1 Samuel 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 (1 Samuel 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 (1 Samuel 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 Aramæan kingdoms flourishing at this time (Psalms 60, title). It seems to have been situated between Damascus and the Euphrates. The details given in 2 Samuel 8:3-8; 2 Samuel 8:12; 2 Samuel 10:6-8; 2 Chronicles 8:3, show it to have been a wealthy and powerful tribe, and to have asserted its independence in Solomon’s reign.” (Biblical Commentary.)
1 Samuel 14:49. “Ishni.” Abinadab stands for this name in 1 Samuel 31:2; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:39. In the passages in Chronicles there is a fourth son mentioned, named Esh-baal, who is doubtless the one called Ishbosheth in 2 Samuel 2:8. It is impossible to say why he is not mentioned here.
1 Samuel 14:51. This verse should be read: “And Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel.”
1 Samuel 14:52. “When Saul saw any strong man,” etc. “This remark is probably made in anticipation of David’s being taken into Saul’s service, 1 Samuel 16:18-19; 1 Samuel 18:2, where the expressions are the same as here.” (Biblical Commentary.)