Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 14:16

"And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went [hither] and thither." — 1 Samuel 14:16 (ASV)

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked ... — The distance between the outposts of the little Israelite army and the vast Philistine host was only about two miles, but a deep ravine or chasm lay between them. The watchmen of Saul were well able to see the scene of dire confusion in the outposts, a confusion which they could discern was rapidly spreading through the more distant camp of the main body.

The Hebrew words, vayçleh vah ălom, in the last clause of the verse, have been variously rendered; the Rabbinical interpretation is the best: “magis magisque pangebatur”—“were more and more broken up.” This takes hălom as an infinitive absolute. The Septuagint considers this word an adverb, and translates enthen kai enthen, “here and there,” and does not attempt to give any rendering for vayçleh.