John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba , etc.] Not the same with Gibeah of Benjamin, as Jarchi; for it can hardly be thought that Jonathan should place himself with his thousand men where the Philistines had a garrison; or that if this was the same with that in the preceding verse, that it should be called by another name in this; but Gibeah and Geba were two places, as Kimchi observes, both indeed in the tribe of Benjamin, and it is very probable not far from one another; (see Joshua 18:24,28). This seems to be the same with the hill of God, where was a garrison of the Philistines, ( 1 Samuel 10:5), who after their defeat by Samuel contented themselves with some strong holds and garrisons in some parts of the land to keep Israel in awe; the Targum understands this of a single person, a governor of the Philistines in this place, whom Jonathan slew, and so Jarchi; and according to R. Isaiah he was one that was appointed to gather the tax for them: and the Philistines heard of it , which alarmed them, and made them prepare for war: and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land ; not he in person, for he was at Gilgal, as the next verse shows; but he ordered it to be blown, being aware of the preparations the Philistines were making to attack him: saying, let the Hebrews hear ; both what his son had done, and what the Philistines were doing.
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 ויך5221 יונתן3129 את853 נציב5333 פלשׁתים6430 אשׁר834 בגבע1387 וישׁמעו8085 פלשׁתים6430 ושׁאול7586 תקע8628 בשׁופר7782 בכל3605 הארץ776 לאמר559 ישׁמעו8085 העברים׃5680
