Bible Strands
1 Samuel 13:16
Now Saul and Jonathan his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the military positioning immediately after Samuel departs Gilgal and Saul gathers his remaining forces. The scene establishes the static standoff between Saul’s Israelite contingent and the Philistine army.
The words — The verb יֹשְׁבִ֖ים (yo.she.Vim) literally means “were remaining” or “were staying,” indicating a defensive halt rather than active maneuvering. The phrase הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א עִמָּ֔ם (ha./nim.Tza' 'i.Ma/m) translates to “which was found with them,” specifying that only a limited remnant of troops remained under Saul’s command.
The thread — The location Geba appears earlier in 1 Samuel 13:3 as the site of Jonathan’s surprise attack that triggered the wider conflict. The narrative thread of Israel’s diminished military strength continues in 1 Samuel 13:15 with Saul’s count of six hundred men and expands in 1 Samuel 13:17 as Philistine raiding parties disperse.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note the precise geographic and military standoff that precedes the next phase of the campaign. It establishes the factual baseline of troop numbers and camp locations before the narrative shifts to Philistine raiding operations.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 13:3 Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”