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.
Some of the Hebrew soldiers crossed the Jordan River into the territories of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed in Gilgal, and all the people who remained with him were shaking with fear.
This verse shows how fear was causing Saul's army to scatter and desert, while those who stayed were terrified and losing confidence in their leader.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the early days of Saul's reign as Israel's first king, when the Philistines had assembled a massive army to attack Israel. The Israelites were vastly outnumbered and poorly equipped compared to their enemies who had iron weapons and chariots. Saul was waiting at Gilgal for the prophet Samuel to arrive and offer sacrifices before battle, but Samuel was delayed, causing panic among the troops.
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