1 Samuel 13:18

And another company turned the way [to] Bethhoron: and another company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

And another {H259} company {H7218} turned {H6437} the way {H1870} to Bethhoron {H1032}: and another {H259} company {H7218} turned {H6437} to the way {H1870} of the border {H1366} that looketh {H8259} to the valley {H1516} of Zeboim {H6650} toward the wilderness {H4057}.

another group took the road toward Beit-Horon; and another company took the road toward the desert through the territory overlooking Vadi Tzvo'im.

another toward Beth-horon, and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.

and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

Commentary

1 Samuel 13:18 continues the vivid description of the Philistine military strategy during a critical period for early Israel, detailing the movements of their raiding parties across the land.

Context

This verse is part of the larger narrative following King Saul's premature and unauthorized sacrifice, which led to Samuel's stern rebuke and the pronouncement that Saul's kingdom would not endure (1 Samuel 13:13-14). At this time, the Philistines had amassed a formidable army at Michmash (1 Samuel 13:5) and sent out three companies of raiders to plunder Israelite territory. Verse 17 mentions the first company heading north toward Ophrah, while verse 18 specifically describes the routes of the other two companies:

  • One company turned westward toward Bethhoron.
  • Another company turned eastward toward the Valley of Zeboim, leading towards the wilderness.

This widespread raiding highlights the severe oppression and fear that Israel faced under Philistine dominance, a situation so dire that many Israelites were hiding in caves and thickets (1 Samuel 13:6-7).

Key Themes

  • Philistine Dominance and Oppression: The very existence of these widespread raiding parties underscores the Philistines' military superiority and their effective control over significant portions of Israelite land. They were not merely fighting a battle but actively subjugating the land through economic disruption and intimidation.
  • Strategic Military Dispersal: The Philistines employed a clever tactic of dividing their forces to cover different strategic directions. This allowed them to maximize their plundering efforts and maintain control over a wide area, preventing any coordinated Israelite resistance and demonstrating their tactical prowess.
  • Geographical Specificity: The precise naming of locations like Bethhoron and the Valley of Zeboim emphasizes the historical accuracy and realism of the biblical account, rooting the narrative in tangible, identifiable places in ancient Israel.

Linguistic Insights

  • Bethhoron: This refers to a significant pass located northwest of Gibeon, consisting of an Upper and Lower Bethhoron. It was a crucial route connecting the central highlands of Judah and Benjamin to the coastal plain. Control of this pass was vital for military and trade movements, making it a frequent point of conflict in Israelite history.
  • Valley of Zeboim: This likely identifies a wadi or ravine leading eastward from the central plateau down towards the Jordan Valley wilderness. The term "wilderness" (Hebrew: midbar) often refers to uncultivated pastureland or arid regions that could be used for military maneuvers or as buffer zones.

Practical Application

This seemingly minor detail about Philistine raiding routes serves to illustrate the dire circumstances in which Israel found itself. It reminds us that even in moments of great national distress or personal trial, God is aware of every detail of our circumstances, including the movements of our adversaries. The meticulous description of the enemy's movements sets the stage for God's eventual deliverance through figures like Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6), highlighting that even when circumstances seem overwhelmingly bleak, God's plan is always at work to bring about His purposes.

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Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 11:34 (5 votes)

    Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

  • Joshua 18:13 (4 votes)

    And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which [is] Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that [lieth] on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.

  • Joshua 18:14 (4 votes)

    And the border was drawn [thence], and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that [lieth] before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which [is] Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this [was] the west quarter.

  • Joshua 16:3 (3 votes)

    And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

  • 1 Chronicles 6:68 (2 votes)

    And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,

  • Joshua 10:11 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, [and] were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: [they were] more which died with hailstones than [they] whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

  • Joshua 16:5 (2 votes)

    ¶ And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was [thus]: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;