1 Samuel 13:1-22 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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1 Samuel 13, 14. Saul's Early Struggles with the Philistines. (J), chiefly from the ancient narrative concerning Saul. Editorial notes, or additions from other sources, are 1 Samuel 13:1; 1 Samuel 7 b, but as for Saul. Benjamin, 1 Samuel 13:15 a; 1 Samuel 13:19-22; 1 Samuel 14:47-51.

1 Samuel 13:1. If the present Hebrew text were regarded as correct and complete, the translation (cf.mg.) would be, And Saul was a year old when he became king, and he reigned two years over Israel. Both periods are absurd. The editor intended to provide for Saul the usual introductory formula, as in 1 Kings 14:21, etc. Not having any express information on the subject, he intended to calculate the periods later on; meanwhile, that he might not forget, he inserted the blank schedule, Saul was. years old, when he became king; and he reigned. years leaving blanks to be filled afterwards; and then forgot. The fact that the blanks were not filled in by copyists, shows that from a certain date, later than the time of the editor or scribe who inserted this verse, the text was copied with mechanical fidelity, without correcting patent absurdities. As the words for two and years are very similar in Hebrew, it seems that the word for years was accidentally repeated, and then one of the words was slightly modified to read as two. The thirty of RV is derived from two late MSS of the LXX; the verse is wanting in most MSS of the LXX, and is probably a very late insertion. As Jonathan was grown up when Saul became king, the latter must have been about forty at the time of his accession. Acts 13:21 and some texts of Josephus (Ant. VI. xiv. 9) give Saul a reign of forty years, but this is clearly too long; Ant. X. viii. 4 and some texts of VI. xiv. 9. give twenty years, which is probably much nearer the mark.

1 Samuel 13:2-7 a (to Gilead). Saul institutes a standing army. Jonathan having slain a Philistine official (not garrison), [Saul makes a general levy of Israel at Gilgal?]. But when the Philistines advanced in force, the Israelites were seized with a panic, and fled to hiding-places or across the Jordan.

1 Samuel 13:2. Michmash: Mukhmas, 7 miles N. of Jerusalem (p. 31). Gibeah: here and in 1 Samuel 13:15; 1 Samuel 14:2; 1 Samuel 14:16, read Geba, as in 1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Samuel 13:16; 1 Samuel 14:5.

1 Samuel 13:3-5. These verses can hardly be in their original form. Hebrews is out of place in Saul's mouth; it is the name given to Israelites by foreigners. There are grounds for reading instead of And the Philistines. hear, And the Philistines heard saying: The Hebrews have revolted. The assembly at Gilgal, and the impossible numbers in 1 Samuel 13:5, are editorial. Probably in the ancient narrative, the Philistines drove Saul back from Michmash to Geba, where we find him in 1 Samuel 13:16 (ICC).

7b. but as for Saul. Benjamin, 1 Samuel 13:15 a. An extract from a late document, whose history and date cannot be further determined. The editor has prepared the way for this section by inserting 1 Samuel 10:8 and 1 Samuel 13:4, which may be based on the same document. It is not quite clear what Saul's sin was, but the following gives a probable interpretation: Samuel had arranged with Saul to come to Gilgal on a certain day to offer the sacrifices which were necessary to inaugurate the campaign (p. 99). Samuel did not keep his appointment; time pressed, and Saul offered the sacrifices himself. Immediately Samuel appears and declares that Yahweh will punish Saul's impatience by transferring the kingship to a man after his own heart, i.e. David. Possibly in the document, in its complete form, the condemnation of Saul seemed less harsh and arbitrary than it does here.

1 Samuel 13:15 b - 1 Samuel 13:18. The ancient narrative, continuing 1 Samuel 13 :L7 a. Saul and Jonathan remain at Geba with 600 men; the Philistines make Michmash their headquarters and send out detachments to plunder the country.

1 Samuel 13:17. Ophrah: Joshua 18:23.

1 Samuel 13:18. Shual: not identified. Beth-horon: p. 31, Joshua 10:10. Zeboim: not identified.

1 Samuel 13:19-22. An editorial note representing the Israelites as almost entirely disarmed, which would be an exaggeration (p. 57, Judges 4:2 *). As regards details the text is corrupt and it is not clear how it should be restored.

Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 13:1

1 Samuel 13:1-22

1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

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.

3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba,a and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followedb him trembling.

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salutec him.

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were presentd with him, about six hundred men.

16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were presente with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:

18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

21 Yet they had a filef for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

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.