1 Samuel 13 4

1 Samuel 13:4 kjv

And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:4 nkjv

Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:4 niv

So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:4 esv

And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:4 nlt

All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 4 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and far-reaching consequence of Jonathan's initial strike on the Philistine outpost. All of Israel became aware of the military provocation and understood that this act had gravely offended the Philistines, making Israel repulsive and hated in their eyes. In response to the escalated tension and imminent conflict, the people were commanded to mobilize and gather with King Saul at Gilgal, preparing for a major confrontation with their oppressive enemy.

1 Samuel 13 4 Context

1 Samuel 13 begins after Saul has been confirmed as king and has delivered Israel from the Ammonites in chapter 11, marking a hopeful start to his reign. Verse 1 of chapter 13 establishes his reign as approximately two years when this incident occurs. Verse 2 details Saul selecting 3,000 men and dividing them, sending 2,000 with him to Michmash and Mount Bethel, and 1,000 with Jonathan to Gibeah of Benjamin. The previous verse, 1 Samuel 13:3, explicitly states that "Jonathan attacked the outpost of the Philistines which was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it." Thus, verse 4 follows directly from Jonathan's provocative act. This sets the stage for a major military engagement against the Philistines, a dominant power in the region that had disarmed and oppressed Israel. The subsequent verses depict the overwhelming Philistine response and the escalating crisis, which tests Saul's leadership and ultimately leads to his significant disobedience and loss of the kingdom in verses 8-14.

1 Samuel 13 4 Word analysis

• All Israel heard:
  • Significance: Denotes widespread dissemination of news across the tribes. It implies a national awareness and collective understanding of the escalating situation, indicating the impact of the attack beyond local immediate effect. It suggests a call for national solidarity.
• that Saul had attacked:
  • Hebrew: vayyisma' Yisra'el ki hikkah Sha'ul (וַיִּשְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי הִכָּה שָׁאוּל).
  • Analysis: While 1 Samuel 13:3 explicitly states Jonathan was the one who attacked the outpost, verse 4 attributes the act to Saul. This highlights Saul's leadership responsibility and how public perception consolidates individual acts under the national leader. It positions Saul as the face of Israel's provocation against the Philistines, taking on the official "credit" or blame for Jonathan's deed.
• the Philistine outpost:
  • Hebrew: netsiv P'lishtim (נְצִיב פְּלִשְׁתִּים).
  • Meaning: A "garrison," "military post," or "appointed officer." These were strategic strongholds or administrative points established by the Philistines to maintain their control over Israel, often limiting their access to weapons and smiths (1 Sam 13:19-22). Attacking it was a direct challenge to Philistine authority and their oppressive control.
• and that Israel had become obnoxious to the Philistines:
  • Hebrew: v'gam niv'ash Yisra'el l'P'lishtim (וְגַם־נִבְאַשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַפְּלִשְׁתִּים).
  • Analysis: The key verb is niv'ash (נִבְאַשׁ), the Niphal stem of ba'ash (בָּאַשׁ), meaning "to stink," "to become odious," "to become abominable," or "to become abhorrent/hated." This term goes beyond simply annoying; it suggests an deep offense, a breaking of an assumed order, provoking disgust and a fierce, determined reaction. In ancient Near Eastern culture, something becoming a "stench" could signify grave defilement, the breaking of an agreement, or a state of extreme dishonor, demanding retribution. It communicates that the Philistines would not tolerate such an affront.
• and the people were called out:
  • Hebrew: vayyiz'aek ha'am (וַיִּזָּעֵק הָעָם).
  • Meaning: Literally, "and the people cried out" or "were summoned by outcry." This describes the urgent, widely spread mobilization of men for war, usually through a trumpet blast or herald. It signifies a national summons, compelling people to gather.
• to join Saul in Gilgal:
  • Significance: Gilgal was a crucial site in Israelite history. It was the first encampment after crossing the Jordan (Josh 4), a place of circumcision and renewal of the covenant, and later a key religious and administrative center (1 Sam 7:16; 10:8; 11:14-15). It was Saul's place of inauguration as king and where Samuel often met with him. Choosing Gilgal for this muster indicates a gathering for national action and implies reliance on divine guidance through Samuel, although Saul's subsequent actions there show his failure to fully heed Samuel's instruction. The choice of Gilgal also hints at the serious nature of the threat, as it was a site of historical importance and covenant significance for Israel.

1 Samuel 13 4 Bonus section

• The Philistine control mentioned implicitly by their "outposts" signifies their long-standing oppression of Israel, including disarming them by removing smiths (1 Sam 13:19). This vulnerability makes Israel's challenge all the more daring and potentially catastrophic.
• Saul's action in this chapter, specifically calling the assembly, appears to be an independent decision without explicit divine command or prophetic guidance from Samuel at this point for this particular action, contrasting with his decisive, divinely-empowered action against the Ammonites in 1 Samuel 11. This may hint at Saul beginning to act more on his own strategic thinking than waiting for divine instruction, a tendency that becomes more pronounced later.
• The widespread knowledge in "all Israel" underscores the centralized nature of the kingship. Unlike the era of the Judges where localized efforts were common, here a national response is being orchestrated by the king, though the response itself comes with challenges to the king's authority (Saul's impatient action in later verses).

1 Samuel 13 4 Commentary

Verse 13:4 acts as a critical pivot point in 1 Samuel. Following Jonathan's successful but limited strike, the immediate ripple effect is amplified. It shifts the localized skirmish into a national crisis. The communication across "all Israel" highlights the emerging sense of collective identity under Saul's monarchy and the shared understanding of the looming Philistine retaliation. The Philistine perception of Israel becoming "obnoxious" or a "stench" is not merely annoyance but profound affront, signaling their resolve for total subjugation. This verse dramatically raises the stakes, preparing the reader for the monumental Philistine counter-offensive and placing King Saul in a demanding leadership test at the historically significant rallying point of Gilgal. It also foreshadows Saul's critical misstep concerning the sacrifice and Samuel's expected arrival, ultimately setting the narrative path for Saul's future failure as king.