Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
Parallel Translations
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Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
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And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
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And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeath-benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmas.
Cross-references (1)
Passages linked to 1 Samuel 13:16 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Samuel 13:3 Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (6 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Sa 13:16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and…
1Sa 13:16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people [that were] present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
Ver. 16. Abode in Gibeah of Benjamin.] His own country, where he was likely to have the best assistance of his allies, but especially of Samuel’s good company and prayers.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And Saul, and Jonathan his son,.... Who were now…
And Saul, and Jonathan his son,.... Who were now joined to their men, on Saul's coming to Gibeah:
and the people that were present with them; the six hundred men before numbered: abode in Gibeah of Benjamin; being perhaps a strong fortified place, not choosing to go forth to meet the army of the Philistines, so vastly superior to them:
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but the Philistines encamped at Michmash; the old quarters of Saul before he went to Gilgal, Sa1 13:2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain POSITION, MOVEMENTS, AND CONDITION OF THE TWO ARMIES, 1Sa_13:16-23.
POSITION, MOVEMENTS, AND CONDITION OF THE TWO ARMIES, 1Sa_13:16-23.
16. Gibeah of Benjamin — Rather, Geba, according to the margin, for this also was a city of Benjamin. Jos_18:24; Jos_21:17. Many interpreters have, like our translators, confounded this place with Gibeah; but it was some three miles distant. See on 1Sa_13:3. It is quite likely that after he had smitten the Philistine garrison Jonathan held this place, and did not withdraw to Gilgal with his father; and after Saul’s unsuccessful attempt to muster the people at Gilgal, that monarch, with the six hundred that did not desert him, went up to reinforce Jonathan at Geba. The Philistine army lay encamped upon the heights of Michmash, in full view of Saul and Jonathan, and separated by a deep valley between.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 16. in Gibeah of Benjamin] Heb. in Geba of…
16. in Gibeah of Benjamin] Heb. in Geba of Benjamin. The positions of 1Sa_13:2-3 are now reversed, the Philistines occupying Michmash on the northern side of the valley, Saul and Jonathan holding Geba on the southern side.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (16) Gibeah of Benjamin.—Saul and his son, uniting their…
(16) Gibeah of Benjamin.—Saul and his son, uniting their sadly diminished forces, entrench themselves at Geba, in a strong position at the end of a pass, whence they could watch the movements of the Philistines. Their small number forbade any idea of an attack on the enemy.
The English translators wrongly here substitute “Gibeah of Benjamin” for “Geba of Benjamin,” probably led astray by the mention of Gibeah in the preceding verse.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain In Gibeah of Benjamin. This is an arbitrary change…
In Gibeah of Benjamin. This is an arbitrary change of the A.V (in company with the Septuagint and Vulgate) for Geba, which is the word in the Hebrew text. Our translators no doubt considered that as Gibeah of Benjamin occurs in the previous verse, this must be the same place. But our greater knowledge of the geography of the Holy Land enables us to say that Geba is right; for, as we have seen, it was at one end of the defile, at the other end of which was Michmash; and here alone could the small army of Saul have any chance of defending itself against the vast host of the Philistines. However much we may blame Saul"s disobedience, he was a skilful soldier and a brave man, and his going with his little band to the end of the pass to make a last desperate stand was an act worthy of a king.
Vers. 16-23. (MICHMASH.)
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Under the heel of the oppressor.
there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel" (ver. 19). The invasion of the Philistines produced great fear and distress among the people. Many hid themselves in caves, and thickets, and cliffs, and vaults, and pits; others fled across the Jordan; those who followed Saul did so with trembling (vers. 6, 7); his army melted away some deserted to the enemy, or were pressed into their service; (1Sa_14:21) their homes and fields were plundered by marauding bands (ver. 17; 1Sa_14:22) which went forth from Michmash without fear of resistance, for the people had been disarmed and deprived of the means of making weapons of war, and even of sharpening their implements of husbandry (2Ki_24:14) when they became blunt (literally, "there was bluntness of edges;" A.V, "they had a file"), except at the pleasure of their oppressors (ver. 21). The result of the burdensome necessity of going to the Philistines was, that many tools became useless by dulness, so that even this poorer sort of arms did the Israelites not much service at the breaking out of the war" (Bunsen). How long this state of things continued is not recorded; but it was sufficiently long for those who remained with Saul and Jonathan (ver. 22) to be left without "sword or spear," or any regular armament. Their condition was thus one of helplessness, dependence, and wretchedness, and affords a picture of that to which men are reduced by error and sin. In it we see
I THE MANIFEST FAILURE of a self chosen way. "Nay; but we will have a king over us". (1Sa_8:19) They have a king self-willed like themselves; but their way fails, as the way of those who prefer their own plans to the guidance of God must ever fail.
1. In delivering them from the evils of which they complain, (1Sa_8:5) or which they fear. (1Sa_9:16)
2. In preserving to them the advantages which they possess. "Ye dwelled. (1Sa_12:11) Where is their safety now?
3. In procuring for them the good which they desire liberty, power, victory, prosperity, honour, and glory (Joh_11:47, Joh_11:48; Rom_10:2, Rom_10:3) How completely do the prospects that lure men onward in their self-chosen way vanish before them as they advance!
II THE MISERABLE SUBJECTION of those who forsake God. "They have rejected me". (1Sa_8:7) With what result? They are "delivered unto the will of them that hate them" (Eze_16:27; Deu_28:48) and endure
1. Oppression that cannot be effectually resisted. "Of whom a man isovercome, of the same is he brought in bondage", (2Pe_2:19) and without the means of freeing himself.
2. Increased difficulty, toil, and trouble in the necessary pursuits of life.Life itself without the friendship of God is a burden too heavy to be borne.
3. Shame and contempt continually (ver. 4). "Is this the grandeur andpower which they fondly expected under their king? Was it for this they rejected the Shield of their help and the Sword of their excellency?
III THE MERCIFUL PURPOSE to which trial is subservient. "The Lord will not forsake his people". (1Sa_12:22) Their distress has some alleviation, and it is designed (in his abounding goodness)
1. To convince them of the evil of their way.
2. To teach them to put their trust in God, and serve him in truth. (1Sa_14:6)
3. To prepare them for help and Salvation.
Learn that
1. The highest wisdom of man is to submit to the wisdom of God.
2. The service of God is the only true freedom; the way of honour andhappiness. "To serve God is to reign.
3. They who refuse the free service of God fall into the forced service oftheir enemies.
4. In the greatest of earthly calamities there is no room for despair. "If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him". D. (Deu_4:29)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.