1 Samuel 14:5
New International Version
One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.

New Living Translation
The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba.

English Standard Version
The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

Berean Standard Bible
One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

King James Bible
The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

New King James Version
The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.

New American Standard Bible
The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

NASB 1995
The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

NASB 1977
The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

Legacy Standard Bible
The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

Amplified Bible
The one crag was on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

Christian Standard Bible
one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba.

American Standard Version
The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

English Revised Version
The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One cliff stood like a pillar on the north facing Michmash, the other stood south facing Geba.

Good News Translation
One was on the north side of the pass, facing Michmash, and the other was on the south side, facing Geba.

International Standard Version
One crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

Majority Standard Bible
One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

NET Bible
The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.

New Heart English Bible
The one cliff was to north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

Webster's Bible Translation
The front of the one was situated northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

World English Bible
The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
One edge [is] fixed on the north in front of Michmash, and the one on the south in front of Gibeah.

Young's Literal Translation
The one edge is fixed on the north over-against Michmash, and the one on the south over-against Gibeah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the tooth of the one pressing from the north in front of Michmash, and the other from the south in front of the hill.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
One rock stood out towards the north over against Machmas, and the other to the south over against Gabaa.

Catholic Public Domain Version
One boulder projected toward the north, opposite Michmash, and the other toward the south, opposite Gibeah.

New American Bible
One crag was to the north, toward Michmash; the other to the south, toward Geba.

New Revised Standard Version
One crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
One crag stood out northward over against Michmash and the other southward over against Gibeah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
One crag extended from the North against Mekmas and the other from the South against Geba
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmas, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The one way was northward to one coming to Machmas, and the other way was southward to one coming to Gabae.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan's Victory over the Philistines
4Now 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. 5One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba. 6Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”…

Cross References
Judges 7:1
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.

1 Samuel 13:23
And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

2 Samuel 5:18-25
Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. / So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.” / So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim. ...

2 Kings 3:9
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.

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! ...

Joshua 15:33-36
These were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, / Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, / Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, ...

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!” ...

2 Chronicles 20:16
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.

Jeremiah 46:18
As surely as I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.

Ezekiel 39:11
And on that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea. It will block those who travel through, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.

Matthew 4:18-22
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. / “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” / And at once they left their nets and followed Him. ...

Mark 1:16-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. / “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” / And at once they left their nets and followed Him. ...

Luke 5:1-11
On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, / He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. / Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat. ...

John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.” / Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. / Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ...

Acts 9:3-8
As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. / He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” / “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

forefront [heb] tooth

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Cliff Crag Edge Michmas Michmash North Northward Opposite Over-Against Pillar Rock Rose Situate Situated South Southward Stood
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Cliff Crag Edge Michmas Michmash North Northward Opposite Over-Against Pillar Rock Rose Situate Situated South Southward Stood
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














One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash
The geographical setting of this verse is crucial for understanding the strategic military movements in the narrative. The Hebrew word for "cliff" is "סֶלַע" (sela), which often denotes a rocky crag or a steep, inaccessible place. This imagery suggests a natural fortification, emphasizing the difficulty of the terrain. Michmash, identified with the modern-day village of Mukhmas, was a significant Philistine outpost. Historically, Michmash was a strategic location in the tribal territory of Benjamin, often serving as a military stronghold due to its elevated position. The mention of the cliff to the north highlights the tactical advantage and the formidable challenge faced by any advancing army, setting the stage for the miraculous victory that follows in the narrative.

and the other to the south toward Geba
The second cliff is described as being to the south, facing Geba. The Hebrew term for "south" is "נֶגֶב" (negev), which can also mean "dry" or "parched," reflecting the arid conditions typical of the region. Geba, another town in the territory of Benjamin, was located opposite Michmash, across a deep ravine. The positioning of these two cliffs, with one facing north and the other south, creates a natural bottleneck, a narrow pass that would have been difficult to traverse without being exposed to enemy forces. This geographical detail underscores the divine intervention required for Jonathan and his armor-bearer to succeed in their daring attack. The historical context of Geba, often associated with the Levitical cities, adds a layer of spiritual significance, as it was a place where God's presence was acknowledged and His laws taught. This juxtaposition of physical geography and spiritual heritage serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over both the natural and spiritual realms.

Verse 5. - Was situate, etc. The word thus translated is that rendered pillar in 1 Samuel 2:8, and the verse should possibly be translated, "And the one tooth (or crag) was a rocky mass on the north over against Michmash, and the other was on the south over against Geba" (not Gibeah, as the A.V.; see 1 Samuel 13:16). But the word is omitted in the versions, and may be an interpolation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One
הָאֶחָ֛ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

cliff
הַשֵּׁ֧ן (haš·šên)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

stood
מָצ֥וּק (mā·ṣūq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4690: Something narrow, a column, hilltop

to the north
מִצָּפ֖וֹן (miṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

toward
מ֣וּל (mūl)
Preposition
Strong's 4136: Abrupt, a precipice, the front, opposite

Michmash,
מִכְמָ֑שׂ (miḵ·māś)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4363: Michmash -- a city in Benjamin

and the other
וְהָאֶחָ֥ד (wə·hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

to the south
מִנֶּ֖גֶב (min·ne·ḡeḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5045: South country, the Negeb, south

toward
מ֥וּל (mūl)
Preposition
Strong's 4136: Abrupt, a precipice, the front, opposite

Geba.
גָּֽבַע׃ (gā·ḇa‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1387: Geba -- a Levitical city of Benjamin


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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:5 The one crag rose up (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 14:4
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