The Meaning of 1 Samuel 13:18 Explained

1 Samuel 13:18

KJV: And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

YLT: and the one detachment turneth the way of Beth-Horon, and the one detachment turneth the way of the border which is looking on the valley of the Zeboim, toward the wilderness.

Darby: and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and the other company turned the way to the district that looks over the ravine of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

ASV: and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And another  company  turned  the way  [to] Bethhoron:  and another  company  turned  [to] the way  of the border  that looketh  to the valley  of Zeboim  toward the wilderness. 

What does 1 Samuel 13:18 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 13:13-23 - Left In The Spoilers' Hands
Sternly and sorrowfully the old prophet pronounced the sentence of Saul's deposition, and suggested that already God had sought and found another prince for his people. In Jesse's home was found the stripling who in after-years would say: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and He shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," Psalms 27:14.
Wait thou thy Lord's leisure! Bid thy heart stay its feverish beating, and thy pulse subside! To act prematurely and in self-will would mar the divine purpose, and set in motion stones that could not be slopped. "Let your moderation be known unto all men; the Lord is at hand." Never say, "Circumstances compelled me; I had to do it: my hand was forced"! No, child of God, thou art greater than circumstances and superior to the crowd of base spirits around thee. Wait thou on God, for He shall yet interpose in thy behalf. Allow no circumstances to provoke or excuse the doing of evil. In quietness and confidence shall be thy strength; in returning and rest shall thou be saved. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 13

1  Saul's select band
3  He calls the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines
5  The Philistines' great army
6  The distress of the Israelites
8  Saul, weary of staying for Samuel, sacrifices
11  Samuel reproves him
17  The three raiding parties of the Philistines
19  The policy of the Philistines, to allow no blacksmith in Israel

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 13:18 mean?

and company one turned to the road [to] in Beth Horon one turned [to] the road of the border that overlooks to the Valley of Zeboim of Zeboim the toward wilderness -
וְהָרֹ֤אשׁ אֶחָד֙ יִפְנֶ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ בֵּ֣ית חֹר֑וֹן אֶחָ֤ד יִפְנֶה֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַגְּב֔וּל הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף עַל־ גֵּ֥י הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה ס

וְהָרֹ֤אשׁ  and  company 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
אֶחָד֙  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
יִפְנֶ֔ה  turned  to 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
דֶּ֖רֶךְ  the  road  [to] 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
חֹר֑וֹן  Beth  Horon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית־חֹורֹון 
Sense: two towns in Ephraim.
אֶחָ֤ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
יִפְנֶה֙  turned  [to] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
דֶּ֣רֶךְ  the  road 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הַגְּב֔וּל  of  the  border 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף  that  overlooks 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁקַף  
Sense: to overlook, look down or out, overhang, look out and down.
גֵּ֥י  the  Valley  of  Zeboim 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּיְא  
Sense: valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge.
הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים  of  Zeboim 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְבֹעִים  
Sense: city and surrounding valley in Benjamin between Jericho and Jerusalem.
הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה  the  toward  wilderness 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation