1 Samuel 14:31

31 That day they had attacked the P'lishtim from Mikhmas to Ayalon; but the people were very 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Travels of the Patriarchs p. 127.

1 Samuel 14:31 In-Context

29 Y'honatan answered, "My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look how my eyes have lit up because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much greater would the slaughter of the P'lishtim have been today, then, if the people had eaten freely of the spoil they found with their enemies!"

31 That day they had attacked the P'lishtim from Mikhmas to Ayalon; but the people were very exhausted.

32 So the people rushed at the spoil, seizing sheep, cows and calves, slaughtering them on the ground, and eating the flesh with the blood.

33 Sha'ul was told, "Look how the people are sinning against ADONAI, eating with the blood." He said, "You have not kept faith! Roll a big stone to me immediately!