John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. When the men of Israel saw they were in a strait, for the people were distressed , etc.] By reason of the vast army that the Philistines brought into the field, greatly superior to theirs, and were likely to be encompassed by them on every side; so that nothing but destruction was expected, which gave them the utmost anxiety and uneasiness; though Abarbinel refers this last clause, not to the people of Israel, but to the people of the Philistines, and takes it in this sense, for the people drew nigh ; the army of the Philistines was approaching, and got near to them; and so they were in great danger of being quickly attacked by them, and destroyed, their numbers being so great: then the people did hide themselves in caves ; of which there were many in the land of Judea, capable of receiving a large number, as the cave of Adullam, the cave of Engedi, etc. and such as the Israelites made to hide themselves when oppressed by the Midianites, ( Judges 6:2) and in thickets ; woods and forests, or among thorns, as Jarchi; where there was a very great number of brambles and thorn bushes; some, as Kimchi, interpret the word of munitions, garrisons, and fortified places, to which they betook themselves: in rocks, and in high places, and in pits ; in the holes of rocks and mountains, particularly in Mount Ephraim; (see 1 Samuel 14:22) and where there were any pits or ditches, high or deep places, where they might be out of sight, and be sheltered from their enemies.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken an to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends When Saul at length sounded an alarm, the people, dissatisfied with his management, or terrified by the power of the enemy, did not come to him, or speedily deserted him.
Original Hebrew ואישׁ376 ישׂראל3478 ראו7200 כי3588 צר6862 לו כי3588 נגשׂ5065 העם5971 ויתחבאו2244 העם5971 במערות4631 ובחוחים2336 ובסלעים5553 ובצרחים6877 ובברות׃953
