Three thousand men

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Sinking Sand

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1 Samuel 13:1–7, “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 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. 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.  And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.”

Even though Saul was king and he had defeated Nahash in a big battle, Israel was still oppressed by the Philistines. They lived on the Plains by the Mediterranean Sea and there was an important pass coming up into the highlands near Jerusalem, which was still a Jebusite city. They would come up and down at will and take whatever they wanted from the Israelis. After two years as king, Saul decided that it was time to do something about the Philistines. He chose an army of three thousand men and divided them into three battalions. One battalion was in the north, one in the middle and the last in the south of Israel. Saul’s son, Jonathan, was in command of the battalion in the south. Jonathan was a courageous man and a great military leader. He took his battalion down to a Philistine city and won a comprehensive victory. This was an extremely provocative action. The Philistines mustered their armies to seek revenge against Israel. When Saul heard that they were mustering their armies he mustered his army at Gilgal. The Philistines had heavy armour in the form of battle chariots, cavalry and many battalions of infantry as well. Israel had to face this massive army with a much smaller army. When the Israeli soldiers looked at this huge army they were afraid and ran to hide themselves in caves and anywhere else they could find cover. Some of them even went over the Jordan to hide. Saul stayed in Gilgal with the remnant of his army and they were all afraid.