Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:21
And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records a tactical shift during Saul’s pursuit of the routed Philistine army, as former mercenaries switch sides mid-battle.
The words — עִבְרִים ('iv.Rim) identifies the Hebrews, while עָל֥וּ ('a.Lu) states they had previously gone up to camp with the Philistines.
The thread — This pattern of shifting military alliances appears in 1 Samuel 29:4, where Philistine commanders demand a Hebrew warrior’s removal, and Judges 7:23, where Israelite tribes mobilize to pursue fleeing enemies.
Why it lands — The verse records how battlefield momentum instantly alters loyalty, showing that strategic advantage can dissolve prior allegiances without moral commentary.
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
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 29:4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?
- Judges 7:23 Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.