1 Samuel 14:16

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude ¹was dispersing here and there.^[a]

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 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land.

15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.

17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count and see who has gone from us." And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

18 So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 2:9

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew they went here and there