1 Samuel 13:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Saul forms a small standing army, dividing it between himself and his son Jonathan and dismissing the rest of the people.
What Does 1 Samuel 13:2 Mean?
Saul moves from a mustered militia to a chosen core of three thousand, stationed at strategic points while the others return home. Jonathan, his son, appears for the first time, entrusted with a thousand men at Gibeah.
Here a father and son stand together at the head of Israel's defense, and Jonathan will prove a man of bold faith in the chapters ahead. Small numbers against a great foe remind the reader that Israel's security never rested in the size of its host, but in the God who saves by many or by few.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 13:2
What does 1 Samuel 13:2 mean?
Saul forms a small standing army, dividing it between himself and his son Jonathan and dismissing the rest of the people.