1 Samuel 13 6

1 Samuel 13:6 kjv

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 nkjv

When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.

1 Samuel 13:6 niv

When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.

1 Samuel 13:6 esv

When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns,

1 Samuel 13:6 nlt

The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 6 Meaning

This verse describes the extreme fear and demoralization of the Israelite people and their soldiers during the severe Philistine oppression. Overwhelmed by the superior Philistine military might, the Israelites sought refuge by hiding in every conceivable natural hiding place available, including caves, fissures in rocks, thickets, and disused cisterns, indicating a complete breakdown of morale and military cohesion.

1 Samuel 13 6 Context

This verse is situated early in Saul's reign, marking a critical moment where his kingship is severely tested. Prior to this, Saul's son Jonathan had attacked a Philistine garrison at Geba (1 Sam 13:3), provoking a massive Philistine military response (1 Sam 13:5) comprising chariots, horsemen, and soldiers "as the sand on the seashore." In contrast, the Israelites were vastly outnumbered, poorly armed (lacking blacksmiths and proper weapons, 1 Sam 13:19-22), and generally unprepared for such a conflict. The surrounding verses confirm the Israelites' overwhelming fear (v. 7), their scattering, and their desperate attempt to hide, illustrating a deep lack of national confidence and trust in God amidst an existential threat from their ancient enemies, the Philistines.

1 Samuel 13 6 Word analysis

• When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (וַיִּרְאוּ אִישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי צַר לוֹ):
  • וַיִּרְאוּ (wayyir'û): "And they saw." This implies a clear, undeniable perception of their grim situation. Their reaction is based on what they observed physically.
  • אִישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל ('îš-Yiśrā'ēl): "Men of Israel." This collectively refers to the fighting men and potentially the populace in general, highlighting a pervasive national panic.
  • כִּי־צַר־לוֹ (kî tsar lô): "that trouble/distress was for him/them." Tsar (צר) means narrow, tight, distress, anguish, adversary. It conveys being pressed, constrained, or hemmed in. Here, it denotes a profound, inescapable distress, both physical (by the enemy) and psychological.
• for the people were hard pressed (כִּי־נִגַּשׂ הָעָם):
  • כִּי־נִגַּשׂ (kî niğğas): "because was oppressed/hard pressed." Naggas (נגש) implies being driven, forced, pressed, or afflicted under severe pressure, often by an oppressor. It intensifies the description of "trouble," portraying them as cornered and under extreme duress.
  • הָעָם (hā‘ām): "the people." Re-emphasizes the widespread nature of the affliction, affecting everyone.
• they hid themselves (וַיִּתְחַבְּאוּ wayyitḥabbə'û):
  • וַיִּתְחַבְּאוּ: "And they hid themselves." From ḥābā’ (חָבָא), "to hide, conceal." This reflexive form emphasizes that they actively and deliberately sought self-preservation through concealment, rather than facing the enemy. It is an action of fear and self-presinterest.
• in caves (בַּמְּעָרוֹת bamma‘ărōṯ): Natural hollows in rocks. A common biblical refuge (e.g., David from Saul).
• and in holes (וּבַחֲוָחִים ûbaḥawāḥîm): Literally "in fissures" or "crevices." Smaller, tighter hiding places than caves.
• and in rocks (וּבַסְּלָעִים ûbassəlā‘îm): In strongholds within the rocky terrain. Could imply seeking elevated or difficult-to-reach places on rocks.
• and in dens (וּבַצְּרִיחִים ûbaṣṣərîḥîm): This term is debated, some suggesting "thickets" or "strongholds/crags" (e.g., from tsariach as "crag" or "bulwark"), others "citadels" or specific types of structures, but often understood contextually as places of concealment in the landscape.
• and in pits (וּבַבּוֹרוֹת ûbabbôrōṯ): Disused cisterns or wells. These were often deep, dark, and potentially dangerous places, signifying the desperation of those seeking refuge.

Words-group analysis:

• "saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed)": This phrase emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between their perceived distress and their reaction. The perceived tsar (trouble) combined with the feeling of niggas (hard pressed) was the immediate catalyst for their flight, stemming from their human limitations and lack of faith in divine aid.
• "hid themselves in caves, and in holes, and in rocks, and in dens, and in pits": The comprehensive list of hiding places underlines the widespread panic and the thoroughness of their attempt at self-preservation. It indicates a total dispersal of military and civilian morale, signifying the deep desperation and fear pervading the entire nation. It illustrates that every possible form of cover was utilized.

1 Samuel 13 6 Bonus section

This verse serves as a crucial theological setup for the remainder of 1 Samuel 13. The widespread fear and desertion underscore the need for a king who would truly trust in God, not just military strength. Saul's subsequent impatience and unauthorized sacrifice (v. 9-10) directly flow from this context of fear and the scattering of his men (v. 8), as he likely felt pressured to act to prevent complete disintegration of his forces. The scene portrays Israel's spiritual immaturity and failure to internalize lessons of God's sovereignty over battles, reflecting a common human tendency to evaluate situations purely by sight rather than by faith. The specific listing of multiple hiding places vividly illustrates the depth of the panic and chaos, demonstrating that the terror was absolute and the people were literally running for their lives into any available crevice or pit. This detail reinforces the desperate conditions and sets a low point from which God must deliver them.

1 Samuel 13 6 Commentary

1 Samuel 13:6 paints a stark picture of Israel's crisis under Saul's early kingship, contrasting sharply with their potential as God's chosen nation. Faced with the overwhelming Philistine military, the Israelites did not turn to God or prepare for battle; instead, they abandoned any sense of national cohesion or divine trust and simply sought self-preservation through desperate hiding. This immediate and widespread reaction of fear highlights Israel's spiritual weakness at this critical juncture, showing a reliance on perceived human strength and circumstances rather than on the God who had delivered them miraculously in the past (e.g., through Gideon or at the Red Sea). This scene directly sets up the ensuing narrative, particularly Saul's disobedient actions, revealing how desperation and lack of faith can lead to rash, God-dishonoring choices. The fear exhibited here is not just natural apprehension, but a failure of the nation to collectively remember and rely on the covenant-keeping God.

• Example: When personal or national difficulties arise, relying on human solutions (hiding, flight, political maneuvering) instead of seeking God's counsel and trusting in His strength often mirrors this desperate reaction, missing an opportunity for God's glory to be revealed.