1 Samuel 14:16

16 Sha'ul's men on watch in Giv'at-Binyamin could see the enemy camp scattering and running in all directions.

1 Samuel 14:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:16

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked
The city of Gibeah was built on an hill, from where it had its name; and these watchmen or sentinels of Saul were set by him no doubt in the highest part of it, whereby they could overlook the army of the Philistines as they lay encamped, and could observe their motions, and give notice accordingly; and it being now broad day light, could see the condition they were in:

and, behold, the multitude melted away;
like snow gradually, and yet apace; they could discern their numbers lessening more and more, through the slaughter of many made among them by one another, and the flight of others; and they went on beating down one another; they could perceive they fled with great precipitation, throwing one another down in running, tumbling over one another, and trampling on each other which were in their way.

1 Samuel 14:16 In-Context

14 That first slaughter, of about twenty men, was accomplished by Y'honatan and his armor bearer in a space only half as long as one side of the area a pair of oxen could plow in a day [about 200 yards].
15 There was panic in the field camp among all the P'lishtim; likewise, the garrison and the raiding party panicked. Besides all this, there was an earthquake; thus it grew into panic caused by God.
16 Sha'ul's men on watch in Giv'at-Binyamin could see the enemy camp scattering and running in all directions.
17 Sha'ul ordered the forces with him to call the roll and see who was missing. So they called the roll, and found Y'honatan and his armor-bearer not present.
18 Sha'ul told Achiyah, "Bring the ark of God here"; for at that time the ark of God was with the people of Isra'el.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.