A distance of 13 mi. (21 km.) over the high mountainous plateau of central Palestine and down to the rolling country of the Shephelah, 1,000 ft. (305 m.) lower than Michmash, through such canyons as the Wadi Selman. The most direct route from Lydda to Michmash would run through the Wadi Selman after crossing the road north to Shechem 5 mi. (8 km.) north of Jerusalem. An ordinary march over terrain such as that between Michmash and Aijalon would be considered a full day’s journey. The context implies that Jonathan’s attack was very early in the morning (see on v. 13). If so, Israel pursued the enemy for a full day, hardly stopping to pick up the spoil, which in this case must have been great. The Philistines had assembled a large number of chariots and horses at Michmash. Added to these were the spears, shields, food, and various other supplies an army must carry. The military achievement of Saul’s men would have been a great task for a well-fed army, and was much greater for an ill-fed throng of undisciplined country folk such as he led. What a lesson this experience could have been to Saul, still smarting under rebuke, and jealous only for his own reputation. But once he had set foot in the quicksand of pride, each feeble and indecisive attempt to extricate himself only caused him to sink deeper.