Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
HE CALLS THE HEBREWS TO GILGAL AGAINST THE PHILISTINES. (I Samuel 13:3-4)
And Jonathan—that is, "God-given."
smote the garrison of the Philistines . . . in Geba—Geba and Gibeah were towns in Benjamin, very close to each other (Joshua 18:24, Joshua 18:28). The word rendered "garrison" is different from that of I Samuel 13:23; I Samuel 14:1, and signifies, literally, something erected; probably a pillar or flagstaff, indicative of Philistine ascendency. That the secret demolition of this standard, so obnoxious to a young and noble-hearted patriot, was the feat of Jonathan referred to, is evident from the words, "the Philistines heard of it," which is not the way we should expect an attack on a fortress to be noticed.
Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land—This, a well-known sound, was the usual Hebrew war-summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon fire in the neighboring places. A second blast was blown—then answered by a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation was speedily diffused over the whole country. As the Philistines resented what Jonathan had done as an overt attempt to throw off their yoke, a levy, en masse, of the people was immediately ordered, the rendezvous to be the old camping-ground at Gilgal.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Samuel 13:3:
1 Samuel 9:15-16
1 Samuel 10:5
1 Samuel 13:3-4
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