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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 13:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Sa 13:3	Strong Concordance	And Jonathan [03129] smote [05221] the garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430] that was in Geba [01387], and the Philistines [06430] heard [08085] of it. And Saul [07586] blew [08628] the trumpet [07782] throughout all the land [0776], saying [0559], Let the Hebrews [05680] hear [08085].
	King James	And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
HE CALLS THE HEBREWS TO GILGAL AGAINST THE PHILISTINES. (Sa1 13:3-4) And Jonathan--that is, "God-given." smote the garrison of the Philistines . . . in Geba--Geba and Gibeah were towns in Benjamin, very close to each other (Jos 18:24, Jos 18:28). The word rendered "garrison" is different from that of Sa1 13:23; Sa1 14:1, and signifies, literally, something erected; probably a pillar or flagstaff, indicative of Philistine ascendency. That the secret demolition of this standard, so obnoxious to a young and noble-hearted patriot, was the feat of Jonathan referred to, is evident from the words, "the Philistines heard of it," which is not the way we should expect an attack on a fortress to be noticed. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land--This, a well-known sound, was the usual Hebrew war-summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon fire in the neighboring places. A second blast was blown--then answered by a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation was speedily diffused over the whole country. As the Philistines resented what Jonathan had done as an overt attempt to throw off their yoke, a levy, en masse, of the people was immediately ordered, the rendezvous to be the old camping-ground at Gilgal.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

HE CALLS THE HEBREWS TO GILGAL AGAINST THE PHILISTINES. (Sa1 13:3-4)

And Jonathan--that is, "God-given."

smote the garrison of the Philistines . . . in Geba--Geba and Gibeah were towns in Benjamin, very close to each other (Jos 18:24, Jos 18:28). The word rendered "garrison" is different from that of Sa1 13:23; Sa1 14:1, and signifies, literally, something erected; probably a pillar or flagstaff, indicative of Philistine ascendency. That the secret demolition of this standard, so obnoxious to a young and noble-hearted patriot, was the feat of Jonathan referred to, is evident from the words, "the Philistines heard of it," which is not the way we should expect an attack on a fortress to be noticed.

Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land--This, a well-known sound, was the usual Hebrew war-summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon fire in the neighboring places. A second blast was blown--then answered by a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation was speedily diffused over the whole country. As the Philistines resented what Jonathan had done as an overt attempt to throw off their yoke, a levy, en masse, of the people was immediately ordered, the rendezvous to be the old camping-ground at Gilgal.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
This was the first act in the war of independence, and probably the first feat in arms of the young hero Jonathan.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Blew - That is, he sent messengers to tell them all what Jonathan had done, and how the Philistines were enraged at it, and therefore what necessity there was of gathering themselves together for their own defence.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Jonathan smote - He appears to have taken this garrison by surprise, for his men had no arms for a regular battle, or taking the place by storm. This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible. Let the Hebrews hear - Probably this means the people who dwelt beyond Jordan, who might very naturally be termed here העברים haibrim, from עבר abar, he passed over; those who are beyond the river Jordan: as Abraham was called עברי Ibri because he dwelt beyond the river Euphrates.

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¹ Now it came to pass upon a day [03117], that Jonathan [03129] the son [01121] of Saul [07586] said [0559] unto the young man [05288] that bare [05375] his armour [03627], Come [03212], and let us go over [05674] to the Philistines [06430]' garrison [04673], that is on the other side [05676] [01975]. But he told [05046] not his father [01].

²³ And the garrison [04673] of the Philistines [06430] went out [03318] to the passage [04569] of Michmash [04363].

²⁸ And Zelah [06762], Eleph [0507], and Jebusi [02983], which is Jerusalem [03389], Gibeath [01394], and Kirjath [07157]; fourteen [0702] [06240] cities [05892] with their villages [02691]. This is the inheritance [05159] of the children [01121] of Benjamin [01144] according to their families [04940].

²⁴ And Chepharhaammonai [03726], and Ophni [06078], and Gaba [01387]; twelve [08147] [06240] cities [05892] with their villages [02691]:

³ And Jonathan [03129] smote [05221] the garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430] that was in Geba [01387], and the Philistines [06430] heard [08085] of it. And Saul [07586] blew [08628] the trumpet [07782] throughout all the land [0776], saying [0559], Let the Hebrews [05680] hear [08085].
⁴ And all Israel [03478] heard [08085] say [0559] that Saul [07586] had smitten [05221] a garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430], and that Israel [03478] also was had in abomination [0887] with the Philistines [06430]. And the people [05971] were called together [06817] after [0310] Saul [07586] to Gilgal [01537].