1 Samuel 13 15

1 Samuel 13:15 kjv

And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 13:15 nkjv

Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 13:15 niv

Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.

1 Samuel 13:15 esv

And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 13:15 nlt

Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 15 Meaning

This verse describes a strategic and significant shift in location for Samuel, Saul, and the Philistine forces immediately following Samuel's pronouncement of judgment on Saul for his disobedience. It details Samuel's departure from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin, while Saul and his remaining people are also situated in Gibeah. Simultaneously, the Philistine army remains encamped in Michmash, setting the stage for subsequent events.

1 Samuel 13 15 Context

Verse 15 directly follows one of the most pivotal moments in Saul's reign: his disobedience in offering the burnt sacrifice at Gilgal without Samuel, an act reserved for priests and explicitly forbidden for a king (1 Sam 13:8-12). In response, Samuel pronounced the rejection of Saul's kingdom (1 Sam 13:13-14), marking a divine shift in allegiance. This verse serves as a transition, detailing the immediate aftermath and the changed strategic positions.

Historically and culturally, Gilgal was a place of deep religious and national significance, serving as Israel's initial encampment upon entering Canaan, a place of covenant renewal, and where Saul's kingship was re-affirmed (Josh 4:19-20, 1 Sam 11:15). Samuel's departure from Gilgal therefore carries symbolic weight beyond a mere physical movement; it signifies the withdrawal of prophetic sanction from Saul and a detachment from a site associated with the initial, God-ordained stages of Saul's kingship. Gibeah, Saul's capital in Benjamin, becomes his base, while the continued presence of the Philistines in Michmash underscores the lingering external threat, making the internal crisis of leadership even more acute.

1 Samuel 13 15 Word analysis

• And Samuel arose: (וַיָּקָם שְׁמוּאֵל, wayyāqām Shəmu’el). The Hebrew verb qum (to rise, arise) often implies a purposeful, decisive, or significant action, not just a casual standing up. Here, it denotes Samuel's firm and definitive departure, reflecting the finality of the judgment he just pronounced upon Saul. It signifies the initiation of a new phase, a breaking away from the flawed kingship.
• and gat him up: The phrase emphasizes the act of moving away. The destination, Gibeah, may imply an ascent due to the topography.
• from Gilgal: (מֵהַגִּלְגָּל, mēhaggilgāl). Gilgal was a deeply significant place for Israel, marked by the crossing of the Jordan and initial circumcisions (Josh 4-5), where the nation recommitted to God, and where Saul was confirmed as king. Samuel's departure from here, especially after Saul's direct disobedience at this sacred site, symbolizes the severance of divine blessing and confirmation from Saul's reign at the very place it had been affirmed.
• unto Gibeah of Benjamin: (אֶל־גִּבְעַת בִּנְיָמִן, ’el-Giv‘at Binyāmîn). Gibeah was Saul's hometown and capital (1 Sam 10:26). Samuel's journey to Gibeah implies that even in departure, Samuel may have sought to be in proximity, yet maintaining his distance, from Saul and his court, perhaps for observation or due to established circuit routes, but definitely not for continued spiritual support of Saul.
• And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin:
  • And Saul: Describes Saul's position as the focal point of the narrative concerning the Israelite side.
  • and Jonathan his son: Jonathan's consistent presence with Saul highlights his loyalty, bravery, and importance as a counterpoint to Saul's failing leadership. His proximity to Saul at this critical juncture emphasizes the dynastic problem the family faces.
  • and the people that were present with them: This phrase is crucial. Following the panic and dispersal described in 1 Samuel 13:6-7, this denotes the significantly dwindled numbers of Saul's army (implied: the remainder). The number 'six hundred men' is given in 1 Samuel 13:15 for Saul's camp (this is likely a slight version difference or a context interpretation of the whole passage as different translations might vary based on verse breaks and textual traditions, however the user explicitly asked for KJV which contains this). This limited number reflects the consequence of Saul's rash actions and the public's loss of morale and confidence.
  • abode: (יֹשְׁבִים, yōshəvîm, participle form of yashav meaning 'to sit', 'dwell', 'remain'). This indicates their static position, contrasting with Samuel's purposeful "arising" and departure. They are at their base, reflecting their weakened and defensive stance following the near disaster at Gilgal.
• but the Philistines encamped in Michmash: (וּפְלִשְׁתִּים חָנוּ בְמִכְמָשׂ, ûphəlishtîm chānu vǝMikhmash). Michmash was a key strategic Philistine stronghold, across a significant wadi from Gibeah/Geba (1 Sam 14:4-5), signaling their continued threat and strategic advantage over the vulnerable Israelite position. Their unmoving encampment underscores the pressing military challenge that remains, despite the internal leadership crisis amongst the Israelites.

1 Samuel 13 15 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of Samuel's decisive movement away from Saul (symbolizing divine withdrawal) and Saul's static presence with a diminished force underscores the spiritual and military predicament Israel faces under their disobedient king. Gilgal, which had been a place of consecration and re-establishment of the kingship (1 Sam 11:15), ironically becomes the site where the foundation of that very kingship is shattered for Saul's lineage. The return to Gibeah, Saul's family seat, implies a contraction of his sphere of influence and perhaps a retreat from wider authority. This verse efficiently shifts the physical scene while conveying profound theological implications about the consequences of rejecting God's clear instructions.

1 Samuel 13 15 Commentary

1 Samuel 13:15 acts as a vital transition point in the narrative of Saul's reign, immediately following Samuel's pronouncement of divine judgment and the imminent loss of the kingdom. Samuel's "arising" and decisive departure from Gilgal, a place steeped in national covenantal significance, powerfully signifies the cessation of divine endorsement and direct prophetic support for Saul. This is not merely a change of address but a theological declaration of severance.

Meanwhile, Saul, Jonathan, and the severely reduced Israelite force "abode" in Gibeah. This word "abode" subtly highlights their static, defensive, and rather impotent position after the prior scattering of troops due to panic and fear. It stands in stark contrast to the aggressive maneuvers often required in leadership, portraying a king who is now hemmed in by the consequences of his own disobedience, both militarily and divinely. The faithful, albeit greatly reduced, presence of "the people" with Saul emphasizes the immediate cost of the king's rashness on his subjects' morale and military strength.

Crucially, the verse concludes by reiterating the Philistines' firm encampment in Michmash. This serves as a stark reminder that even as internal crisis unfolds within Israel's leadership, the external threat remains paramount and unaddressed. It underscores the severity of Saul's failure; at a time when strong, divinely-blessed leadership was most needed to confront the primary national enemy, the king had squandered that blessing through self-willed actions. The strategic positioning of the two forces, separated by the Michmash Pass, foreshadows the subsequent, more detailed conflict that Jonathan will bravely initiate (1 Samuel 14).