1 Samuel 13:5-7

The Counter-attack of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 13:5-7

5 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 seashore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.

6 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.
7 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.

5.

Why were the people so alarmed? 1 Samuel 13:6

The armies of Israel were caught in a trap. The Philistines came against them with their 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and innumerable foot soldiers. Caves, thickets, rocks, high places, and pits afforded the people the only safety. Some of them even went across the Jordan into the land of Gilead in order to get as far away from Philistia as possible.

6.

Why did Saul go to Gilgal? 1 Samuel 13:7

Gilgal was on the very eastern border of western Israel. It was the farthest rallying point from Philistia. In addition to being rather inaccessible to the Philistines, the spot was hallowed by the many events which had transpired here in Israel's earlier history. Moreover, Samuel had told Saul that he would meet him there when Saul was anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:8).