field y, abd among all the people 2 : the gariſon, and the ſpoilers, they alſo trembled, and the earth quaked a:
ſo it was Þ* a very great trembling. x A great Conſternation; partly from this vnexpeQted and pro- digious Slaughter, which madethem ſuſpe&, there was more than Man in the Caſe ; and that the Lord ( of whoſe infinite power they | had had former experience ) was come forth to ftighr againſt them; and partly from the Lord , who took away cheir Spirits and Strength,
and {truck them with Fear and Amazement. y i.e In the whole z i. e. Among all the reſt of
ſon, ( as it is here explained
their Forces, as well thoſe in the Gari : as the Spoilers, mentioned
in the following words ) at Michmaſb, pol chape 13- 17+ the report of this Prodigy, and with it the Terrour of God ſpeed-ly paſſing from one ro anorher. 4 Either, I» Metaph: - rically and Hyperbolically, the whole Land ; i. e. The Inhabitants of the Land ; to wit, of the Ph:lifines trembled Or rather, 2 P1o- perly, God ſent an Earthquake among them, which prob.bly over- threw their Tents and Chariots» and deſtroyed wary of their per- ſons, and ſcattered the whole Hoſt, making them to flee away for
heir lives. : «And the warch-men of Saul in Gibeah & of Ben- melted
jamin looked : and behold, the multitude c
away d, and they went on beating down one another e.
b Or, in the hill, as the very ſame word 1s rendied chap. 13. 16. and that was the fitteſt place for Watch-memz c To wit, of thar numerous Hoſt of the Philiſtines. d i e. Were ſtrangely and ſud- denly diſperſed, and put to flight. e Either, x. Accidentally through haſty Flighr- Or, 2. With deſign to deſtroy one another as the Authors or Abettcrs of tke preſent Calamity. Poiſbly Ge d blinded their Eyes orthe:r Minds, that they cculd not d:\tingu-ſh Friends frem Foes. Compare Juag. 7: 22+ 2 King. 6: 18, & Cc. 2 Chron.
pat + Then ſaid Saul unto the people that were with
17 him, Number now, and ſee who 1s pI from us f. And Jonathan and his
when they had numbred, behol
armour-bearer were not there.
f For he probably ſuppoſed, that not enly Jonathan, but alſo ſome conſiderable number of his Army was gone, and thar by them that Slaughter was made.
is And Saul ſaid unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God g. ( for the ark of God was at that time with
the children of Iſrael 6. ) | | g That the Prieſt may put on the Ephod, and may enquire of the Lord before the Ark what the occaſion of this Tumult ameng our Enemies is, and what we ſhall do. þ To wits in the Camp, whither ſometimes it was brought ; as I Sam. 4+ 5+ And now'the rather, partly becauſe it was now In an unſertled conditien, and without the Tabernacle, and therefore eaſily removed from place to place: and partly, becauſe Saul rhought to compenſate Samnels abſcnſe with the prefence of the Ark. 19 4 And itcame to paſs while Saul talked unto the
prieſt, thar the || noiſe that was in the hoſt of the Phili- {tines went on and increaſed : and Saul faid unto the
prieſt, Withdraw thine hand 2.
; Trouble not thy ſelf in putting on the Breaſt-plate, with the Ephod, to enquire of God; for I now phanly diſcern the matter, the buſineſs cails not for Prayer, bur for Afftion. Bur ifir did ſo, there was the more need of Gods dire&ion and bleſſing, that they might a& with more Succeſs. Herein therefore kh: ſhews his In:-
patience in waiting upon God ; his Hypocriſi-: in pretending to Re-
| Tigion ; and yet his Prophannels in negleCting an deſpiſing ite
20 And Saul and all the people that were with him, + aſſembled themſelves, and they came to the barrel, and behold, * every mans ſword was againſt his fel- low k, and there was a very great diſcomfiture.
k& The Philiftines ſlew one another ; which might come, either from miſtake ; of which, ſee on v. 16- Or from mutual Jealoulies and Paſſions, to which God couid eaſily diſpoſe them.
21 Moreover, the Hebrews hat were with the Phi- liſtines before that time, which went up with them in- to the camp 1, from the country round about, even they alſo turned to be with the Iſraelites thac were with Saul and Jonathan.
1 Either by conſtraint, as Servants ; or in policy, to gain their favour and proteCtion-
22 Likewiſe all the men of Iſrael, which * had hid chemſetves in mount Ephraim, whes they heard that the Philiſtines fled, even they alſo followed hard after them in the battel.
23 So the LORD faved Ifrael that day : and thebat- tel ; paſſed over unto Beth-aven.
m j- e, The Warriers who were engaged in the BatteT, and were purſuing and fighting with the Phili#ines.
24 © And the men of Iſrael were diſtreſſed » that day ; for Saul had adjured the people, faying, Curſed be the man that eateth any food umil evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies s : 1o none of the people taſted any food p.
» With Hunger, and Weakneſs, and Faintneſs, thence ariſing 3 and all by reaſon of the following Oath. o As Sauls intertion was good ; namely, to execute Vengeance upon Gods and his Enemies:
SHMNDEL
fo the matrer of the Ol ligation was not ſimply and in it ſe! lawful, if it had not been ſo rigorous in tine all Food, fog out any exception of Cafes of Neceſſity ; and in obliging the Peo= ple to ir under pain of a Curſe. and an accurſed Death; w&, .g 39, 44, which was a pur1ſhment far exceeding the Fau!r. þ * Hg "bh edience to the Kings Command; and partly for fear of the
25 And all zhey of the land q came to a wood, and
there was honey upon the grounds
R _ _ the land, 1. : Fs people of the Land ; as it is ex. Plained below, wv. zo. and ſo the word is taken, Gen. 41. 57. the 1/raelizes who were with Saul, We
26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped r, but no man put his han to his mouth : for the people feared the oath.
r Ir hath been obſerved by many Travellers, and Writers, That Bees do oftstimes ſetcle themſelves, and make their Hives, and Ho. aey, inthe Trunks of Trees. or Clefts of Rocks, or holes of the Earth ; and this in divers Countries, but eminently in rt1s of Ca. Naan; as may be gathered from Deut. 32. 1.3. Pſal. $1. 16. whence it was called a land flowing with milk aud honey,
27 But Jonathan heard not 5, when his father char- ged che people with the, oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipt it in an honey comb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightned 2.