1 Samuel 13:23
New International Version
Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.

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

English Standard Version
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Berean Standard Bible
And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

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

New King James Version
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

New American Standard Bible
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the gorge of Michmash.

NASB 1995
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

NASB 1977
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Amplified Bible
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass at Michmash.

Christian Standard Bible
Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

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

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

Contemporary English Version
The Philistines moved their camp to the pass at Michmash,

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

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

Good News Translation
The Philistines sent a group of soldiers to defend Michmash Pass.

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

Majority Standard Bible
And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

NET Bible
A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash.

New Heart English Bible
The garrison of the Philistines went out to 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the station of the Philistines goes out to the passage of Michmash.

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

Smith's Literal Translation
And a station of the rovers will come forth to the passage of Michmash.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the army of the Philistines went out in order to advance further in Machmas.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the army of the Philistines went out in order to go across Michmash.

New American Bible
An outpost of the Philistines had pushed forward to the pass of Michmash.

New Revised Standard Version
Now a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the other side of Mekmas
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmas.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there went out some from the camp of the Philistines to the place beyond Machmas.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel Without Weapons
22So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hands of the troops with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons. 23And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

Cross References
1 Samuel 14:1-14
One 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. / Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men, / including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left. ...

1 Samuel 14:4-5
Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh. / One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

1 Samuel 14:11-12
So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!” / So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

1 Samuel 14:13-14
So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. / In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre of land.

2 Samuel 23:14-16
At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. / David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” / So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,

Judges 3:13
After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.

Judges 3:28-29
“Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and they did not allow anyone to cross over. / At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men. Not one of them escaped.

Judges 7:1-8
Early in the morning Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. / Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ / Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained. ...

2 Kings 3:19-25
And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.” / The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the land. / Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border. ...

2 Chronicles 20:16-17
Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. / You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Isaiah 10:28-32
Assyria has entered Aiath and passed through Migron, storing their supplies at Michmash. / They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees. / Cry aloud, O Daughter of Gallim! Listen, O Laishah! O wretched Anathoth! ...

Isaiah 28:21
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

Joshua 7:2-5
Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. / On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.” / So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. ...

Joshua 8:1-29
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. See, I have delivered into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. / And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.” / So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night ...

1 Chronicles 11:15-19
Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. / At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. / David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

garrison.

1 Samuel 13:3
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.

1 Samuel 14:4
And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

passage

1 Samuel 13:2,5
Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent…

1 Samuel 14:1,4,5
Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father…

Isaiah 10:28
He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:

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Armed Detachment Michmas Michmash Micmash Narrow Passage Philistines Station Way
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Armed Detachment Michmas Michmash Micmash Narrow Passage Philistines Station Way
1 Samuel 13
1. Saul's select band
3. He calls the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines
5. The Philistines' great army
6. The distress of the Israelites
8. Saul, weary of staying for Samuel, sacrifices
11. Samuel reproves him
17. The three raiding parties of the Philistines
19. The policy of the Philistines, to allow no blacksmith in Israel














And a garrison
The term "garrison" refers to a military post or station. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "נְצִיב" (netziv), which can mean a pillar or a stationed group. This indicates a strategic military presence, suggesting that the Philistines were not merely raiding but were establishing control over key locations. Historically, garrisons were used to exert influence and maintain dominance over conquered territories, reflecting the Philistines' intent to subdue Israel.

of the Philistines
The Philistines were a significant adversary of Israel during the time of Saul. They were a sea-faring people, likely originating from the Aegean region, and settled along the coastal plains of Canaan. Their presence in the land was a constant threat to Israel, both militarily and culturally. The Philistines were known for their advanced iron weaponry, which gave them a technological advantage over the Israelites, who were still primarily using bronze.

had gone out
This phrase indicates movement and initiative. The Philistines were not passive; they were actively expanding their influence. The Hebrew verb "יָצָא" (yatsa) implies a deliberate action, suggesting that the Philistines were strategically positioning themselves to control the region. This movement would have been a direct challenge to Saul's reign and a test of his leadership.

to the pass
A "pass" refers to a narrow route through mountainous terrain, often a strategic military location. In ancient warfare, controlling a pass meant controlling the movement of troops and supplies. The Hebrew word "מַעֲבָר" (ma'abar) signifies a crossing or passage, highlighting the tactical importance of this location. The pass at Michmash would have been a critical point for controlling access between different regions of Israel.

at Michmash
Michmash was a town in the territory of Benjamin, located about seven miles northeast of Jerusalem. Archaeological evidence suggests that Michmash was a fortified location, making it a significant military target. The mention of Michmash in this context underscores the Philistines' strategy to penetrate deeper into Israelite territory. Historically, Michmash would later become the site of a significant battle between Saul's forces and the Philistines, as recorded in the subsequent chapters of 1 Samuel.

(23) The garrison of the Philistines went out.--These words form an introduction to the recital of the heroic deed of Jonathan related in the following chapter. The Philistines are represented as sending forward an armed detachment, or out-post detachment, beyond the camp of Michmash, as a protection against a surprise on the part of the Israelitic force under the king and his son.

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.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And a garrison
מַצַּ֣ב (maṣ·ṣaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4673: A fixed spot, an office, a military post

of the Philistines
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

had gone out
וַיֵּצֵא֙ (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to the pass
מַעֲבַ֖ר (ma·‘ă·ḇar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4569: A crossing-place, a transit, overwhelming

at Michmash.
מִכְמָֽשׂ׃ (miḵ·māś)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4363: Michmash -- a city in Benjamin


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OT History: 1 Samuel 13:23 The garrison of the Philistines went out (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 13:22
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