King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
Complete Jewish Bible:
while the P'lishtim assembled themselves together to make war on Isra'el - 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and an army as large as the number of sand grains on the seashore. They came up and pitched camp at Mikhmas, east of Beit-Aven.
Berean Standard Bible:
Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
American Standard Version:
And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the Philistines{H6430} gathered themselves together{H622} to fight{H3898} with Israel{H3478}, thirty{H7970} thousand{H505} chariots{H7393}, and six{H8337} thousand{H505} horsemen{H6571}, and people{H5971} as the sand{H2344} which is on the sea{H3220} shore{H8193} in multitude{H7230}: and they came up{H5927}, and pitched{H2583} in Michmash{H4363}, eastward{H6926} from Bethaven{H1007}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Joshua 11:4
- And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that [is] upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
1 Samuel 14:23
- So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
Joshua 18:12
- And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
Hosea 10:5
- The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
Hosea 4:15
- Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Judges 7:12
- And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels [were] without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
Genesis 22:17
- That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
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Commentary for 1 Samuel 13:5
1 Samuel 13:5 is a verse that captures a moment of significant military threat to the nation of Israel during the period of the judges and the early monarchy. The historical context is set in a time when the Philistines, a sea-faring people who had established a foothold in the coastal regions of Canaan, were a dominant force in the land, constantly in conflict with the Israelites.
The verse specifically highlights the might of the Philistine army, emphasizing their vast resources and manpower. The mention of "thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen" underscores the Philistines' advanced military technology and their strategic advantage over the Israelites, who at this time did not have such weaponry in great numbers. The simile comparing the number of their foot soldiers to "the sand which is on the seashore in multitude" conveys an overwhelming force, suggesting that the Philistines had an almost incalculable number of troops.
The Philistines' decision to "come up, and pitch in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven" indicates their aggressive intent to penetrate deep into the heartland of Israel, positioning themselves in a strategically advantageous location from which to launch their attacks. This action would have been seen as a direct challenge to the Israelite tribes and to the newly anointed but inexperienced King Saul, who had recently been chosen to lead Israel and unite them against their enemies.
The themes present in this verse include the perennial struggle of the Israelites against foreign oppression, the theme of military might versus divine favor, and the leadership challenges faced by King Saul. It sets the stage for the subsequent narrative in 1 Samuel, where Saul's response to this crisis will reveal his character and the viability of his kingship. The verse also foreshadows the ongoing tension between the Israelites' reliance on their own strength and the need to trust in God's deliverance, a motif that runs throughout the history of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6430
There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine. - Strong's Number: H622
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָסַף
Transliteration: ʼâçaph
Pronunciation: aw-saf'
Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw. - Strong's Number: H3898
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָחַם
Transliteration: lâcham
Pronunciation: law-kham'
Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring). - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H7970
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁלוֹשִׁים
Transliteration: shᵉlôwshîym
Pronunciation: shel-o-sheem'
Description: or שְׁלֹשִׁים; multiple of שָׁלוֹשׁ; thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth; thirty, thirtieth. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H505
There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלֶף
Transliteration: ʼeleph
Pronunciation: eh'-lef
Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand. - Strong's Number: H7393
There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֶכֶב
Transliteration: rekeb
Pronunciation: reh'-keb
Description: from רָכַב; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone; chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from the margin), wagon. - Strong's Number: H8337
There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
Transliteration: shêsh
Pronunciation: shaysh
Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth. - Strong's Number: H6571
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרָשׁ
Transliteration: pârâsh
Pronunciation: paw-rawsh'
Description: from פָּרָשׁ; (compare סוּס); a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collectively) cavalry; horseman. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H2344
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוֹל
Transliteration: chôwl
Pronunciation: khole
Description: from חוּל; sand (as round or whirling particles); sand. - Strong's Number: H3220
There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָם
Transliteration: yâm
Pronunciation: yawm
Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). - Strong's Number: H8193
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂפָה
Transliteration: sâphâh
Pronunciation: saw-faw'
Description: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from סָפָה or שָׁפָה through the idea of termination (compare סוֹף); the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.); band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. - Strong's Number: H7230
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹב
Transliteration: rôb
Pronunciation: robe
Description: from רָבַב; abundance (in any respect); abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age). - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H2583
There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָנָה
Transliteration: chânâh
Pronunciation: khaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָנַן); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege); abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent. - Strong's Number: H4363
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִכְמָס
Transliteration: Mikmâç
Pronunciation: mik-maws'
Description: (Ezra 2:2 or מִכְמָשׁ; or מִכְמַשׁ; (Nehemiah 11:31), from כָּמַס; hidden; Mikmas or Mikmash, a place in Palestine; Mikmas, Mikmash. - Strong's Number: H6926
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִדְמָה
Transliteration: qidmâh
Pronunciation: kid-maw'
Description: feminine of קֶדֶם; the forward part (or relatively) East (often adverbially, on the east or in front); east(-ward). - Strong's Number: H1007
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּית אָוֶן
Transliteration: Bêyth ʼÂven
Pronunciation: bayth aw'-ven
Description: from בַּיִת and אָוֶן; house of vanity; Beth-Aven, a place in Palestine; Beth-aven.