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Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

Saul reigned one year, — i.e., Well and orderly; he reigned the two first years, till he was rejected of God, and bereft of his Spirit; for then he turned tyrant, holding the kingdom by violence, 1 Samuel 14:47 and ruling with rigour. Now although he reigned many years, yet the two first only are reckoned on. In God’s account, a man liveth no longer than he liveth well Sic, Qui diu vixit, nec profecit ad bonos mores, non diu vixit, sed diu fuit. - Seneca. Seneca saith of men’s lives as of ships in a storm, that they have been much tossed, but have sailed little.

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Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof] two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel. — Praesidiarios milites et stationarios, for a selected band to be ready on all occasions: and it was but needful; for the Philistines had well nigh ousted him from his kingdom: and therefore after that he had defeated them, he is said to "take the kingdom again," say some. 1 Samuel 14:47

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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.

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines. — By his father’s command no doubt, 1 Samuel 13:4 - else he might have been served as T. Manlius dealt by his son; for overcoming the enemy without order, he put him to death, - but Livy. God was not consulted with, and therefore the issue of this that Jonathan did was not so happy.

That was in Geba. — Or, Gibeah, his own native country: here this iuvenis animosus et audax, this black prince - so he might be called for his dreaded acts in battle; for "from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back"; 2 Samuel 1:22 likeas of our Black Prince it is said, Speed, 723. that he assailed no nation which he overcame not, he besieged no city which he took not - made his first enterprise and foiled the enemy. If it be demanded what weapons Jonathan and his regiment made use of, since they had scarcely any of iron, 1 Samuel 13:19 Lucretius answereth,

“ Arma antiqua manas, c ungues. ”

So Virgil,

“ … hic torre armatus obusto,

Stipitis hic gravidi nodis. ”

And again,

“ Stipitibus duris agitur, sudibusve praeustis. ” - Aeneid. 7.

And Saul blew the trumpet. — Omnes ad arma classico convocat, he sounds an alarm all the country over: for he knew how he had angered those wasps the Philistines.

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And all Israel heard say [that] Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and [that] Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

That Saul had smitten a garrison. — As desirous to rid the country of those Lurdaines.

And that Israel also was had in abomination. — Heb., Did stink; were as loathsome to them as any carrion. It was quarrel enough to the Hebrews, that they would not be miserable, but sought to unslave themselves.

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And the Philistines gathered 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 pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

Thirty thousand chariots. — Armed with scythes and hooks. These were a great number. Sisera had but nine hundred, Pharaoh six hundred.

And people as the sand which is on the sea shore. — Josephus saith they were three hundred thousand footmen. All these were by God’s all-disposing providence brought together to be broken in pieces. Isaiah 8:9 ; Isaiah 9:12

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When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

For the people were distressed. — Notwithstanding their having a king to save them. God will make the strongest sinew in the arm of flesh to crack, when once he taketh men to do. See 1 Samuel 13:3 .

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And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

And all the people followed him trembling. — Mικροψυχοι ; they were quite dispirited; and now that all seemed to be on fire, they rang their bells backwards as it were. Such as whose hearts are not ballasted with grace, no marvel though they ride uncertainly, and sometimes dash fearfully.

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And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

And he tarried seven days, — i.e., Till part of the seventh day was past; but because patience had not her perfect work, wanting nothing, James 1:3 the line of hope was not drawn out to the full length. Saul lost his kingdom by his precipitancy rashness and prefestination. hastiness If Samuel stayed to the last hour, it was not but by direction from the Lord whose ordinary course it is to prove us by delays, and to drive us to exigents, that we may show what we are: for that is every man in truth, that he is in a temptation.

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