Bible Strands
1 Samuel 13:4
And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports that all Israel heard Saul’s proclamation after he summoned the Hebrews at Gilgal. The message spreads the news of Saul’s strike against a Philistine garrison and declares that Israel has become a stench to the Philistines.
The words — The Hebrew verb הִכָּ֤ה (hi.Kah) means “he has attacked,” describing Saul’s military strike against the Philistine garrison. The noun נְצִ֣יב (ne.Tziv) literally denotes a garrison or outpost, identifying the specific fortified position targeted.
The thread — The phrase “become a stench” echoes Jacob’s complaint in Genesis 34:30 that his sons made him a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites. It also parallels the foremen’s accusation in Exodus 5:21 that Moses and Aaron had made the Israelites a stench before Pharaoh.
Why it lands — The verse records a tactical announcement that triggers mass mobilization while framing Israel’s military success as a provocation that invites retaliation. It requires the reader to track how reported provocation directly precedes the gathering of opposing forces.
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 all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
Cross-references
- Genesis 34:30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
- Exodus 5:21 “May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
- Genesis 46:34 you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”
- Joshua 5:9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
- 1 Samuel 10:8 And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”
- 1 Samuel 11:14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”
- Zechariah 11:8 And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.