Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 14
1 Samuel 14:46 ends the account of the battles against the Philistines (Philistia’s army) in 1 Samuel chapter 13 and 14.
Saul had defeated the Philistines, but he had not destroyed their army. There would be many future battles between Israel and the Philistines.
In Samuel 14:47-52, the author seems to give a legal or official record of Saul’s rule as king of Israel. Israel’s people had asked for a king who would lead their men into battle (8:20). Saul did that constantly during his rule.
1 Samuel 14:47 gives a list of the nations that Saul opposed in battle. Probably many of those nations attacked Israel first, as Ammon had done in 1 Samuel 11:1-2. Saul fought against them and he defeated them. However, they remained strong nations; Saul did not gain control over them.
There is a special mention of Saul’s war against Amalek in 1 Samuel 14:48. That war was an act of judgement which God told Saul to carry out against Amalek. There is an account of that war in 1 Samuel chapter 15. 1 Samuel 14:48 gives another reason why Saul had to fight that war. Amalek’s men were constantly entering Israel to rob its people. There is a later account of such an attack in 1 Samuel 30:1-2.
Saul’s wars did not bring peace to Israel. During Saul’s rule, the nation was in a constant state of war. Israel first knew peace during the rule of King David (2 Samuel 7:1; 2 Samuel 22:1). That peace continued during most of King Solomon’s rule.
Next part: Saul’s family and government (1 Samuel 14:49-51)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.