1 Samuel 14:50

14:47-52 Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp. He had little reason to be proud of his royal dignity, nor had any of his neighbours cause to envy him, for he had but little enjoyment after he took the kingdom. And often men's earthly glory makes a blaze just before the dark night of disgrace and woe comes on them.

And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz,.... Who very probably was the mother of all the above children, and therefore taken notice of; and Abarbinel conjectures that Ishbosheth was not a son of her's, but the son of Saul by another wife, and which he takes to be another reason why he is not mentioned here; but though Saul had a concubine, we nowhere read of his having another wife: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle; not Abner, but Ner, was Saul's uncle; for Kish the father of Saul, and Ner, were brothers, as Josephus (p) says, and as appears from the next verse; and Abner was first cousin to Saul, whom he raised and advanced to be captain of his army, and a very valiant man he was: we hear of him again in this history, and in the beginning of David's reign. (p) Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.)

Verse 50. - Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. We have noticed on ver. 3 the fondness of the family of Eli for names beginning with Ah , "brother." It does not justify us in concluding that Ahinoam was a descendant of Eli, but she may possibly have been so. Abner , whose name is here given in its strictly proper form, Abiner , was Saul's first cousin, both Kish and Ner being sons of Abiel (comp. 1 Samuel 9:1 ). 1 Samuel 14:50

Verses 14-16. - Saul's uncle. According to 1 Samuel 14:50, 51 ; 1 Chronicles 8:33 , this would be Abner. The conversation probably took place after Saul had returned from the Bamah and gone to his own home, for in so brief a summary much necessarily is omitted. It is curious that the conversation should have taken place with the uncle, and not with the father; but possibly the latter was too well pleased to have his son back again to be very particular in his inquiries. Not so Abner. He was evidently excited by his nephew s visit to the prophet, and struck perhaps by the change in Saul himself, and would gladly have heard more. But Saul does not gratify his curiosity. Of the matter of the kingdom... he told him not. It was not merely prudent, but right to keep the matter secret. An able man like Abner would probably have begun to scheme for so great an end. Saul s silence left the fulfilment of the prophet's words entirely to God. CHAPTER 10:17-27 PUBLIC SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING (vers. 17-24). 1 Samuel 10:14

50 . Abner the son of Ner Saul’s uncle ] Grammatically, “Saul’s uncle” might refer either to Abner or to Ner, but it is almost certain that it must refer to the latter, so that Saul and Abner were first cousins. 1 Samuel 14:51 should be read, according to Josephus, “And Kish the father of Saul and Ner the father of Abner were sons of Abiel.” It is true that the genealogies in 1 Chronicles 8:33 ; 1 Chronicles 9:39 make Ner the grandfather of Saul and consequently Abner Saul’s uncle: but ( a ) Ner is not mentioned among Saul’s ancestors in ch. 1 Samuel 9:1 , and ( b ) it is difficult to suppose that Abner who was in full vigour for seven years after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 2, 3) could have belonged to the generation above him. There is probably some confusion of the names in Chronicles.

The only other "Ahimaaz" mentioned in Scripture was the son of Zadok the priest. The word "Ahi" (brother) is frequently found in composition in names in the High Priest's family, e. g. in Ahijah, Ahimelech. It is not improbable that Ahimaaz may have been of this family, as marriages between the reval and priestly houses were not unusual 2 Kings 11:2 ; 2 Chronicles 22:11 , and perhaps it may have been owing to such a connection that Ahijah was brought into prominence by Saul. If there be any truth in the above supposition, it would be an indication that Saul was not married until after his election to the throne.

(50) Saul’s wife. —In accordance with a usual practice, the name of the most prominent of the family and royal household of the king are given. We know nothing of Saul’s queen besides her name. It has been surmised that she was of the family of Eli, the high priest, owing to the Ah (brother) entering into her name and that of her father, Ahimaaz, as this compound was apparently the favourite prefix to names in this great and renowned house. The simplicity and modesty of the king’s domestic habits is evident. Ewald thinks from this circumstance that he had only this one wife and one concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, afterwards so famous for her sad misfortunes and for her devoted love to her ill-fated children. (See 2Samuel 21:8-12 .) The captain of his host was Abner.—This “cousin”—or, as some have understood the sentence, the uncle—of King Saul was evidently a man of rare powers and ability. The brilliant campaigns of this reign were, no doubt, in no small measure owing to the military skill of this great commander. After the terrible disaster on Mount Gilboa, Abner was the mainstay of the house of the dead King Saul, and when he died the generous David followed the bier, and lamented over him with a lamentation which has come down to us in words ever memorable: “Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.” His son Jaasiel was subsequently allowed the first place in the tribe of Benjamin. (See 1Chronicles 27:21.)

47, 48. So Saul … fought against all his enemies on every side—This signal triumph over the Philistines was followed, not only by their expulsion from the land of Israel, but by successful incursions against various hostile neighbors, whom he harassed though he did not subdue them.