1 Samuel 14:21 And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps of the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 14 > Verse 21

◄ 1 Samuel 14:21 ►

New International Version
Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

New Living Translation
Even the Hebrews who had previously gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites.

English Standard Version
Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Berean Standard Bible
And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps of the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

King James Bible
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

New King James Version
Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

New American Standard Bible
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also returned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

NASB 1995
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

NASB 1977
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Amplified Bible
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Christian Standard Bible
There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

American Standard Version
Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp, from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

Contemporary English Version
There were also some hired soldiers in the Philistine camp, who now switched to Israel's side and fought for Saul and Jonathan.

English Revised Version
Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about; even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before this and had been stationed in the camp now joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Good News Translation
Some Hebrews, who had been on the Philistine side and had gone with them to the camp, changed sides again and joined Saul and Jonathan.

International Standard Version
The Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines, who had gone up with them from the surrounding areas to the camp, even they joined Israel and those who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Majority Standard Bible
And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps of the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

NET Bible
The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

New Heart English Bible
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously when they went up with them to the camp, they too turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the country around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

World English Bible
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the Hebrews [who] have been with the Philistines before the day prior, who had gone up with them into the camp, have turned around, even they, to be with Israel who [are] with Saul and Jonathan,

Young's Literal Translation
And the Hebrews who have been for the Philistines as heretofore, who had gone up with them into the camp, have turned round, even they, to be with Israel who are with Saul and Jonathan,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Hebrews being to the rovers about yesterday the third day, who went up with them into the camp round about, and also they to be with Israel which were with Saul and, Jonathan.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover the Hebrews that had been with the Philistines yesterday and the day before, and went up with them into the camp, returned to be with the Israelites, who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Moreover, the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines yesterday and the day before, and who had ascended with them into the camp, turned back so that they might be with those of Israel who were with Saul and Jonathan.

New American Bible
The Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp turned to join the Israelites under Saul and Jonathan.

New Revised Standard Version
Now the Hebrews who previously had been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp turned and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who had gone up with them to the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites and with Saul and Jonathan.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Hebrews and Philistines, as in former times, also came up with them to the encampment, and they came around also to be with the sons of Israel and with Shaul and Yonathan

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp round about; even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the servants who had been before with the Philistines, who had gone up to the army, turned themselves also to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jonathan's Victory over the Philistines
…20Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. 21 And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps of the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Judges 7:22
And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

Exodus 12:38
And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

2 Kings 7:6-7
For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.

2 Chronicles 20:23
The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Joshua 2:11
When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

2 Samuel 15:18-19
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath. / Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

2 Kings 25:24
And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

1 Chronicles 12:19-21
Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) / When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. / They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders in the army.

Isaiah 19:2
“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

Jeremiah 37:13-14
But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, seized him and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!” / “That is a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!” But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

Matthew 8:11
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

John 10:16
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Acts 2:5-11
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. / And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language. / Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ...

Romans 11:17
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,

Ephesians 2:12-13
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. / But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Treasury of Scripture

Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

1 Samuel 29:4
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

Judges 7:23
And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

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Beforetime Camp Country Hebrews Heretofore Israel Israelites Joined Jonathan Moreover Philistines Previously Round Saul Tents Time Turned Turning

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Beforetime Camp Country Hebrews Heretofore Israel Israelites Joined Jonathan Moreover Philistines Previously Round Saul Tents Time Turned Turning

1 Samuel 14

1. Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine's garrison
15. A divine terror makes them beat themselves
17. Saul, not staying the priest's answer, sets on them
21. The captivated Hebrews, and the hidden Israelites, join against them.
24. Saul's unadvised adjuration hinders the victory
31. He restrains the people from eating blood
35. He builds an altar
37. Jonathan, taken by lot, is save by the people
47. Saul's victories, strength, and family

Berean Study Bible

And the Hebrews
The term "Hebrews" is often used in the Old Testament to refer to the descendants of Eber, an ancestor of Abraham. In this context, it highlights the ethnic and covenant identity of the people who were originally part of God's chosen nation. Historically, the Hebrews were distinct from the surrounding nations, and their identity was deeply tied to their covenant relationship with Yahweh. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the significance of their actions in the narrative.

who had previously gone up with the Philistines
This phrase indicates a prior allegiance or association with the Philistines, who were long-standing enemies of Israel. The Philistines were a powerful sea-faring people known for their military prowess and advanced iron technology. The fact that some Hebrews had aligned themselves with the Philistines suggests a period of compromise or coercion, possibly due to fear or survival instincts. It reflects the complex socio-political dynamics of the time, where allegiances could shift based on immediate threats or pressures.

and had joined their camp
Joining the Philistine camp implies a deeper level of integration or cooperation with the enemy forces. This could have involved serving as mercenaries or being assimilated into their military structure. Theologically, this represents a departure from trust in God and His promises, as aligning with the Philistines would mean relying on human strength and wisdom rather than divine guidance. It underscores the theme of faithfulness versus compromise that runs throughout the biblical narrative.

even they joined the Israelites
The phrase "even they" emphasizes the unexpected nature of their return to the Israelite side. It suggests a turning point or a moment of realization, where those who had once strayed from their covenant identity chose to realign themselves with God's people. This act of joining the Israelites can be seen as a form of repentance or a return to faithfulness, highlighting God's mercy and the possibility of restoration for those who have wandered.

who were with Saul and Jonathan
Saul and Jonathan, as leaders of Israel, represent the legitimate authority and the divinely appointed leadership of the nation. Jonathan, in particular, is portrayed in the biblical narrative as a man of faith and courage, often acting in accordance with God's will. By joining Saul and Jonathan, the returning Hebrews are not only aligning themselves with their fellow countrymen but also with the leadership that God has established. This act signifies a return to rightful order and a reaffirmation of their identity as God's chosen people.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines.--These Israelites were, most likely, prisoners who had been compelled to fight against their countrymen, or were levies raised in those parts of the land more immediately under Philistine influence. These, we read, took the first opportunity to go over to Saul. Other Israelites--probably the men of whole villages, who had been compelled, as the result of the late Philistine successes, to desert their homesteads, and seek a precarious living in the hills--joined in the pursuit of the now flying Philistine armies. This is the meaning of the words of the 22nd verse, which speaks of "the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim."

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 21, 22. - Round about, even. All the versions by a very slight alteration change this into turned, which the A.V. is forced to supply. With this necessary correction the translation is easy: "And the Hebrews who were previously with the Philistines, and had gone up with them into the camp, turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan." It appears, therefore, that certain districts of the Israelite territory were so completely in the power of the Philistines that they could compel the men to go with them, not perhaps as soldiers, as is our custom in India, but as drivers and servants. These now turned upon their masters, and were reinforced by the Israelites who had taken refuge in Mount Ephraim. It is noteworthy that these subject "Hebrews" retain the name of contempt given them by their masters.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And the Hebrews
וְהָעִבְרִ֗ים (wə·hā·‘iḇ·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite

who had
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

previously
כְּאֶתְמ֣וֹל (kə·’eṯ·mō·wl)
Preposition-k | Adverb
Strong's 865: Heretofore, definitely yesterday

gone up
עָל֥וּ (‘ā·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

into the surrounding camps
בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (bam·ma·ḥă·neh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

of the Philistines
לַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ (lap·pə·liš·tîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

now went over to
לִֽהְיוֹת֙ (lih·yō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the Israelites
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

who
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

were with
עִמָּ֛ם (‘im·mām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

Saul
שָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

and Jonathan.
וְיוֹנָתָֽן׃ (wə·yō·w·nā·ṯān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3129: Jonathan

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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:21 Now the Hebrews who were (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)