Lexical Summary Senneh: Senneh Original Word: סֶנֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Seneh The same s cnah; thorn; Seneh, a crag in Palestine -- Seneh. see HEBREW cnah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a cliff in Isr. NASB Translation Seneh (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סֶ֑נֶּה proper name rup. (= thorny, compare GASmGeogr. 250 n. HPSon the passage); — a cliff opposite the cliff called בּוֺצֵץ 1 Samuel 14:4 (Ginsb as here; Baer סֵ֑נֶּה, van d. H. סֶ֑נֶה); ᵐ5 Σεννααρ. Topical Lexicon SenehBiblical Occurrence Seneh appears once in Scripture, designating one of two rocky crags flanking the narrow pass that Jonathan and his armorbearer climbed during their daring assault on the Philistine outpost (1 Samuel 14:4). “Now there was a cliff on each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost—one was named Bozez and the other Seneh” (1 Samuel 14:4). Geographical Setting The site lies in the rugged hill country of Benjamin, east of the modern village of Mukhmas and opposite Jebaʽ. The crags rise on either side of the wadi that cuts through the pass of Michmash (commonly identified with Wadi es-Suweinit). Bozez forms the northern face, Seneh the southern. Steep, fissured limestone walls and thorny underbrush make ascent hazardous, illustrating the physical challenge Jonathan faced. Historical Context Jonathan’s exploit probably occurred not long after Saul’s early victories over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11) and his subsequent conflict with the Philistines (1 Samuel 13–14). Israel’s army had been reduced to fear, ill-equipped and hiding in caves (1 Samuel 13:6). The Philistines held the strategic high ground at Michmash, controlling the central ridge route. Jonathan’s clandestine climb up Seneh, together with the bold plan he formed with his armorbearer, broke the stalemate, triggered panic in the enemy camp, and opened the way for a broader Israelite victory (1 Samuel 14:13-23). Spiritual Themes 1. Faith over Fear. Jonathan’s words, “Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. For nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6), embody confidence in God’s sovereign power rather than reliance on human numbers or weaponry. Lessons for Ministry • Strategic faith ventures frequently begin with a “pass” that only two or three are willing to enter, yet such ventures may alter an entire spiritual landscape. Archaeological and Topographical Notes Explorers such as C. R. Conder and Claude Conder (Survey of Western Palestine) noted two prominent tooth-like projections closing in the Michmash pass. Local Arabs preserve names reminiscent of “Suweinit” (little thorny?) consistent with the Hebrew wordplay for “thorn” embedded in סֶנֶה. The physical geography fits the narrative’s detail that one crag faces north toward Michmash while the other looks south toward Geba (1 Samuel 14:5). Climbers report hand-over-hand sections still requiring careful footing, validating the description that Jonathan “climbed up on his hands and feet” (1 Samuel 14:13). Intertextual Links • The burning bush (סְּנֶה, Strong 5572) in Exodus 3:2 reinforces a pattern: God reveals His power amid thorny, humble settings. Summary Seneh, though mentioned only once, anchors a decisive moment in Israel’s early monarchy. Its steep walls frame Jonathan’s faith-driven initiative, demonstrating that divine deliverance often springs from places of apparent peril. The crag thus functions as both a literal and metaphorical witness that “the LORD saves not with sword and spear” (1 Samuel 17:47) but through those who trust Him amid the thorns. Forms and Transliterations סֶֽנֶּה׃ סנה׃ sen·neh sennehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 14:4 HEB: וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד סֶֽנֶּה׃ NAS: and the name of the other Seneh. KJV: and the name of the other Seneh. INT: and the name of the other Seneh 1 Occurrence |
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