1 samuel 14:20 - Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion.
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What does "1 samuel 14:20" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 14:20 describes a chaotic and disastrous situation within the Philistine army during a battle against the Israelites. Let's break down the meaning:
"Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle": This sets the scene. Saul, the king of Israel, and his forces were approaching the battlefield. They were likely preparing to engage the Philistines.
"and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion": This is the key part. The Philistine army was in complete disarray. Instead of fighting the Israelites, they were attacking each other with their own weapons. The phrase "very great confusion" emphasizes the sheer chaos and lack of control.
Meaning and Context:
This verse is part of a larger narrative in 1 Samuel 14 where Jonathan, Saul's son, and his armor-bearer bravely attack a Philistine outpost. As Jonathan's surprise attack begins to succeed, a "trembling" (fear and panic) spread through the Philistine camp (verse 15). This trembling is likely a divinely sent event, causing the Philistines to lose their nerve and turn on each other.
The confusion and infighting among the Philistines provided a significant advantage to the Israelites. It allowed Saul's army to join the battle and easily defeat the disorganized enemy.
In essence, the verse means:
The Philistine army was seized by a divinely induced panic, causing them to lose all sense of order and direction. In their fear and disorientation, they mistakenly attacked their own soldiers, creating a state of self-destruction and making them easy prey for the Israelites. This event shows the Israelites' God intervening to deliver them from their enemies.
1 samuel 14:20 - Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion.
What does "1 samuel 14:20" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 14:20 describes a chaotic and disastrous situation within the Philistine army during a battle against the Israelites. Let's break down the meaning:
"Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle": This sets the scene. Saul, the king of Israel, and his forces were approaching the battlefield. They were likely preparing to engage the Philistines.
"and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion": This is the key part. The Philistine army was in complete disarray. Instead of fighting the Israelites, they were attacking each other with their own weapons. The phrase "very great confusion" emphasizes the sheer chaos and lack of control.
Meaning and Context:
This verse is part of a larger narrative in 1 Samuel 14 where Jonathan, Saul's son, and his armor-bearer bravely attack a Philistine outpost. As Jonathan's surprise attack begins to succeed, a "trembling" (fear and panic) spread through the Philistine camp (verse 15). This trembling is likely a divinely sent event, causing the Philistines to lose their nerve and turn on each other.
The confusion and infighting among the Philistines provided a significant advantage to the Israelites. It allowed Saul's army to join the battle and easily defeat the disorganized enemy.
In essence, the verse means:
The Philistine army was seized by a divinely induced panic, causing them to lose all sense of order and direction. In their fear and disorientation, they mistakenly attacked their own soldiers, creating a state of self-destruction and making them easy prey for the Israelites. This event shows the Israelites' God intervening to deliver them from their enemies.