1 Samuel 14:16

1 Samuel 14:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
• New International Version (NIV)Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:16

14In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre of land. 15Then panic struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God. Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction, 17Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

1 Samuel 14:16 word by word

וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה הֶהָמ֛וֹן נָמ֖וֹג וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַהֲלֹֽם׃ פRead the interlinear

• Now when Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• watchmenצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
• at Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
• in Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• and sawהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• the troopsהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
• melting awayמוּגmûg · to meltH4127
• and scatteringהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• in every directionהֲלֹםhălôm · hereH1988

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:16

• Psalms 58:7May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
• Psalms 68:2As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
• 1 Samuel 14:20Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.
• Judges 7:22And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
• 2 Chronicles 20:22The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.
• Isaiah 19:2“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The watchmen of Saul - Those who were sent out as scouts to observe the motions of the army. Melted away - There was no order in the Philistine camp, and the people were dispersing in all directions. The Vulgate has, Et ecce multitudo prostrata, "And behold the multitude were prostrate;" many lay dead upon the field, partly by the sword of Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and partly by the swords of each other, 1 Samuel 14:20.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Multitude - The word is in 1 Samuel 14:19 (margin) rendered tumult. It must have the same meaning here. The sentence is obscure and probably corrupt; perhaps it means, “and behold the tumult! and it went on” (increased) “melting away and beating down.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 The Philistines were, by the power of God, set against one another. The more evident it was that God did all, the more reason Saul had to inquire whether God would give him leave to do any thing. But he was in such haste to fight a fallen enemy, that he would not stay to end his devotions, nor hear what answer God would give him. He that believeth, will not make such haste, nor reckon any business so urgent, as not to allow time to take God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-52Saul's actions in this chapter further support his removal as king (1 Samuel 13:8–14; see also 15). Saul was estranged from both Samuel and his brave son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14 foreshadows Jonathan's important role in the shift from Saul's rule to David's.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. the watchmen of Saul ... looked--The wild disorder in the enemies' camp was described and the noise of dismay heard on the heights of Gibeah.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:16

• Armies
• Jonathan
• Panic

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Gibeah
• Saul
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Paul, Saul
• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten
• Faulty
• Fight

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings