1 Samuel 14:47 Commentary and Bible Study

The last block of verses tell us that Samuel’s prediction of the behaviour of a king began to be seen in Saul mor and more clearly. ‘After the battle with the Ammonites,’ Gill reminds us, ‘he disbanded his arrmy, and sent them home, retaining only 3000 men, and these deserted him to 600.’ But now be formed a standing army and the last verse of the chapter tells us that whenever he saw any strong young man, he recruited him into his fighting force. Saul fulfilled the people’s wishes to this extent: that he led them in the fight against all their traditional enemies: Moab, Ammon, Edom, Zobah, and the Philistines. Israel seemed to be surrounded by enemies intent on their subjugation or destruction.The verse also introduce us to some of the significant characters in the history what will follow. Saul’s family are also introduced, though we already know Jonathan, and particularly his two daughters who will feature in the life of David.