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1 Samuel 14:14-16
New English Translation
1 Samuel 14:14-16
New English Translation
14 In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre.
15 Then fear overwhelmed[a] those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God.[b]
16 Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin[c] looked on[d] as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another.[e]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 14:15 tn Heb “fell upon.”
- 1 Samuel 14:15 tn Heb “and it was by the fear of God.” The translation understands this to mean that God was the source or cause of the fear experienced by the Philistines. This seems to be the most straightforward reading of the sentence. It is possible, however, that the word “God” functions here simply to intensify the accompanying word “fear,” in which one might translate “a very great fear” (cf. NAB, NRSV). It is clear that on some occasions that the divine name carries such a superlative nuance. For examples see Joüon 2:525 §141.n.
- 1 Samuel 14:16 tn Heb “at Gibeah of Benjamin.” The words “in the territory” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 14:16 tn Heb “saw, and look!”
- 1 Samuel 14:16 tn Heb “the crowd melted and went, even here.”
New English Translation (NET)
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