Bible Strands
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!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses the Israelite forces after Jonathan assaults a Philistine garrison at Geba. He blows a ram’s horn across the territory to summon the Hebrews to gather.
The words — נְצִיב (neTziv) identifies the fortified military post Jonathan struck, while וַ/יִּשְׁמְע֖וּ (va/i.yish.me.'U) records the Philistines hearing the attack.
The thread — The ram’s horn operates as a military alarm to gather troops, paralleling its use in Judges 3:27 and Judges 6:34. The location Geba reappears as a Philistine outpost in 1 Samuel 10:5.
Why it lands — The text records a tactical signal to mobilize an army, requiring a reader to note how Saul’s public summons escalates a localized strike into a national crisis. It asks the reader to observe the immediate shift from covert action to open confrontation.
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 Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 10:5 After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.
- Judges 3:27 On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.
- Judges 6:34 So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.
- Joshua 18:24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
- Joshua 21:17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 14:1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
- 2 Samuel 2:28 So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.
- 2 Samuel 20:1 Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
- 2 Samuel 23:14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.