1 Samuel 13:6

1 Samuel 13:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
• New International Version (NIV)When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns,
• New King James Version (NKJV)When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.

Context of 1 Samuel 13:6

4All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the Philistine garrison, and also that Israel had become despicable to the Philistines. And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. 5Now the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and troops in multitude, like sand on the seashore. They came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight situation (for their troops were hard-pressed), they hid in caves, in thickets, in cellars, and in [dry] cisterns (pits). 7Also some of the Hebrews had crossed the [river] Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him, trembling [in fear and anticipation]. 8Now Saul waited seven days, according to the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel had not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering away from Saul.

1 Samuel 13:6 word by word

וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל רָאוּ֙ כִּ֣י צַר־ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִגַּ֖שׂ הָעָ֑ם וַיִּֽתְחַבְּא֣וּ הָעָ֗ם בַּמְּעָר֤וֹת וּבַֽחֲוָחִים֙ וּבַסְּלָעִ֔ים וּבַצְּרִחִ֖ים וּבַבֹּרֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When the menאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• that they were in a straitצָרַרtsârar · to confineH6887
• for the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• were distressedנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
• did hideחָבָאchâbâ' · to hideH2244
• themselves in cavesמְעָרָהme‛ârâh · caveH4631
• and in thicketsחָוָחchâvâch · thicketH2337
• and in rocksסֶ֫לַעsela‛ · cragH5553
• and in high placesצְרִיחַtserîyach · excavationH6877
• and in pitsבּוֹרbôr · pitH953

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 13:6

• Exodus 14:10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were very frightened; so the Israelites cried out to the Lord.
• Joshua 8:20When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city was ascending toward the sky, and they had no opportunity to run this way or that way. Then the people who had been running to the wilderness turned back toward the pursuers.
• Judges 10:9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.
• Judges 20:41When the men of Israel turned back again, the men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that disaster had fallen upon them.
• 2 Samuel 24:14Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hands of man.”
• Philippians 1:23But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;
• 1 Samuel 14:11When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”
• 1 Samuel 23:19Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?
• 1 Samuel 24:3On the way he came to the sheepfolds where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave’s innermost recesses.
• Judges 6:2The [powerful] hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens (hideouts) which were in the mountains, and the caves and the [mountain] strongholds.
• Isaiah 42:22But this is a people despoiled and plundered; All of them are trapped in holes, Or are hidden away in prisons. They have become a prey with no one to rescue them, And a spoil, with no one to say, “Give them back!”
• Hebrews 11:38(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 13:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6The people did hide themselves - They, being few in number, and totally unarmed as to swords and spears, were terrified at the very numerous and well-appointed army of the Philistines. Judea was full of rocks, caves, thickets, etc., where people might shelter themselves from their enemies. While some hid themselves, others fled beyond Jordan: and those who did cleave to Saul followed him trembling.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6In thickets - literally, “among thorns.” High places - Not the high places for worship, but holds or towers Judges 9:46, Judges 9:49; that particular kind of tower which was the work of the old Canaanite inhabitants, and which remained as ruins in the time of Saul.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14Saul lost power through three key events, similar to how he gained it (see study note on 1 Samuel 9:1–11:15): He offered the sacrifices himself instead of waiting for Samuel (1 Samuel 13:1–14); he made a hasty oath that endangered Jonathan's life (1 Samuel 14:1–46); and he disobeyed God by not destroying the Amalekites and their possessions (1 Samuel 15:1–35).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait--Though Saul's gallantry was unabated, his subjects displayed no degree of zeal and energy. Instead of venturing an encounter, they fled in all directions. Some, in their panic, left the country (1Sa 13:7), but most took refuge in the hiding-places which the broken ridges of the neighborhood abundantly afford. The rocks are perforated in every direction with "caves," and "holes," and…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 13:6

• Cave
• Cowardice
• Gilgal

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Bramble
• Continue
• Samuel
• Army
• Fortification; Fort; Fortified Cities; Fortress
• Names, Proper
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings