Jonathan and his armour-bearer secretly smite the Philistines’ army; they slay one another, 1-15; which being perceived, 16, 17, Saul pursueth the Philistines, the captivated and hidden Israelites joining in the pursuit, 18-23. Saul adjureth the people not to eat any thing till evening. Jonathan eateth honey: the Philistines are smitten, 24-31. The people eat flesh with the blood: Saul restraineth them, and buildeth an altar, 32-35. Design to pursue the Philistines by night, he consults God, who answers not: he casts a lot to find out the cause: Jonathan is taken: Saul dooms him to die: the people rescue him, 36-45. Saul’s wars, sons, daughters, wife, etc., 46-52.
Matthew Henry: 'We left the host of Israel in a very ill posture, in the close of the foregoing chapter; we saw in them no wisdom, nor strength, nor goodness, to give us ground to expect any other than that they should all be cut off by the army of the Philistines; yet here we find that infinite power which works without means, and that infinite goodness which gives without merit, glorified in a happy turn to their affairs, that still Samuel's words may be made good: "The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake," (1 Samuel 12:22). In this chapter we have, I. The host of the Philistines trampled upon, and triumphed over, by th…
Study 1 Samuel in detail with the illustrious Matthew Poole! www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/1-samuel