1 Samuel 13 · Verse 6

1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
1 Samuel 13:6, King James Version

1 Samuel 13:6 in other translations

BSBSeeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns.
WEBWhen the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits.
ASVWhen the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits.
YLTAnd the men of Israel have seen that they are distressed, that the people hath been oppressed, and the people hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
DARBYAnd the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed); and the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in cliffs, and in strongholds, and in pits.
BBEWhen the men of Israel saw the danger they were in, (for the people were troubled,) they took cover in cracks in the hillsides and in the woods and in rocks and holes and hollows.
WebsterWhen the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed) then the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

What does 1 Samuel 13:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait--Though Saul's gallantry was unabated, his subjects displayed no degree of zeal and energy. Instead of venturing an encounter, they fled in all directions. Some, in their panic, left the country (1Sa 13:7), but most took refuge in the hiding-places which the broken ridges of the neighborhood abundantly afford. The rocks are perforated in every direction with "caves," and "holes," and "pits"--crevices and fissures sunk deep in the rocky soil, subterranean granaries or dry wells in the adjoining fields. The name of Michmash ("hidden treasure") seems to be derived from this natural peculiarity [Stanley].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 The people did hide themselves - They, being few in number, and totally unarmed as to swords and spears, were terrified at the very numerous and well-appointed army of the Philistines. Judea was full of rocks, caves, thickets, etc., where people might shelter themselves from their enemies. While some hid themselves, others fled beyond Jordan: and those who did cleave to Saul followed him trembling.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:1-7

Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above a year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken and to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency, they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 13:1-7 →

1 Samuel 13:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאִ֨ישׁve.'Ishand everyone ofH376
יִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
רָאוּ֙ra.'Uthey sawH7200
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
צַר\־tzar-it was distressH6862
ל֔וֹloto <the> it
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
נִגַּ֖שׂni.Gasit was hard pressedH5065
הָעָ֑םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
וַיִּֽתְחַבְּא֣וּvai.yit.cha.be.'Uand they hid themselvesH2244
הָעָ֗םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
בַּמְּעָר֤וֹתba.me.'a.Rotin <the> cavesH4631
וּבַֽחֲוָחִים֙u.va.cha.va.Chimand in <the> thicketsH2336
וּבַסְּלָעִ֔יםu.va.se.la.'Imand in <the> cliffsH5553
וּבַצְּרִחִ֖יםu.va.tze.ri.Chimand in <the> underground chambersH6877
וּבַבֹּרֽוֹת\׃u.va.bo.Rotand in <the> cisternsH953

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 13:6

  • Judges 6:2

    And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

  • Hebrews 11:38

    (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

  • 1 Samuel 23:19

    Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

  • 1 Samuel 24:3

    And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

  • Judges 10:9

    Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

  • Isaiah 42:22

    But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

  • Judges 20:41

    And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

  • 1 Samuel 14:11

    And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

  • 2 Samuel 24:14

    And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

  • Philippians 1:23

    For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

  • Exodus 14:10-12

    And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

  • Joshua 8:20

    And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in a strait.
Ex 14:10-12; Jos 8:20; Jud 10:9; 20:41; 2Sa 24:14; Php 1:23
in caves.
14:11; 23:19; 24:3; Jud 6:2; Isa 42:22; Heb 11:38

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 13:5

    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 Beth–aven.

  • 1 Samuel 13:6

    When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

  • 1 Samuel 13:7

    And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Read all of 1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas los hombres de Israel, viéndose puestos en estrecho, (porque el pueblo estaba en aprieto), escondióse el pueblo en cuevas, en fosos, en peñascos, en rocas y en cisternas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les hommes d’Israël se virent dans la détresse, car le peuple était serré de près; et le peuple se cacha dans les cavernes, et dans les broussailles, et dans les rochers, et dans les lieux forts, et dans les fosses.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Männer von Israel sahen, daß sie in Drangsal waren, denn das Volk war bedrängt; und das Volk versteckte sich in den Höhlen und in den Dorngebüschen und in den Felsen und in den Burgen und in den Gruben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quod cum vidissent viri Israël se in arcto positos (afflictus enim erat populus), absconderunt se in speluncis, et in abditis, in petris quoque, et in antris, et in cisternis.