Study Desk

Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in ^(a)Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at ^(b)Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.

Jonathan smote ^(c)the garrison of the Philistines that was in ^(d)Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul ^(e)blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."

All Israel heard ^[c]the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel ^(f)had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned ^[d]to Saul at Gilgal.

Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and ^(g)people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of ^(h)Beth-aven.

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then ⁽ⁱ⁾the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.

Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of ^(j)Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.