1 Samuel 13:3-7

13:3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost ¹  that was at Geba and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul alerted ²  all the land saying, “Let the Hebrews pay attention!” 13:4 All Israel heard this message, ³  “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel is repulsive ⁴  to the Philistines!” So the people were summoned to join ⁵  Saul at Gilgal.

13:5 For the battle with Israel the Philistines had amassed 3,000 ⁶  chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 13:6 The men of Israel realized they had a problem because their army was hard pressed. So the army hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, strongholds, ⁷  and cisterns. 13:7 Some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan River ⁸  to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal; the entire army that was with him was terrified.

[13:3]  ¹ tn Or perhaps “struck down the Philistine official.” See the note at 1 Sam 10:5. Cf. TEV “killed the Philistine commander.”

[13:3]  ² tn Heb “blew the ram’s horn in.”

[13:4]  ³ tn The words “this message” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[13:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “stinks.” The figurative language indicates that Israel had become repulsive to the Philistines.

[13:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “were summoned after.”

[13:5]  ⁵ tn Many English versions (e.g., KJV, NASB, NRSV, TEV) read “30,000” here.

[13:6]  ⁷ tn Or perhaps “vaults.” This rare term also occurs in Judg 9:46, 49. Cf. KJV “high places”; ASV “coverts”; NAB “caverns”; NASB “cellars”; NIV, NCV, TEV “pits”; NRSV, NLT “tombs.”

[13:7]  ⁹ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.