1 Samuel 14:31

31 That day, after they had fought the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were completely exhausted.

1 Samuel 14:31 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:31

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to
Aijalon
Michmash was the place where the camp of the Philistines was when Jonathan first attacked them, and from whence they fled, and they were pursued by the Israelites that day as far as Aijalon. There was a city of this name in the tribe of Dan, famous for the moon standing still in a valley adjoining to it, in the time of Joshua, ( Joshua 10:12 ) ( 19:42 ) and another in the tribe of Zebulun, ( Judges 12:12 ) , but they both seem to be at too great a distance to be the place here meant, which rather seems to be Aijalon in the tribe of Judah, ( 2 Chronicles 11:10 ) according to Bunting ^F26, it was twelve miles from Michmash:

and the people were very faint;
as they might well be, with pursuing the enemy so many miles, and doing so much execution among them, without eating any food.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F26 Travels of the Patriarchs p. 127.

1 Samuel 14:31 In-Context

29 Jonathan said, "My father has brought trouble to the land. Look how my eyes lit up when I tasted just a bit of that honey!

30 It would have been even better if the troops had eaten some of their enemies' plunder today when they found it! But now the Philistine defeat isn't as thorough as it might have been."

31 That day, after they had fought the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were completely exhausted.

32 So the troops tore into the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground and devoured them with the blood still in them.

33 When it was reported to Saul, "The troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with blood in it," Saul said, "All of you are traitors! Roll a large stone over here right now.