1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 51Saul evidently led his troops from Gilgal to Geba where some of the Israelite soldierscamped. Saul himself proceeded back to Gibeah (14:2). The Philistines had posted alarger camp of their soldiers just north of the Wadi Suweinit ravine that ran betweenGeba and Michmash. The Philistines used their camp (garrison, v. 23) at Michmash as abase for raiding parties. From Michmash these raiders went north toward Ophrah, westtoward Beth-horon, and probably southeast toward the wilderness, specifically the valleyof Zeboim (exact site unknown).The main physical advantage the Philistines enjoyed was their ability to smelt iron. Thisadvanced technology gave them a strong military edge over the Israelites. 155 As in thedays of Deborah and Barak (Judg. 5:8), the Philistines still had the advantage of superiorweapons and the power to restrict the Israelites' use of iron implements.Jonathan's success at Michmash 14:1-23Armed with trust in God and courage Jonathan ventured out to destroy Israel's enemy inobedience to God's command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (cf. 9:16). He wouldhave made a good king of Israel. Saul remained in Gibeah, evidently on the defensive.His comfortable position under a fruit tree (cf. 22:6; Judg. 4:5) in secure Gibeah,surrounded by his soldiers, contrasts with Jonathan's vulnerable and difficult positionwith only the support of his armor bearer. Jonathan was launching out in faith to obeyGod, but Saul was resting comfortably and failing to do God's will.The reference to priestly activity at Shiloh (v. 3) shows that the nation still regardedShiloh as a cultic site (i.e., a site where the people practiced formal worship)."Saul is accompanied by Ahijah, a member of the rejected priestly houseof Eli (14:3), and this first mention of an Elide after the disasters whichbefell Eli's family in chap. 4 triggers the response 'rejected by Yhwh.' Lestthe point be missed, it is reinforced by the odd and needless genealogicalreference to Ichabod, Ahijah's uncle, picking up on 4:21-22, andreminding the reader that 'the glory has departed.' His own royal glorygone, where else would we expect Saul to be than with a relative of 'Glorygone'? The axes which here intersect, the rejection of Saul and therejection of the Elide priesthood, will do so again in 22:11-19, when Saulwill bloodily fulfill the prophecy of 2:31-33, wreaking Yhwh's will on theElides." 156155 Dothan, p. 20.156 David Jobling, "Saul's Fall and Jonathan's Rise: Tradition and Redaction in 1 Sam 14:1-46," Journal ofBiblical Literature 95:3 (1976):368-69.