The Meaning of 1 Samuel 13:23 Explained

1 Samuel 13:23

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

YLT: And the station of the Philistines goeth out unto the passage of Michmash.

Darby: And a garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

ASV: And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 1 Samuel 13:23 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 13:13-23 - Left In The Spoilers' Hands
Sternly and sorrowfully the old prophet pronounced the sentence of Saul's deposition, and suggested that already God had sought and found another prince for his people. In Jesse's home was found the stripling who in after-years would say: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and He shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," Psalms 27:14.
Wait thou thy Lord's leisure! Bid thy heart stay its feverish beating, and thy pulse subside! To act prematurely and in self-will would mar the divine purpose, and set in motion stones that could not be slopped. "Let your moderation be known unto all men; the Lord is at hand." Never say, "Circumstances compelled me; I had to do it: my hand was forced"! No, child of God, thou art greater than circumstances and superior to the crowd of base spirits around thee. Wait thou on God, for He shall yet interpose in thy behalf. Allow no circumstances to provoke or excuse the doing of evil. In quietness and confidence shall be thy strength; in returning and rest shall thou be saved. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 13

1  Saul's select band
3  He calls the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines
5  The Philistines' great army
6  The distress of the Israelites
8  Saul, weary of staying for Samuel, sacrifices
11  Samuel reproves him
17  The three raiding parties of the Philistines
19  The policy of the Philistines, to allow no blacksmith in Israel

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 13:23 mean?

And went out the garrison of the Philistines to the pass of Michmash -
וַיֵּצֵא֙ מַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֶֽל־ מַעֲבַ֖ר מִכְמָֽשׂ ס

וַיֵּצֵא֙  And  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מַצַּ֣ב  the  garrison 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַצָּב  
Sense: station, garrison, standing-place.
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים  of  the  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
מַעֲבַ֖ר  the  pass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲבָר 
Sense: ford, pass, passing.
מִכְמָֽשׂ  of  Michmash 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִכְמָס 
Sense: a city in Benjamin lying near Ramah and approximately 0 miles (6 km) north of Jerusalem; probably modern ‘Mukhmas’.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation