1 Samuel 13:15
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֣קָם
arose
H6965
וַיָּ֣קָם
arose
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
1 of 16
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וַיַּ֛עַל
and gat him up
H5927
וַיַּ֛עַל
and gat him up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
3 of 16
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל
from Gilgal
H1537
הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל
from Gilgal
Strong's:
H1537
Word #:
5 of 16
gilgal, the name of three places in palestine
בִּנְיָמִ֑ן
of Benjamin
H1144
בִּנְיָמִ֑ן
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
7 of 16
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד
numbered
H6485
וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד
numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
8 of 16
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָעָם֙
the people
H5971
הָעָם֙
the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
11 of 16
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַנִּמְצְאִ֣ים
that were present
H4672
הַנִּמְצְאִ֣ים
that were present
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
עִמּ֔וֹ
H5973
עִמּ֔וֹ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
13 of 16
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
כְּשֵׁ֥שׁ
with him about six
H8337
כְּשֵׁ֥שׁ
with him about six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
14 of 16
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
Cross References
1 Samuel 13:2Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, 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 14:2And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
Historical Context
Gibeah of Benjamin was Saul's hometown and served as his capital. The reduction from Israel's large mustered force to 600 men reflects mass desertion during the waiting period mentioned in verse 8. This tiny force would seem incapable of confronting the massive Philistine army described in verse 5.
Questions for Reflection
- How does disobedient leadership often produce the very results it sought to prevent?
- What does the remnant of 600 faithful soldiers teach about faithfulness during leadership failure?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.
Samuel's departure 'from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin' marks physical and spiritual distance from Saul after pronouncing judgment. The notation that Saul 'numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men' reveals the devastating effect of his failure - from the 330,000 of chapter 11 to a mere remnant. Divine discipline operates through natural consequences: Saul's faithless sacrifice drove away the very army he sought to keep. Leadership that grasps for security through disobedience produces the insecurity it fears.