שמואל א, פרק י״ג, פסוק ט״ו

Following the severe crisis at Gilgal, the Israelite camp finds itself at a devastating military low, forcing them to retreat and regroup in the face of a growing threat. Although the narrative focuses on Samuel initiating the departure, Saul actually travels alongside him. Samuel's role is emphasized to show that Saul is simply trailing behind, following the prophet's lead [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].

They direct their retreat toward Gibeah of Benjamin, a location chosen with careful strategic intent. As a high and steep area, it offers a natural advantage for defense [אברבנאל]. Furthermore, Jonathan and his men are already stationed there. Given their fragile state and dwindling numbers, the immediate goal is to consolidate their forces. It is far safer for Saul and Jonathan to unite their remaining troops into a single group rather than remain divided across different locations [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

Upon taking a census of the remaining camp, the full scale of the crisis becomes undeniable. The men present are merely a small handful of loyal fighters who stayed behind, rather than scattering and fleeing from Saul [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. At the beginning of the campaign, Saul commanded two thousand regular soldiers, with an additional thousand under Jonathan's command. Now, after the majority of the army has fled into hiding, their combined forces amount to a mere six hundred men. This grim reality highlights just how desperate the Israelite situation has become, leaving them at a severe military disadvantage from any natural perspective [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].