John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines , etc.] 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.
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 וכל3605 ישׂראל3478 שׁמעו8085 לאמר559 הכה5221 שׁאול7586 את853 נציב5333 פלשׁתים6430 וגם1571 נבאשׁ887 ישׂראל3478 בפלשׁתים6430 ויצעקו6817 העם5971 אחרי310 שׁאול7586 הגלגל׃1537
