which may have been why Israelites were seen as ‘Hebrews’ by outsiders. This explanation would help to explain 1Sa 13:7<\/span> but might be seen as failing to take into account ‘all Israel’ in 1Sa 13:4<\/span> which seems to result from this call. If ‘let the Hebrews hear’ referred to other than the tribes we might then expect it to say ‘let the Hebrews hear as well<\/em> ’. However, ancient Hebrew was not always precise so that it is possible that we were intended to read that in. <\/p>\n 1Sa 13:4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> And all Israel heard it said that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel were had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.’ <\/p>\n The news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and had thus guaranteed retaliation by them, accompanied the summons, and the people therefore gathered together with Saul at Gilgal, knowing that ‘Israel were had in abomination by the Philistines’. They knew that repercussions would undoubtedly follow, so that all would know that it was better to get their strike in first. The fact that Saul and his units then moved to Gilgal supports the idea that his being in Michmash, in the mount of Bethel and in Gibeah has only been a temporary expedient. If this Gilgal was the Gilgal in the Jordan valley it was beyond the line of the usual Philistine activity and therefore ‘safe’, at least for the time being. The Philistines did not like fighting in the hill country where their chariots and horsemen were useless. The gathering at Gilgal was in order to engage in seven days of freewill offerings which would act as a plea for help, prior to Samuel’s appearance in order to make a final burnt offering and give final instructions from YHWH, in accordance with the normal procedure when the tribes were called together that he had arranged with Saul (1Sa 10:8<\/span>). <\/p>\n 1Sa 13:5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty units of chariots, and six units of horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude, and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.’ <\/p>\n Meanwhile the Philistines gathered their forces. The Israelite scouts reported that they had thirty units of chariots (these units would be a great deal smaller numerically than the units of horsemen, possibly even as low as three chariots per unit), six large units of horsemen, and so many infantry that they could not easily be assessed. These came and encamped in Michmash, east of Bethaven. Bethaven was near Bethel and Ai, thus the Philistines may have been watching the pass that led up from Jericho and Gilgal through which the Israelite army would have to come. Note that the Hebrew word for ‘thousands’ had also come to mean ‘military units’. (It could also be used of ‘clans’ and ‘wider families’). <\/p>\n 1Sa 13:6<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘<\/strong> When the men of Israel saw that they were in a fix (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in holds and in pits.’ <\/p>\n When the men of Israel saw the problem that this gave them, (they either could not now use the pass, or had tried and failed), they were filled with distress, and feared the worst, so they dispersed themselves in hiding places in the mountains by Gilgal, probably because they recognised that they were trapped and if they stayed together the Philistines could stream down on them at any time and take them by surprise, while in the mountains it would be a different story. <\/p>\n (2) Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This choice of some, and disbanding others, was without taking counsel of God, it should seem, for we hear nothing of the Lord’s direction in it. Reader! depend upon it, in the smallest, as well as the highest concerns, nothing should be undertaken without God. In all thy ways, is the precept, acknowledge him; and then the promise is absolute, he will direct thy paths. Pro 3:6<\/span> . For my own part I desire to eye Jesus in everything; for well assured I am, that he is in everything that concerns his people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n 1Sa 13:2 Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof] two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.<\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Ver. 2. Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel.<\/strong> ] Praesidiarios milites et stationarios,<\/em> for a selected band to be ready on all occasions: and it was but needful; for the Philistines had well nigh ousted him from his kingdom: and therefore after that he had defeated them, he is said to “take the kingdom again,” say some. 1Sa 14:47 <\/p>\n men. Septuagint reads this word in text. <\/p>\n mount = hill country. <\/p>\n every man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14. <\/p>\n chose: 1Sa 8:11, 1Sa 14:52 <\/p>\n Michmash: Michmash was situated east of Bethaven, or Bethel; and Eusebius says it was in his time a considerable place, about nine miles from Jerusalem, towards Rama. 1Sa 13:5, 1Sa 13:23, 1Sa 14:5, 1Sa 14:31, Isa 10:28 <\/p>\n in Gibeah: 1Sa 10:26, 1Sa 15:34, Jos 18:28, Jdg 19:12, 2Sa 21:6, Isa 10:29 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: 1Sa 13:11 – Michmash 1Sa 13:15 – about six 1Sa 14:1 – Jonathan 1Sa 18:5 – the men of war 1Sa 24:2 – Saul took 1Sa 31:2 – Jonathan<\/p>\n Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof] two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 2. Saul chose him three thousand men ] And Saul chose, &c. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 13:2”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7496"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7496\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nFuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"