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.
Ver. 12. And I have not made supplication unto the Lord.] Saul dared not enter the battle without this armour: but the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord, Pro 15:8 how much more when it is brought with an evil heart! Pro 21:27 But the devil had taught the Athenians also when they began the battle to cry out Io Paean, which is the same in force as Jehovahpeneh, that is, Lord look upon us. And it is storied of Pausanias, king of Sparta, that when he fought against the Persians at Platea, he would not suffer a blow to be given till he had sacrificed, and had an auspicious answer. a
I forced myself therefore.] Or, I restrained or contained myself: sc., till I could no longer forbear. Here was a plausible pretence: hypocrisy needeth not to be taught to tell her own tale: but God is not mocked. Deus est sapiens nummularius, saith a father. b
a Macrob.
b Nummum fictum non recipiet. - Bern.