6. (1 Sam 14:15) God attacks the Philistines
And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people, and the earth quaked so that it became a great trembling.
And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people: It seems that the Philistines were under Divine confusion. They woke that morning thinking, "We are being attacked with our enemies in our midst!" They rushed about thinking their fellow Philistines might be the enemy. They began to fight and kill one another. It did not matter that the Philistines greatly outnumbered the Israelites and had far better weapons. God was more than able to set the Philistines against each other. If the Israelites had no swords, the LORD would use the swords of the Philistines against the Philistines.
And the earth quaked: To add to the dire confusion, an earthquake was felt, which completed the discomfiture of the Philistines. The Eternal fought for Jonathan and Israel that day, and the powers of nature were summoned to aid the young hero, as they had been before, when Pharaoh pursued Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:26-27), as when Joshua fought the Canaanites at Beth-horon (Joshua 10:11), and as when Barak smote Sisera at Kishon (Judges 5:21).
7. (1 Sam 14:16-19) Saul learns of the battle
Now Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number now and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."
Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked:The distance between the Israelite army and the Philistine army was only about two miles, but a deep ravine lay between them. The watchmen of Saul were well able to see the scene of dire confusion in the Philistine outpost, a confusion which they could discern was rapidly spreading throughout the Philistine camp.
Number now and see who has gone from us: When the panic which was taking place in the Philistine army was reported to King Saul, he naturally inquired as to what had caused it, knowing that he, as general-in-chief, had given no directions to any of his men to attack the enemy. This was useless at the moment. Saul should have gone and fought the Philistines at this strategic moment. Instead, he was probably worried about who was leading the battle and who would get credit.
Bring the ark of God here: The Septuagint and other ancient versions of this text render "ark" as "ephod". "Then Saul said to Ahijah, 'Bring the ephod here.' For he bore the ephod in those days before the children of Israel." The ephod makes more sense in the context as the ark of God was previously at Kiriath-jearim, and there is no mention in the text that the ark of God had been move from there. The ephod makes much more sense to inquire of God as it had the Urim and Thummim, which were used to ascertain the will of God. Consulting God during this time of great panic was probably also a useless move. Saul probably was trying to look spiritual here, but there was nothing to seek God about. There is a time to go aside and pray, and there is a time to get your sword out and fight. Saul perhaps was a little confused what time it was.
Withdraw your hand: Saul instincts soon got the better of him, and he aborted seeking Divine guidance. His watchful eye saw that the confusion in the Philistine camp was increasing. Now was the moment for his army to throw itself into action. So, Saul tells Ahijah to cease seeking the Lord via the Urim and Thummim, for the hour had come to fight rather than pray.
8. (1 Sam 14:20-23) Saul fights in the battle and a great victory is won
Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.
Every man's sword was against his fellow: Profiting from the wild confusion which reigned throughout the Philistine camp, a portion of their own army turned against their masters. From this moment, no one in the panic-stricken army could distinguish friend from foe. In such a scene of confusion, Saul and his tiny army was able to penetrate into the heart of the broken Philistine camp.
The Hebrews who were with the Philistines: These Israelites were most likely prisoners who were compelled to fight against their countrymen or were forced levies from the districts occupied by the Philistines. At the first chances these slaves and prisoners had to fight against the Philistines, they do so.
So the LORD delivered Israel that day: These are the identical words used at the Red Sea, after the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 14:30).
The battle spread beyond Beth-aven: Saul crossed the valley from Geba to Michmash and drove the Philistines back in a north-westerly direction to Beth-aven, which is located halfway between Michmash and Bethel. Then the pursuit continued across the watershed and passed Beth-horon to Aijalon, where the valley begins to open out towards the plain of Philistia. This is the same pass where Joshua gained his great victory over the five Amorite kings (Joshua 10:10).
B. Saul's foolish oath and its consequences
1. (1 Sam 14:24) Saul compels the army of Israel under an oath
Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.
The men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day: Seeing the fatigued condition of the army, and fearing they should relinquish the pursuit of the Philistines to get food, Saul rashly exacted from his army an oath, which led to three evil results. 1) It hindered instead of facilitated the pursuit of the enemy. 2) It involved Jonathan in an involuntary trespass. 3) It indirectly caused the Israelites to sin.
Saul had put the people under oath: Saul had recited before them the words of the curse and made them shout their consent. His object was to prevent any delay in the pursuit, but in his eagerness, he forgot that the strength of his men would fail if their bodily wants were not supplied. Though worn out and fainting, the people faithfully kept the oath put to them.
Cursed be the man: This shows that Saul's sense of authority was wrong. He did not have the authority to proclaim such a curse. He was not the spiritual leader of the nation. If any such fast was to be declared and a curse attached to it, Samuel had the spiritual authority to do it, and not Saul.
2. (1 Sam 14:25-30) Jonathan unknowingly breaks the oath and is told of his offense
All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. When the people entered the forest, behold, there was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under the oath; therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food today.'" And the people were weary. Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistine has not been great."
There was honey on the ground: The wild bees in Canaan fill fissures in rocks and hollow trees with honey until the honeycombs breaking with the weight, would drip honey down to the ground. A similar abundance of honey was found by the early North American settlers.
There was a flow of honey: True to God's word, Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey ("So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite" Exodus 3:8.).
His eyes brightened: This simply means that the natural dimness caused by extreme exhaustion passed away when his long fast was broken. The Jewish Talmud comments on this passage: "Whoever suffers from the effects of intense hunger, let him eat honey and other sweet things, for such eatables are efficacious in restoring the light in one's eyes."
Then one of the people said: Most probably, this response was in reply to Jonathan pointing out the plentiful supply of honey and inviting the soldiers near him to refresh themselves with it.
My Father has troubled the land: In other words, "My father's rash vow has done grave harm to us in Israel. Had he not weakened the people, by hindering them from taking needful refreshment, our victory would have been far more complete. Utter exhaustion has prevented us from following up our victory."
See how my eyes have brightened: The benefit Jonathan received from eating the honey was very visible. He was greatly refreshed by the honey, and his spirits were invigorated by it. It was to be seen in the cheerfulness of his countenance and the brightness of his eyes. Jonathan suggests the honey would have had the same effect upon the people, had they eaten of it as he had done.
3. (1 Sam 14:31-35) The soldiers of Israel sin because of Saul's foolish command
They struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very weary. The people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today." Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there. And Saul built an alter to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.
From Michmash to Aijalon: The battle and subsequent pursuit had extended some twenty miles. Aijalon is 18-20 miles from Michmash, where the main body of the Philistine army had camped.
The people rushed greedily upon the spoil: They people being so faint with hunger, that in the evening when the pursuit was over, they seized upon the spoil like ravenous birds. They did nat have the patience to wait to properly kill the animals and drain the blood.
The people ate them with the blood: Eating animals with the blood not drained was a transgression given all the way back in Genesis 9:4 "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." This command was also given again in the Mosaic Law: "And any man from the house of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'No person among you may eat blood, nor any alien who sojourns among you eat blood.' So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast of a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life" (Leviticus 17:10-14).
Roll a great stone to me today: The object of this was that the people should kill their beasts upon the stone, and the blood could run off onto the ground. This action shows the soldiers that the king, despite the dire circumstances, was keeping the Mosaic Law. This shows us the strange and complex character of Saul. He has repeatedly disobeyed God, but here we find him obeying God's commandments. The people, upon hearing this new command from their king, unquestioningly obey their king with the same devotion and faithfulness they had shown to Saul's command to abstain from food.
It was the first altar that he built to the LORD: When Saul had offered sacrifice at Gilgal, there the altar was already built for him. Here he lays the stones to build an altar, and thus, he is the first king to build an altar to the LORD. This altar seems to be the first public acknowledgment made by King Saul to God for His mercies and goodness.
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