1 Samuel 14:21

Contextual Overview

¹⁶Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. ¹⁶ Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. ¹⁶Then Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. ¹⁶ Now Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. ¹⁶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibea Beniamin, sawe: And behold, the multitude were discomfited, & were smitten as they went. ¹⁶ Saul's guards at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin saw the Philistine soldiers running away in different ways. ¹⁶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude had melted away; and they went, even here and there . ¹⁶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gib'e-ah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude was surging hither and thither. ¹⁶ The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went [here] and there. ¹⁶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Beniamin looked: and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating downe one another.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Hebrews: Probably such as they held in bondage, or who were their servants. Instead of (haivrim) "the Hebrews," the LXX evidently read haavdim, for they have ןי הןץכןי, "the slaves;" but this reading is not countenanced by any other version, nor by any manuscript 1 Samuel 29:4, Judges 7:23

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:52 - the men of Israel

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time,.... Who either were their servants and bondsmen they brought along with them, or such in whose cities they dwelt, or had taken as they came along, and forced into their army; or it may be some of them were renegades from the Israelites, deserters, who for safety and subsistence betook themselves to them as the stronger party. The Greek version reads,

"the servants that were with the Philistines:''

which went up with them into the camp [from the country] round about; either willingly or by force; the words, "from the country", are not in the text, wherefore some observe, as Kimchi and Abarbinel, that this respects their being round about the camp, and that they were not within it, but without it, that if possible they might escape fighting against the Israelites:

even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan; who were now joined; when they saw the dread and confusion in the camp of the Philistines, and them destroying one another, and the Israelites prevailing over them, victorious and pursuing, they took part with them, and assisted them in completing the victory.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 14:21. The Hebrews that were with the Philistines — We may understand such as they held in bondage, or who were their servants. Instead of Hebrews the Septuagint read, οι δουλοι, the slaves; from which it is evident that, instead of עברים Ibrim, Hebrews, they found in their text עבדים abadim, servants. But this reading is not countenanced by any other version, nor by any MS. yet discovered.