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.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait. Though Saul's gallantry was unabated, his subjects displayed no degree of zeal and energy. Instead of venturing an encounter, they fled in all directions. [The Septuagint, apparently reading it as: waagash, come near, instead of nigas (H5065), pressed, harassed, renders this clause as: kai aneer Israeel eiden hoti stenoos autoo mee prosagein auton, and the men Israel saw that he was in such difficulties that he could not advance to him-namely, the Philistine.] Numbers of the people took refuge in the hiding-places which the broken ridges of the neighbourhood abundantly afford. The rocks are perforated in every direction with 'caves,' and 'holes,' and 'pits,' crevices and fissures sunk deep in the rocker soil, subterranean granaries or dry wells in the adjoining fields. The name of Michmash (hidden treasure) seems to be derived from this natural peculiarity (Stanley, 'Sinai and Palestine,' pp. 199, 200; Drew's 'Scripture Lands,' pp. 113-115; also Stewart's 'Tent and Khan,' p. 359).