1 Samuel 14:22

Authorized King James Version

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Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

Original Language Analysis

וְכֹל֩ H3605
וְכֹל֩
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 1 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אִ֨ישׁ Likewise all the men H376
אִ֨ישׁ Likewise all the men
Strong's: H376
Word #: 2 of 15
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 3 of 15
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
הַמִּֽתְחַבְּאִ֤ים which had hid H2244
הַמִּֽתְחַבְּאִ֤ים which had hid
Strong's: H2244
Word #: 4 of 15
to secrete
בְּהַר themselves in mount H2022
בְּהַר themselves in mount
Strong's: H2022
Word #: 5 of 15
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ Ephraim H669
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ Ephraim
Strong's: H669
Word #: 6 of 15
ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
שָֽׁמְע֔וּ when they heard H8085
שָֽׁמְע֔וּ when they heard
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 7 of 15
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
כִּי H3588
כִּי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 8 of 15
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָ֖סוּ fled H5127
נָ֖סוּ fled
Strong's: H5127
Word #: 9 of 15
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים that the Philistines H6430
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים that the Philistines
Strong's: H6430
Word #: 10 of 15
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
וַֽיַּדְבְּק֥וּ even they also followed hard H1692
וַֽיַּדְבְּק֥וּ even they also followed hard
Strong's: H1692
Word #: 11 of 15
properly, to impinge, i.e., cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
גַם H1571
גַם
Strong's: H1571
Word #: 12 of 15
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הֵ֛מָּה H1992
הֵ֛מָּה
Strong's: H1992
Word #: 13 of 15
they (only used when emphatic)
אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם after H310
אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם after
Strong's: H310
Word #: 14 of 15
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ them in the battle H4421
בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ them in the battle
Strong's: H4421
Word #: 15 of 15
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

Analysis & Commentary

Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

Those who had 'hid themselves in mount Ephraim' - the frightened Israelites of 13:6 who fled to caves and pits - now 'heard that the Philistines fled' and 'followed hard after them in the battle.' The Hebrew davaq ('followed hard' or 'clung') describes aggressive pursuit. Fear transforms to courage when God's power becomes evident. The same people who hid now pursue. Divine victory emboldens those who lacked faith for the initial fight.

Historical Context

Mount Ephraim's caves and forests provided hiding places for refugees during Philistine dominance. The emergence of these hidden Israelites swelled the pursuing force significantly. Their participation in pursuit, if not in initial combat, contributed to the totality of the Philistine defeat.

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