Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 13
Israel’s army gathered at Gilgal while Philistia’s army (called the Philistines) gathered at Michmash. Israel’s soldiers received regular reports from the camp of the Philistines. These reports made Israel’s soldiers very afraid.
King Saul of Israel already had 3000 men under his command (13:2). He had ordered every man from Israel who could fight to join them. Few of these men were skilled soldiers. Most of them were farm workers. They did not have any military equipment whatever; they did not even have swords (13:22). They intended to use knives and agricultural tools in the battle.
The Philistines, on the other hand, had a strong and capable army. There were too many soldiers for anyone to count. They had the proper military equipment. They even had chariots.
The chariot was a very powerful piece of military equipment. It was a carriage with wheels that two horses pulled. A soldier who was ready to fight stood next to its driver. It moved very quickly.
Saul had wanted all Israel’s men to join his army at Gilgal. He thought that such a vast army could defeat the Philistines. In fact, however, Saul’s army did not increase; it became smaller. The reports about Philistia’s army and their chariots made Saul’s men too afraid. They ran away. The camp at Gilgal was near the Jordan River. Some of Saul’s soldiers even escaped across the river.
Clearly, Saul’s plan to gather a vast army had failed. He began with 3000 men. He waited for 7 days for men to join him. At the end of that period, only 600 men remained in the camp (13:15).
Next part: Saul chooses not to obey God’s command to him (1 Samuel 13:8-9)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.