Bible Strands
1 Samuel 13:17
And raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three divisions. One headed toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the Philistine military deployment immediately after Saul and Jonathan remain in Geba while the enemy encamps at Michmash.
The words — הַמַּשְׁחִית (ha./mash.Chit) literally means "the destroyer" or "raiders," and רָאשִׁים (ra.Shim) denotes "companies" or military divisions.
The thread — The locations Ophrah and Shual appear in Joshua 18:23 and Joshua 19:3 as territorial markers, while the Philistine camp's eventual panic is recorded in 1 Samuel 14:15.
Why it lands — The text presents a tactical encirclement that forces the reader to observe how Israel's military disadvantage precedes any divine intervention.
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 the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
Cross-references
- Joshua 18:23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
- 1 Samuel 14:15 Then 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.
- Joshua 19:3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,
- 1 Samuel 11:11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.