Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel (cont. x2)

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As it was for Israel of old, so it is with us now. It can be very difficult for us to see our national, corporate sins...the sins of the many.

"'To ask us a king': so horribly were they biassed with their prejudices and passions, that nothing but a miracle could convince them of this particular sin." -Matthew Poole

Poole on 1 Samuel 12:16-19: Conviction of Political Sin

Verse 16:[1] Now therefore (Ex. 14:13, 31) stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. Stand: By standing he intends not the posture of their bodies, but the consistency of their minds, by serious and fixed consideration. Verse 17:[2] Is it not (Prov. 26:1) wheat...

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At our Constitutional Congress, we decided not to the follow the Lord, but the "vanities" of our own mind and imagination.

But, in this our hour of need, these "vanities" cannot save, as the living God can and does. Samuel reminds of us this...

Poole on 1 Samuel 12:20-22: Samuel's Call to National Faithfulness

Verse 20:[1] And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart…[Fear ye not] Namely, with a servile fear (Mendoza). They were shocked by the sudden tempest, fearing that something...

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"Remember, Christian, thou art a covenant servant, and one thing thou art as such bound to do is, to pray to thy God without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17." -William Gurnall

Poole on 1 Samuel 12:23-25: Duties of Prophet and People Moving Forward

Verse 23:[1] Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD (Acts 12:5; Rom. 1:9; Col. 1:9; 2 Tim. 1:3) in ceasing (Heb. from ceasing[2]) to pray for you: but (Ps. 34:11; Prov. 4:11) I will teach you the (1 Kings 8:36; 2 Chron. 6:27; Jer. 6:16) good and the right way…[Far be...

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A translation milestone! Poole's masterly "Synopsis" on 1 Samuel 12 is available for the first time in English! free and online!

And, given the political situation in the Western World, 1 Samuel 12 is particularly instructive...

www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/1-samuel

 

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'Saul appears here (1 Samuel 13) a very silly prince...[and] the people appear hear a very miserable people.... This they got by casting off God's government, and making themselves like the nations: all their glory departed from them.' -Matthew Henry

Poole's Outline of 1 Samuel 13: Saul's Declension

Saul and Jonathan’s select band. Jonathan smiteth the garrison of the Philistines at Gibeah: the people are called together at Gilgal, 1-4. The Philistines’ great host: the Israelites run into caves; and tremble, 5-7. Saul offereth before Samuel cometh to him; he reproves him for it...

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1 Samuel 13:1 has captivated and confounded students of the Hebrew Bible for millennia.

Poole takes a deep dive into the history of interpretation...

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:1, 2: Saul's Chosen Men

Verse 1:[1] Saul reigned one year (Heb. the son of one year in his reigning[2]); and when he had reigned two years over Israel…[A son of one year was Saul when he began to reign, בֶּן־שָׁנָ֖ה שָׁא֣וּל בְּמָלְכ֑וֹ] A son of a year was Saul in ruling it (Munster, Montanus). A son of a year...

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"Nothing makes the name of Israel odious to those that are without so much as the fraud and dishonesty of those that are called by that worthy name. If professors of religion cheat and overreach, break their word and betray their trust, religion suffers by it, and is had in abomination with the Philistines." --Matthew Henry

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:3, 4: Jonathan's Assault on the Philistines

Verse 3:[1] And Jonathan (1 Sam. 10:5) smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba (or, the hill[2]), and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. [And Jonathan smote the outpost, etc., נְצִיב] They render it...

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A seasonable lesson for a country trusting in government...

"They were in a strait, notwithstanding their former presumption, that if they had a king they should be free from all such straits. And hereby God intended to teach them the vanity of all carnal confidence in men; and that they did not one jot less need the help and favour of God now than they did before, when they had no king." --Matthew Poole

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:5: Philistine Might

Verse 5:[1] 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 Beth-aven.[Thirty thousands of...

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Seasonable...

"Here, the people are able to see the vanity of their counsel. They wanted to have a prince, under whom they might live securely and in peace. But no king is able to furnish this." -Peter Martyr

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:6, 7: Fear and Flight

Verse 6:[1] When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people (Judg. 6:2) did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.[And when the men of Israel saw that they set in a tight space (for the...

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'A divine warrant is necessary for every element of doctrine, government and worship in the church; that is, whatsoever in these spheres is not commanded in the Scriptures, either expressly or by good and necessary consequence from their statements, is forbidden.' -John L. Girardeau

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:8, 9: Saul's Sinful Sacrifice

Verse 8:[1] (1 Sam. 10:8) 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 they were tarrying seven days according to the appointment of Samuel, וַיִּ֣יחֶל׀ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים לַמּוֹעֵד֙...

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As it was in Saul, so in us...

Fallen man has a highly developed ability to make excuses and justify the self.

It is so much better to repent and amend...

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:10-12: Saul's Self-Justification

Verse 10:[1] And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him (Heb. bless him[2]).[Behold, Samuel was coming] That is, it was announced to him that Samuel was approaching...

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"Those that disobey the commandments of God do foolishly for themselves. Sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest fools." -Matthew Henry

Note: Government officials are not exempt. Let them spin as they will, sin is folly still.

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:13, 14: Samuel's Sentence

Verse 13:[1] And Samuel said to Saul, (2 Chron. 16:9) Thou hast done foolishly: (1 Sam. 15:11) thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.[Thou hast done foolishly (thus Jonathan...

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Consider out national condition...

"Thus were they for their sin diminished and brought low.... If they had not been dispirited, they could not have been disarmed, but it was sin that made them naked to their shame." -Matthew Henry

Poole on 1 Samuel 13:15-23: Unarmed and Afraid before Enemies

Verse 15:[1] And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present (Heb. found[2]) with him, (1 Sam. 14:2) about six hundred men.[Now, Samuel arose] Therefore, Saul had not yet been rejected, because Samuel forsake him (Sanchez)...

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For the first time in English...

Matthew Poole's "Synopsis" on 1 Samuel 13 (Saul's Declension) is now available in its entirety! free and online!

www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/1-samuel

 

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Even in times of spiritual declension, with wickedness dwelling in high places, God is well able to edify His people, and to rouse them to acts of spiritual valor! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Poole's Outline of 1 Samuel 14: Jonathan's Valor and Victory

Jonathan and his armour-bearer secretly smite the Philistines’ army; they slay one another, 1-15; which being perceived, 16, 17, Saul pursueth the Philistines, the captivated and hidden Israelites joining in the pursuit, 18-23. Saul adjureth the people not to eat any thing till evening...

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Words for our times...

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Illustrated in Saul and Jonathan...

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:1-4: Saul's Hesitancy; Jonathan's Intrepidity

[circa 1067 BC] Verse 1:[1] Now it came to pass upon a day (or, there was a day[2]), that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.[It happened on a...

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A seasonable word, in troubled times...

"There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." (1 Sam. 14:6).

"This is a true easily granted in general, that it is all alike to Omnipotence what the instruments are by which it works; and yet it is not so easy to apply it to a particular case; when we are but few and feeble then to believe that God can not only save us, but save by us, this is an instance of faith, which, wherever it is, shall obtain a good report. Let this strengthen the weak and encourage the timid: let it be pleaded with God for the enforcing of our petitions and with ourselves for the silencing of our fears" (Matthew Henry).

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:4-7: Jonathan, Bold as a Lion

Verse 4:[1] And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over (1 Sam. 13:23) unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. [Now, there were between the...

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Was it lawful for Jonathan to require a sign of God?

Poole surveys the historic positions...

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:8-12: Jonathan's Fleece

Verse 8:[1] Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.Verse 9:[2] If they say thus unto us, Tarry (Heb. be still[3]) until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.[If they speak in such a...

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In a day when men's hearts fail them for fear at the mere trembling of a leaf, Jonathan's courage, roused by his confidence in the Most High, is stunning.

An example for us to contemplate and imitate...

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:13, 14: Jonathan's Intrepid Attack

Verse 13:[1] And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.[Now, he ascended] Not in the sight of the Philistines, but from another direction (Menochius, Mendoza out of Cajetan and...

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As men's hearts fail them for fear...

"Those that will not fear the eternal God, He can make afraid of a shadow. See Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 33:14." -Matthew Henry

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:15, 16: Trembling and Slaughter in the Philistine Camp

Verse 15:[1] And (Judg. 7:21; 2 Kings 7:7; Job 18:11) there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and (1 Sam. 13:17) the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was (Gen. 35:5) a very great trembling (Heb. a trembling of God[2])...

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"Our Lord Jesus has conquered our spiritual enemies, routed and dispersed them, so that we are cowards indeed if we will not stand to our arms when it is only to pursue the victory and to divide the spoil." -Matthew Henry

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:17-23: Israel on the Offensive!

Verse 17:[1] Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. Saul probably supposed that not only Jonathan, but also some considerable number of his army, was gone, and...

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Saul's Vow? wise or foolish? lawful or unlawful?

Poole investigates...

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:24: Saul's Rash Vow

Verse 24:[1] And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul (Josh. 6:26) had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. [And the men of Israel were joined together...

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George Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling: 'The vessels that are always leaking, must stand constantly under the conduit to get what they lose. When Jonathan, through fasting, became faint, he tasted a little honey, and his eyes were enlightened. "How much more," said he, "if haply the people had eaten liberally of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines," 1 Samuel 14:29-30. The more a Christian mindeth divine ordinances, in obedience to God's precept, and affiance on God's promise, the more strength he shall receive to conquer his spiritual adversaries, and to discharge the several duties incumbent on him.'

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:25-30: Jonathan's Unwitting Violation of the Oath

Verse 25:[1] (Deut. 9:28; Matt. 3:5) And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was (Ex. 3:8; Num. 13:27; Matt. 3:4) honey upon the ground. [And all the common people of the land went, וְכָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּ֣אוּ] And all the land, they went (Montanus). The people of the land (Pagnine)...

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"To put a stop to this irregularity, Saul ordered them to set up a great stone before him, and let all that had cattle to kill, for their present use, bring them thither, and kill them under his eye upon that stone (1 Samuel 14:33), and the people did so (1 Samuel 14:34), so easily were they restrained and reformed when their prince took care to do his part. If magistrates would but use their power as they might, people would be made better than they are with more ease than is imagined." --Matthew Henry

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:31-35: Pursuit and Blood!

Verse 31:[1] And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. [Therefore, they smote (thus a great many interpreters), וַיַּכּוּ] Nevertheless, they smote, etc. (Dutch). [Others connect it with the prior verse, and indeed we had slaughtered...

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John Calvin's Institutes: 'Understanding that the Lord would have our oaths to be a species of divine worship, we must be the more careful that they do not, instead of worship, contain insult, or contempt, and vilification. It is no slight insult to swear by him and do it falsely; hence in the Law this is termed profanation (Leviticus 19:12). For if God is robbed of his truth, what is it that remains? Without truth he could not be God. But assuredly he is robbed of his truth, when he is made the approver and attester of what is false. Hence, when Joshua is endeavouring to make Achan confess the truth, he says, "My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel," (Joshua 7:19); intimating, that grievous dishonour is done to God when men swear by him falsely. And no wonder; for, as far as in them lies, his sacred name is in a manner branded with falsehood. That this mode of expression was common among the Jews whenever any one was called upon to take an oath, is evident from a similar obtestation used by the Pharisees, as given in John (John 9:24). Scripture reminds us of the caution which we ought to use by employing such expressions as the following:—"As the Lord liveth;" "God do so and more also;" "I call God for a record upon my soul." [1 Samuel 14:44; 2 Kings 6:31; 2 Corinthians 1:23] Such expressions intimate, that we cannot call God to witness our statement, without imprecating his vengeance for perjury if it is false.'

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:36-46: Saul's Oath, Jonathan's Peril

Verse 36:[1] And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. [And let us ravage them...

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For those pursuing political power...

A lesson from the Scriptures...

"[Saul] had little enjoyment of himself after he took the kingdom. He could not vex his enemies without some vexation to himself, such thorns are crowns quilted with." -Matthew Henry

Poole on 1 Samuel 14:47-52: Saul's Wars

Verse 47:[1] So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of (1 Sam. 11:11) Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of (2 Sam. 10:6) Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself...

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For the first time in English...

Poole's "Synopsis" on 1 Samuel 14 (Jonathan's faith and courage, Saul's foolish vow, and more) is now available in its entirety! free and online!

www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/1-samuel

 

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"Do not employ yourselves to defend or justify your sin, as if there was little or no evil in it; but rather lie open to conviction from the word of God, which is the law of liberty. This is an evil frequent in the world, by which men shut their own eyes, and drag their consciences at the heels of their selfwill. They will extol some notorious sins as great duties. Thus Saul extolled his own sinful conduct in the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 15. What they have done, not because it was lawful, must be lawful because they have done it. Their credit is engaged, and therefore they cannot quit it, but must go forward and defend an ill action because they have done it. At least they will palliate their guilt by every mean, and do their utmost to extenuate it, when they find it impossible altogether to defend it. Beware of this." --Thomas Boston

Poole's Outline of 1 Samuel 15: Saul's Rejection

Samuel sendeth Saul to destroy the Amalekites: his army, 1-5. He favoureth the Kenites; spareth Agag, and the best of the spoil: God rejects Saul from being king, 6-11. This Samuel declares to Saul; he commendeth, excuseth, at last humbleth himself, 12-25. Samuel is unmoved herewith; his...

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"Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Let the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not one of them escape. [cf. 1 Samuel 15:3]" -Spurgeon

Poole on 1 Samuel 15:1-3: The Lord's War against Amalek!

[circa 1079 BC] Verse 1:[1] Samuel also said unto Saul, (1 Sam. 9:16) The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. [The Lord sent me, so that I might anoint thee] That is to say, Thou hast been...

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As the Western world's antipathy for Christianity grows, it is well to remember...

The Lord blesses those that bless His people, and curses those that curse them.

What a difference between the Amalekites and the Kenites...

Poole on 1 Samuel 15:4-6: Preparations for War on Amalek

Verse 4:[1] And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. [And Saul ordered the people, וַיְשַׁמַּע] And Saul assembled the people (Jonathan, Pagnine, Montanus, Drusius, Munster, Hebrews in Vatablus). Verbatim...

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