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

14They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. 15Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified. Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction. 17“Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone. 18Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.

1 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 58:7May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands.
• Psalms 68:2Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
• 1 Samuel 14:20Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere.
• Judges 7:22When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
• 2 Chronicles 20:22At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.
• Isaiah 19:2“I will make Egyptian fight against Egyptian— brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, province against province.

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