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1 Samuel 13:2-4
Contemporary English Version
1 Samuel 13:2-4
Contemporary English Version
2 Then[a] he chose 3,000 men from Israel to be full-time soldiers and sent everyone else[b] home. Two thousand of these troops stayed with him in the hills around Michmash and Bethel. The other 1,000 were stationed with Jonathan[c] at Gibeah[d] in the territory of Benjamin.
3 Jonathan led an attack on the Philistine army camp at Geba.[e] The Philistine camp was destroyed, but[f] the other Philistines heard what had happened. Then Saul told his messengers, “Go to every village in the country. Give a signal with the trumpet, and when the people come together, tell them what has happened.”
4 The messengers then said to the people of Israel, “Saul has destroyed the Philistine army camp at Geba.[g] Now the Philistines really hate Israel, so every town and village must send men to join Saul's army at Gilgal.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 13.1,2 for … Then: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 13.2 everyone else: People who were not full-time soldiers, but fought together with the army when the nation was in danger.
- 13.2 Jonathan: Saul's son (see verse 16).
- 13.2 Michmash … Bethel … Gibeah: These three towns form a triangle, with Bethel to the north.
- 13.3 Geba: Geba was between Gibeah and Michmash.
- 13.3 led an attack … destroyed, but: Or “killed the Philistine military governor who lived at Geba, and.”
- 13.4 destroyed … Geba: Or “killed the Philistine military governor who lived at Geba.”
1 Samuel 13:2-4
New International Version
1 Samuel 13:2-4
New International Version
2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand(A) were with him at Mikmash(B) and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah(C) in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost(D) at Geba,(E) and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet(F) blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious(G) to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
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New International Version (NIV) 
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