1 Samuel 14:17

17 And Saul said to the people that were with him, Seek ye, and see ye, who went away from us. And when they had sought, it was found, that Jonathan and his squire were not present.

1 Samuel 14:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:17

Then said Saul unto the people that were with him
To some of the officers, particularly the muster master;

number now, and see who is gone from us:
for he concluded that this agitation and confusion in the host of the Philistines were occasioned by an enterprise of some of his men, who by some stratagem or another had thrown them into this disorder:

and when they had numbered:
which was soon done, being but six hundred men in all:

behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there;
from whence it might be inferred, that this commotion the Philistines were in was occasioned by an onset of theirs on the outer guards or sentinels of their garrison or army, which had alarmed them.

1 Samuel 14:17 In-Context

15 And a miracle was done in the Philistines? tents, and by their fields, but also all the people of the Philistines? station that went out to take prey, dreaded, and their tents were troubled; and it befelled as a miracle of God. (And so terror spread across that field, and among the Philistines? host, or army, and all the people at the Philistines? station who went out to take prey were afraid, and the army was greatly troubled; and so it befell as a miracle of God.)

16 And the espyers of Saul beheld this doing, that were in Gibeah of Benjamin, and lo! a multitude of the Philistines was cast down, and fleeing away hither and thither. (And Saul's watchmen, who were in Gibeah of Benjamin, beheld this event, and lo! many Philistines were thrown down, and others fled away here and there.)

17 And Saul said to the people that were with him, Seek ye, and see ye, who went away from us. And when they had sought, it was found, that Jonathan and his squire were not present.

18 And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of the Lord; for the ark of God was there in that time with the sons of Israel. (And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring the ephod here; for at that time Ahiah carried the ephod before the Israelites.)

19 And when Saul spake to the priest, a great noise (a)rose in the tents of the Philistines; and it increased little and little, and it sounded more clearly. And Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thine hand (And Saul said to the priest, Hold back thy hand!).