1 Samuel 13:23
◄  1 Samuel 13:23  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Now a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash.

NET Bible (©2006)
A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Now, Philistine troops had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

American King James Version
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

American Standard Version
And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the army of the Philistines went out in order to advance further in Machmas.

Darby Bible Translation
And a garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

English Revised Version
And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

World English Bible
The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Young's Literal Translation
And the station of the Philistines goeth out unto the passage of Michmash.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:15-23 See how politic the Philistines were when they had power; they not only prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war, but obliged them to depend upon their enemies, even for instruments of husbandry. How impolitic Saul was, who did not, in the beginning of his reign, set himself to redress this. Want of true sense always accompanies want of grace. Sins which appear to us very little, have dangerous consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenceless nation; much more those who are destitute of the whole armour of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - And the garrison, etc. When the Philistines heard that Saul with his six hundred men had joined the small force already at Geba with Jonathan, they sent a body of men to occupy an eminence higher up in the defile which lay between Geba and Michmash (see on 1 Samuel 13:2). The purpose of this was to keep the route open, that so, when they pleased, they might send a larger body of troops up the defile in order to attack Saul. It would also keep a watch upon his movements, though they could have had no expectation that he would venture to attack them. It was this garrison which Jonathan so bravely attacked, and by his success prepared the way for the utter defeat of the enemy.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash. According to Jarchi, these two places, Michmash where the Philistines were, and Gibeah where Saul and Jonathan were, lay on two hills over against each other, and there was a valley between them; and the garrison of the Philistines drew nigh to the passage of Michmash, which led to the side of Gibeah, to the valley between them, either with an intention to besiege Gibeah, or to dare Israel to come out and fight them: but rather it seems to be some strong pass between the rocks near Michmash, where the garrison placed themselves to guard and keep against any sudden surprise; see 1 Samuel 14:4. The Targum is,"the governor of the Philistines went out to the ford or passage of Michmash;''and Kimchi interprets it of the princes or generals of the army; these might go to mark out a camp, and pitch upon a proper place to draw up in a line of battle.

1 Samuel 13:23 Parallel Commentaries

1 Samuel 13:23 NIV
1 Samuel 13:23 NLT
1 Samuel 13:23 ESV
1 Samuel 13:23 NASB
1 Samuel 13:23 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Israel without Weapons
…21Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 22So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 23And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

1 Samuel 14:1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
1 Samuel 14:4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh.
1 Samuel 14:5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
2 Samuel 23:14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
Isaiah 10:28 They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron; they store supplies at Mikmash.
Isaiah 10:29 They go over the pass, and say, "We will camp overnight at Geba." Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.