1 Samuel 13:4

1Sa 13:4 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.

Ver. 4. 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.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13:4 Saul had destroyed: The commander in chief often got credit for what his soldiers accomplished. • Saul’s kingship had been reaffirmed at Gilgal (11:15). Now the Lord would reject his kingship there because of his disobedience (13:7-14).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 4. The people were called together] The smiting of this garrison was the commencement of a war, and in effect the shaking off of the Philistine yoke; and now the people found that they must stand together, and fight for their lives.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(4) And all Israel heard.—Saul is put for “Jonathan,” though the bold deed had been performed by the young prince, Saul being the general-in-chief. The expression “smitten” implies that the garrison in question had been utterly routed, probably put to the sword. The intense hatred with which the Philistines hated the Hebrews is often brought forward. From the first conquest by Joshua they regarded them as interlopers and intruders; between the two peoples there was ceaseless warfare, until the Philistines were completely subdued by the greater Hebrew kings. Naturally, such a deed as that of Jonathan’s would at once arouse Philistia.

And the people were called together.—Gradually round the King of Israel the fighting men of the nation in great numbers were gathered. This seems to have been by no means a “levée en masse” of all the people; they seem to have come together very slowly, and very quickly again to have dispersed. The hour for a decisive blow was not yet come. Something, as we shall soon see, prevented Saul, with all his gallantry and splendid military skill, from winning popular confidence. (On Gilgal, the place where Saul was trying to assemble the people at this juncture, see Note on 1Sa_13:8 and Excursus E at the end of this Book.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison] Heard saying, Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines. The first blow in the war of independence was doubtless struck by Jonathan under Saul’s direction.

was had in abomination] The same word meaning literally, “to make one’s self stink” occurs in Gen_34:30; Exo_5:21; 1Sa_27:12; 2Sa_10:6.

the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal] Gilgal (see note on 1Sa_7:15) was probably chosen for the rendezvous as being the usual meeting-place, and the least liable to an attack from the Philistines.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines,.... For though it was smitten by Jonathan, yet it was by the order of Saul, and so ascribed to him; it seems to be a concerted thing to fall upon the garrisons of the Philistines, and get them out of their hands, and so deliver Israel entirely from them; but it was not wise for Saul, if he had such a scheme in his head, to disband his large army, as he had lately done:

and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines; who were highly incensed against them by this action, and vowed revenge; the name of an Israelite was abhorred by them; and perhaps this action might be attended with much craft and cruelty; and if these garrisons were held by agreement, they might charge them with perfidy, with breach of articles, and so their name was made to stink among them, as the word signifies:

and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal; by sound of trumpet.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

To Gilgal - The Wady Suweinit de-bouches into the plain of the Jordan in which Gilgal was situated. For the sanctity of Gilgal, see above, 1Sa 11:14 note.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Courage. Hebrew, "and Israel was in abomination (stinking) with the Philistines." See Exodus vi. 21. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "despised as nothing the strangers." --- Were should be omitted, as the verb is active, clamavit, in the Vulgate and Septuagint, though the Protestants have "were called," &c. They shouted with alacrity, that Saul would lead them on to battle. (Haydock) --- Osiander thinks that they "exclaimed against him," for engaging them in this new war.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Saul had smitten, i.e. Jonathan by Saul’s direction and encouragement. The actions of an army are commonly ascribed to their general.

Gilgal; the place before appointed by Samuel, 1Sa 10:8.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

4. Was had in abomination — נבאשׁ, was made to stink; that is, had become loathsome and hateful to their enemies. When they heard that this Philistine garrison had been dislodged, the Hebrews understood at once that their old enemy of the seacoast would be provoked to war.

The people… after Saul to Gilgal — The same Gilgal where the kingdom was renewed, (1Sa_11:14,) and where Samuel judged Israel. 1Sa_7:16. It was situated in the east border of Jericho, and was the first camping ground of the Israelites after their entrance into the Land of Promise. Jos_4:19. It is said (1Sa_13:12) to be down from Michmash, and also that Samuel went up from it in order to reach Gibeah. Such statements would be improper if made of the northern Gilgal, (Jiljilia,) for that was up both from Gibeah and Michmash. Saul, seeing the Philistines attempting a bold and determined invasion, deemed it prudent to withdraw his own forces from the heights of Michmash and Beth-el, and gather the people together in this more retired spot of the Jordan valley.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That Saul had smitten. Though the achievement was actually Jonathan"s, yet it belonged to Saul as the commander-in-chief, and probably had been done under his instructions. Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. They must have viewed with grave displeasure Israel"s gathering together to choose a king, and Saul"s subsequent defeat of the Ammonites, and retention with him of a large body of men, and so probably they had been for some time making preparations for war. Saul, therefore, knowing that they were collecting their forces, does the same, and the people were called together after Saul. Literally, "were cried after him," i.e. were summoned by proclamation. (comp. Jud_1:7:23, 24 10:17, where see margin) For Gilgal see 1Sa_7:16 1Sa_11:14. This place had been selected because, as the valley opens there into the plain of Jordan it was a fit spot for the assembling of a large host. For its identification see Conder, "Tent Work," 2:7-12.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Saul - Perhaps contrary to some treaty.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

And that Yisroel has become hateful. Literally, they have come in bad odor with the Philistines, an expression of hatred.

To follow Shaul to Gilgol. This is what Shmuel had said to him, "you shall go down to Gilgol ahead of me."

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.