SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:14
Esta fue la primera matanza, en la cual Jonatán con su paje de armas, mató como unos veinte varones, como en la mitad de una yugada que un par de bueyes suelen arar en un campo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 14:14
Verse 14. A half acre of land] The ancients measured land by the quantum which a yoke of oxen could plough in a day. The original is obscure, and is variously understood. It is probably a proverbial expression for a very small space.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made was about twenty men , etc.] Or the first blow they struck, as the Targum, they killed about twenty men; that is, they did not stop smiting, but followed their blows so quickly, that in a very little time, as well as in a very small space of ground, so many were killed: even within as it were an half acre of land , which a “yoke” of oxen might plough; that is, in one day; the word is used for a furrow, ( <19C903> Psalm 129:3) and is supposed by some to be the length of one furrow; but if so, it must be a circular furrow; so much ground was given to Horatius Cocles as could be ploughed round about in one day, for his brave opposition to Porsena, king of the Etruscans, when he endeavoured to restore the family of the Tarquins f265 . This was a space of ground which the Romans call “actus”, a measure of land one hundred and twenty feet square, which being doubled made an acre, called by them “jugerum”, being as much as a yoke of oxen could plough in one day, as Pliny says f266 ; so that an acre was two hundred and forty feet long, and one hundred and twenty broad, and contained an area of 28,800 four square Roman feet; and this space here mentioned, which was half an acre, contained 14,400 Roman feet f267 ; and within this space of ground, without going any further, twenty men were killed, which struck a panic into the whole garrison and host, supposing there was a large army of men behind them coming on, as follows. The Septuagint version renders these words as representing the slaughter made “with darts, and the casts of stones, and flints of the field” f268 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-15 - Saul seems to have been quite at a loss, and unable to help himself Those can never think themselves safe who see themselves out of God' protection. Now he sent for a priest and the ark. He hopes to make u matters with the Almighty by a partial reformation, as many do whose hearts are unhumbled and unchanged. Many love to have ministers wh prophesy smooth things to them. Jonathan felt a Divine impulse an impression, putting him upon this bold adventure. God will direct the steps of those that acknowledge him in all their ways, and seek to his for direction, with full purpose of heart to follow his guidance Sometimes we find most comfort in that which is least our own doing and into which we have been led by the unexpected but well-observe turns of Divine providence. There was trembling in the host. It is called a trembling of God, signifying, not only a great trembling the could not resist, nor reason themselves out of, but that it came a once from the hand of God. He that made the heart, knows how to make it tremble.
Original Hebrew
ותהי 1961 המכה 4347 הראשׁנה 7223 אשׁר 834 הכה 5221 יונתן 3129 ונשׂא 5375 כליו 3627 כעשׂרים 6242 אישׁ 376 כבחצי 2677 מענה 4618 צמד 6776 שׂדה׃ 7704
