1 Samuel 13:6

6 Da das sahen die Männer Israels, daß sie in Nöten waren (denn dem Volk war bange), verkrochen sie sich in die Höhlen und Klüfte und Felsen und Löcher und Gruben.

1 Samuel 13:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw they were in a strait, for the
people were distressed
By reason of the vast army that the Philistines brought into the field, greatly superior to theirs, and were likely to be encompassed by them on every side; so that nothing but destruction was expected, which gave them the utmost anxiety and uneasiness; though Abarbinel refers this last clause, not to the people of Israel, but to the people of the Philistines, and takes it in this sense,

for the people drew nigh;
the army of the Philistines was approaching, and got near to them; and so they were in great danger of being quickly attacked by them, and destroyed, their numbers being so great:

then the people did hide themselves in caves;
of which there were many in the land of Judea, capable of receiving a large number, as the cave of Adullam, the cave of Engedi and such as the Israelites made to hide themselves when oppressed by the Midianites, ( Judges 6:2 )

and in thickets;
woods and forests, or among thorns, as Jarchi; where there was a very great number of brambles and thorn bushes; some, as Kimchi, interpret the word of munitions, garrisons, and fortified places, to which they betook themselves:

in rocks, and in high places, and in pits;
in the holes of rocks and mountains, particularly in Mount Ephraim; see ( 1 Samuel 14:22 ) and where there were any pits or ditches, high or deep places, where they might be out of sight, and be sheltered from their enemies.

1 Samuel 13:6 In-Context

4 Und ganz Israel hörte sagen: Saul hat der Philister Schildwacht geschlagen, und Israel ist stinkend geworden vor den Philistern. Und alles Volk wurde zuhauf gerufen Saul nach gen Gilgal.

5 Da versammelten sich die Philister, zu streiten mit Israel, dreißigtausend Wagen, sechstausend Reiter und sonst Volk, so viel wie Sand am Rand des Meers, und zogen herauf und lagerten sich zu Michmas, gegen Morgen vor Beth-Aven. {~}

6 Da das sahen die Männer Israels, daß sie in Nöten waren (denn dem Volk war bange), verkrochen sie sich in die Höhlen und Klüfte und Felsen und Löcher und Gruben.

7 Es gingen aber auch Hebräer über den Jordan ins Land Gad und Gilead. Saul aber war noch zu Gilgal, und alles Volk ward hinter ihm verzagt.

8 Da harrte er sieben Tage auf die Zeit, von Samuel bestimmt. Und da Samuel nicht kam gen Gilgal, zerstreute sich das Volk von ihm.