1 Samuel 13:23

Modern

And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

Traditional

And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

Literal

And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Latin

Egressa est autem statio Philisthiim, ut transcenderet in Machmas.

Hebrew

English

And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

The pass at Michmash was a key route through the canyon, separating Michmash from Geba, Gibeah, and other towns to the south.

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah 10:28
Assyria has entered Aiath and passed through Migron, storing their supplies at Michmash.
1 Samuel 14:1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
1 Samuel 14:4–5
Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.
1 Samuel 13:2–3
He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.
1 Samuel 13:5
Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
2 Samuel 23:14
At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

Michmash: A town in Benjamin; site of Saul's camp and Jonathan's victory Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan