Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Samuel 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Samuel 13
"Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel," — 1 Samuel 13:1 (ASV)
The text of this verse, which is omitted by the Septuagint, is considered corrupt. The numbers indicating Saul’s age when he became king and the duration of his reign are thought to be missing or faulty. Saul may have been about thirty years old at his accession and may have reigned for approximately thirty-two years. This is plausible because we know his grandson Mephibosheth was five years old at Saul’s death (2 Samuel 4:4). Furthermore, these thirty-two years, when added to the seven and a half years between the deaths of Saul and Ishbosheth, account for the forty years assigned to Saul’s dynasty in Acts 13:21.
There is also no clear indication of the time that passed between the events of the previous chapter and those that follow. However, the appearance of Jonathan as a warrior (1 Samuel 13:2), when compared with the earlier mention of Saul as “a young man” (1 Samuel 9:2), implies an interval of at least ten to fifteen years, and possibly more.
The historian’s purpose is to prepare the way for the history of David’s reign. Therefore, he moves directly to the incident in Saul’s reign that led to his rejection by God, as recorded in 1 Samuel 13:13–14.
"Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent." — 1 Samuel 13:2 (ASV)
The situation preceding the events described in this chapter seems to have been a time of relative peace between Israel and the Philistines, since Saul had only 3,000 men under arms.
At the same time, Philistine garrisons continued to occupy certain strongholds in the land of Israel. One of these was at Geba (Jeba), in the immediate vicinity of Gibeah (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 13:3) and directly opposite Michmash (Mukhmas), which was on the northern edge of the great Wady Suweinit.
"And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear." — 1 Samuel 13:3 (ASV)
This was the first act in the war of independence, and probably the first feat of arms of the young hero Jonathan.
"And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal." — 1 Samuel 13:4 (ASV)
To Gilgal - The Wadi Suweinit opens into the plain of the Jordan where Gilgal was situated. For the sanctity of Gilgal, see the note on 1 Samuel 11:14.
"And the Philistines assembled 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 encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven." — 1 Samuel 13:5 (ASV)
Thirty thousand chariots - This is probably a copyist’s mistake for 300. (Compare 1 Chronicles 18:4 with 2 Samuel 8:4 for a similar numerical variation.)
Eastward from Bethaven - This means “to the east of Bethaven,” which lay “on the east side of Bethel” (Joshua 7:2). Bethaven (thought to be the same as Deir Diwan) was located between Bethel and Michmash, which Saul had evacuated.
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