New English Translation
1 Samuel 14:16
16Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin looked on as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another.
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 this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre. 15Then fear overwhelmed those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God. Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin looked on as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another. 17So Saul said to the army that was with him, “Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us.” When they mustered the troops, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the ephod,” for he was at that time wearing the ephod.
Read all of 1 Samuel 141 Samuel 14:16 word by word
וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה הֶהָמ֛וֹן נָמ֖וֹג וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַהֲלֹֽם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the watchmenצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
- of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- in Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
- of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
- lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- and, behold, the multitudeהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
- melted awayמוּגmûg · to meltH4127
- and they wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- on beating downהָלַםhâlam · to smiteH1986
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:16
- Psalms 58:7Let them disappear like water that flows away! Let them wither like grass!
- Psalms 68:2As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.
- 1 Samuel 14:20Saul and all the army that was with him assembled and marched into battle, where they found the Philistines in total panic killing one another with their swords.
- Judges 7:22When the three hundred men blew their trumpets, the Lord caused the Midianites to attack one another with their swords throughout the camp. The army fled to Beth Shittah on the way to Zererah. They went to the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
- 2 Chronicles 20:22When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
- Isaiah 19:2“I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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