1 Samuel Chapter 13

1 Samuel 13  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
1. What difficulty there is in this verse I cannot conceive. Saul "was the son of a year in his reign" (see margin) "and he reigned two years over Israel, and Saul chose," etc. "Saul reigned," is the identical expression used in Kings, "and... was... years old when he began to reign," but, if so, his age is left out—"He reigned (two) years" is the accompanying expression there. He must have been between thirty and forty, for Jonathan his son had command of troops; a younger son forty when Saul died.
8 refers clearly to chapter 10:8.
19. "Hebrews" is the regular Gentile word. Abram is called “Abram the Hebrew"; see also Ex. 2:6, 7, 13,6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 7Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? (Exodus 2:6‑7)
13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? (Exodus 2:13) so chapter 1:16 and 19. There cannot be a doubt that it was the name used by strangers—“the children of Eber."