1 Samuel 13:6

in a strait In distress and danger: as it were, hemmed in and unable to turn in any direction.

the people did hide themselves Cp. Judges 6:2.

in high places The word thus translated occurs elsewhere only in Judges 9:46; Judges 9:49 (E. V. hold), and is supposed to mean "a fortified tower," like the "peels" of the border counties, possibly the work of the old Canaanite inhabitants. But the context rather points to some naturalhiding-place.