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1 Samuel 13:3

in 1 Samuel 13

Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

KJV

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

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This verse in 1 Samuel 13

Commentary

9 notes on this verse
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba,.... Not the same with Gibeah of Benjamin, as Jarchi; for it can hardly be thought that Jonathan should place himself with his thousand men where the Philistines had a garrison; or that if this was the same with that in the preceding verse, that it should be called by another name in this; but Gibeah and Geba were two places, as Kimchi observes, both indeed in the tribe of Benjamin, and it is very probable not far from one another; see Jos 18:

This site's exposition

Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba

on 1 Samuel 13:3-4

Jonathan’s strike on the outpost at Geba is the spark, and Saul’s ram’s horn spreads the news, a relay the older commentators trace town to town. Israel’s report is blunt, "Israel has become a stench to the Philistines," the words of a small people that has provoked an empire. The army gathers at Gilgal, where the kingship was renewed at 11:15, the ground of Saul’s own coronation.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Gregory the Dialogist

Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 3 · Written before 604.

proposed

5. Just as the battle line of the bridegroom excels in rank, so also it was the first to receive the titles of victory. For Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines: because chosen virginity, exalted by the citadel of continence over the flesh, extinguishes shameful impulses. And rightly it is called the garrison of the Philistines: because in the virginal body, carnal impulses do not have the rest of delight, but the standing of battle. They stand indeed: because they attack, but they cannot rest: because they do not in the least delight the holy mind.

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Samuel · Written before 735.

proposed

And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines, etc. And every humble teacher conquers, and with the grace of the Holy Spirit helping, contends against the ranks of malignant spirits, exposing their snares, by which they endeavor to snatch away the height of heavenly life …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

I wish there were no ground for supposing that this was a violation or infraction of some articles with the Philistines, and that it was done treacherously and perfidiously. The reason why I suspect it is because it is said that, for doing it, Israel was had in abomination, or, as the word is, did stink with the Philistines (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

Blew - That is, he sent messengers to tell them all what Jonathan had done, and how the Philistines were enraged at it, and therefore what necessity there was of gathering themselves together for their own defense.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Jonathan smote - He appears to have taken this garrison by surprise, for his men had no arms for a regular battle, or taking the place by storm. This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land--This, a well-known sound, was the usual Hebrew war-summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon fire in the neighboring places. A second blast was blown--then answered by a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation was speedily diffused over the whole country.
This was the first act in the war of independence, and probably the first feat in arms of the young hero Jonathan.

The words behind it

17 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיַּ֣ךְand he attacked

    vaiyakhH5221 →499 times

  • יוֹנָתָ֗ןJonathan

    yonatanH3129 →43 times

  • אֵ֣ת<obj.>

    ʾetH853 →10935 times

  • נְצִ֤יב[the] garrison of

    netzivH5333 →11 times

  • פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙[the] Philistines

    pelishtimH6430 →287 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • בְּגֶ֔בַע[was] at Geba

    begeva'H1387 →19 times

  • וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּand they heard

    vaiyishmeuH8085 →1159 times

  • פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים[the] Philistines

    pelishtimH6430 →287 times

  • וְשָׁאוּל֩and Saul

    veshaulH7586 →402 times

  • תָּקַ֨עhe gave a blast

    taka'H8628 →

  • בַּשּׁוֹפָ֤רon the trumpet

    bashofarH7782 →

  • בְּכָל־in all

    bekholH3605 →5413 times

  • הָאָ֙רֶץ֙the land

    haaretzH776 →2504 times

  • לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> saying

    lemorH559 →5305 times

  • יִשְׁמְע֖וּlet them hear

    yishmeuH8085 →1159 times

  • הָעִבְרִֽים׃the Hebrews

    haivrimH5680 →34 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Samuel 10:5After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.5 worksJudges 3:27On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.5 worksJudges 6:34So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.3 works1 Samuel 14:1–6One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.2 worksZechariah 14:10All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.2 works2 Samuel 2:28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.2 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Samuel 20:1Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”2 worksIsaiah 10:29They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.2 works2 Samuel 23:14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.2 works1 Samuel 13:16Now Saul and Jonathan his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.2 worksJoshua 21:17And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,2 worksJoshua 18:24Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.2 works1 Chronicles 18:13He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.2 works1 Chronicles 6:60And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.2 works2 Samuel 8:6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Judges 6:34

    So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

    it leads to

    • 2 Chronicles 24:20

      Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments…

    • Judges 3:10

      The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against…

    • 1 Chronicles 12:18

      Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to…

    • Judges 3:27

      On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.

    • Romans 13:14

      Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

  • Through

    Zechariah 14:10

    All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the…

    it leads to

    • Joshua 15:32

      Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon—twenty-nine cities in all, along with their villages.

    • Zechariah 12:6

      On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right…

  • Through

    1 Samuel 10:5

    After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded…

    it leads to

    • 2 Kings 3:15

      But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Samuel

Anointing of David by Samuel, Félix-Joseph Barrias, 1842, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris. Public domain.
Anointing of David by Samuel, Félix-Joseph Barrias, 1842, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris. Public domain.
1 Samuel: the study guide →Read 1 Samuel 13 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Samuel; Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 3; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Samuel 13 →