John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel , etc.] Out of the 300,000 that went with him to fight the Ammonites, and returned with him to Gilgal, where he now was, and had stayed as may be supposed about a year, since now he had reigned two years. These 3000 men some of them doubtless were appointed as a guard about his person, and the rest were a standing army to preserve the peace of the nation, to protect them from their enemies, to watch the motions of the Philistines, and to be ready on any sudden invasion: whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, and in Mount Bethel ; “Michmash”, according to Bunting, was four miles from Gilgal. Jerom says, in his time it was shown a large village on the borders of Aella, or Jerusalem, retaining its ancient name, nine miles distant from it, near the village Rama. Adrichomius says it is now called Byra, and Mr.
Maundrell observes that it is supposed by some to be the same with Beer, whither Jotham fled after he had delivered his parable, ( Judges 9:21). Michmash is in the Misnah celebrated for the best wheat being brought from it; and near to it, as appears from hence, was Bethel, and the mount of that name; and so Jerom speaks of Bethel as over against Michmash; and this mount very probably is the same said to be on the east of Bethel, where Abraham built an altar, ( Genesis 12:8) for Michmash lay to the east of Bethel: and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin ; the native place of Saul, and this Jonathan was the son of Saul, ( 1 Samuel 13:16).
According to Bunting f249 , Gibeah, where Jonathan was stationed, was eight miles from Michmash: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent ; to their own houses; or, as the Targum, to their cities; these were they that came at his summons, and were numbered at Bezek, and went with him to the relief of Jabeshgilead, and had been with him ever since, and now dismissed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken an to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends When Saul at length sounded an alarm, the people, dissatisfied with his management, or terrified by the power of the enemy, did not come to him, or speedily deserted him.
Original Hebrew ויבחר977 לו שׁאול7586 שׁלשׁת7969 אלפים505 מישׂראל3478 ויהיו1961 עם5973 שׁאול7586 אלפים505 במכמשׂ4363 ובהר2022 בית אל1008 ואלף505 היו1961 עם5973 יונתן3129 בגבעת1390 בנימין1144 ויתר3499 העם5971 שׁלח7971 אישׁ376 לאהליו׃168
