1 NOW it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.
2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
21 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
35 And Saul built an altar unto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39 For, as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41 Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

1Now it came to passe vpon a day, that Ionathan the sonne of Saul said vnto the yong man that bare his armour, Come, and let vs goe ouer to the Philistines garison, that is on the other side: but hee told not his father.

2And Saul taried in the vttermost part of Gibeah, vnder a Pomegranate tree, which is in Migron: and the people that were with him, were about sixe hundred men:

3And Ahiah the sonne of Ahitub, Ichabods brother, the sonne of Phinehas, the sonne of Eli, the Lords Priest in Shiloh, wearing an Ephod: and the people knew not that Ionathan was gone.

4 And betweene the passages, by which Ionathan sought to go ouer vnto the Philistines garison, there was a sharpe rocke on the one side, and a sharp rocke on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5The forefront of the one was situate Northward ouer against Michmash, and the other Southward ouer against Gibeah.

6And Ionathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let vs goe ouer vnto the garison of these vncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will worke for vs: for there is no restraint to the Lord, to saue by many, or by few.

7And his armour bearer sayd vnto him, Doe all that is in thine heart: turne thee, behold, I am with thee, according to thy heart.

8Then said Ionathan, Behold, we will passe ouer vnto these men, and we will discouer our selues vnto them.

9If they say thus vnto vs, Tary vntill we come to you: then wee will stand still in our place, and will not goe vp vnto them.

10But if they say thus, Come vp vnto vs: then we will goe vp; for the Lord hath deliuered them into our hand: and this shall be a signe vnto vs.

11And both of them discouered themselues vnto the garison of the Philistines: and the Philistines sayd, Behold, the Hebrewes come foorth out of the holes, where they had hid themselues.

12And the men of the garison answered Ionathan and his armour bearer, and said, Come vp to vs, and wee will shew you a thing. And Ionathan said vnto his armour bearer, Come vp after me; for the Lord hath deliuered them into the hand of Israel.

13And Ionathan climed vp vpon his hands, and vpon his feete, and his armour bearer after him: and they fell before Ionathan; and his armour bearer slew after him.

14And that first slaughter which Ionathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twentie men, within as it were an halfe acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

15And there was trembling in the hoste, in the field, and among all the people: the garison and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Beniamin looked: and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating downe one another.

17Then said Saul vnto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from vs. And when they had numbred, behold, Ionathan and his armour bearer were not there.

18And Saul said vnto Ahiah, Bring hither the Arke of God: (for the Arke of God was at that time with the children of Israel.)

19 And it came to passe while Saul talked vnto the Priest, that the noise that was in the hoste of the Philistines went on, and increased: And Saul said vnto the Priest, Withdraw thine hand.

20And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselues, and they came to the battel, and behold, euery mans sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

21Moreouer, the Hebrewes that were with the Philistines before that time, which went vp with them into the campe from the countrey round about; euen they also turned to be with the Israelites, that were with Saul and Ionathan.

22Likewise all the men of Israel, which had hid themselues in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, euen they also followed hard after them in the battell.

23So the Lord saued Israel that day: and the battell passed ouer vnto Beth-auen.

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adiured the people, saying, Cursed bee the man that eateth any foode vntill euening, that I may be auenged on mine enemies: so none of the people tasted any food.

25And all they of the land came to a wood, and there was honie vpon the ground.

26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honie dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27But Ionathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath; wherefore he put foorth the ende of the rodde that was in his hand, and dipt it in an hony combe, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.

28Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.

29Then said Ionathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes haue beene enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honie:

30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoile of their enemies which they found? for had there not beene now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aiialon: and the people were very faint.

32And the people flewe vpon the spoile, and tooke sheepe, and oxen, and calues, and slew them on the ground, and the people did eate them with the blood.

33 Then they tolde Saul, saying, Behold, the people sinne against the Lord, in that they eate with the blood. And he said, Yee haue transgressed: roule a great stone vnto mee this day.

34And Saul said, Disperse your selues among the people, and say vnto them, Bring me hither euery man his oxe, and euery man his sheepe, and slay them here, and eat, and sinne not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought euery man his oxe with him that night, and slew them there.

35And Saul built an altar vnto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built vnto the Lord.

36 And Saul saide, Let vs goe downe after the Philistines by night, and spoile them vntil the morning light, and let vs not leaue a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoeuer seemeth good vnto thee. Then said the priest, Let vs draw neere hither vnto God.

37And Saul asked counsell of God, Shall I goe downe after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliuer them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

38And Saul said, Draw yee neere hither all the chiefe of the people: and know and see, wherein this sinne hath beene this day.

39For as the Lord liueth, which saueth Israel, though it bee in Ionathan my sonne, he shall surely die: But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

40Then said he vnto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I, and Ionathan my sonne will be on the other side. And the people said vnto Saul, Doe what seemeth good vnto thee.

41Therefore Saul saide vnto the Lord God of Israel, Giue a perfect lot. And Saul and Ionathan were taken: but the people escaped.

42And Saul said, Cast lots betweene me and Ionathan my sonne. And Ionathan was taken.

43Then Saul said to Ionathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Ionathan tolde him, and said, I did but taste a litle hony with the end of the rodde that was in mine hand, and loe, I must die.

44And Saul answered, God do so, and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Ionathan.

45And the people said vnto Saul, Shall Ionathan die, who hath wrought this great saluation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liueth, there shal not one haire of his head fall to the ground: for hee hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Ionathan, that hee died not.

46Then Saul went vp from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their owne place.

47 So Saul tooke the kingdom ouer Israel, and fought against all his enemies on euery side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoeuer hee turned himselfe, he vexed them.

48And he gathered an hoste, and smote the Amalekites, and deliuered Israel out of the handes of them that spoiled them.

49Now the sonnes of Saul, were Ionathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first borne Merab, and the name of the yonger Michal:

50And the name of Sauls wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz, and the name of the captaine of his host was Abner, the sonne of Ner, Sauls vncle.

51And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the sonne of Abiel.

52And there was sore warre against the Philistines, all the dayes of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he tooke him vnto him.

 

 

 

 

II == 1st Sam 13:15

 

 

III == 1st Sam 2:28 ; 4:21 ; 22:9 , 11 , 20

 

IV == 1st Sam 13:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Judg 7:4 , 7 ; 2nd chr 14:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X == Gen 24:14 ; Judg 7:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Judg 7:21

 

 

 

 

 

XV == Gen 35:5 ; 1st Sam 13:17 ; 2nd Kings 7:7 ; Job 18:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == 1st Sam 13:20

 

XIX == Num 27:21

 

 

XX == Judg 7:22 ; 2nd Chr 20:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == 1st Sam 13:6

 

 

XXIII == Ex 14:30 ; 1st Sam 13:5 ; Ps 44:6-7 ; Hos 1:7

XXIV == Josh 6:26

 

 

 

XXV == Ex 3:8 ; Num 13:27 ; Deut 9:28 ; Matt 3:4-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXII == Lev 3:17 ; 7:26 ; 17:10 ; 19:26 ; Deut 12:16 , 23-24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXV == 1st Sam 7:17

 

 

 

 

 

XXXVII == 1st Sam 28:6

 

 

XXXVIII == Josh 7:14 ; 1st Sam 10:19

 

XXXIX == 2nd Xam 12:5

 

 

 

 

 

XLI == Josh 7:16 ; 1st Sam 10:20-21 ; Prov 16:33 ; Acts 1:24

 

XLIII == Josh 7:19 ; 1st Sam 14:27

 

 

XLIV == Ruth 1:17 ; 1st Sam 14:39

XLV == 2nd Sam 14:11 ; 1st Kings 1:52 ; Luke 21:18

 

 

 

 

XLVII == 1st Sam 11:11 ; 2nd Sam 10:6

 

 

 

 

XLVIII == 1st Sam 15:3 , 7

 

XLIX == 1st Sam 31:2 ; 1st Chr 8:33

 

 

 

 

 

LI == 1st Sam 9:1

LII == 1st Sam 8:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 One day Jonathan, son of Saul, said to his armor-bearer, "Come let us go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not inform his father.

2 (Saul's command post was under the pomegranate tree near the threshing floor on the outskirts of Geba; those with him numbered about six hundred men.

3 Ahijah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, who was the son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD at Shiloh, was wearing the ephod.) Nor did the soldiers know that Jonathan had gone.

4 Flanking the ravine through which Jonathan intended to get over to the Philistine outpost there was a rocky crag on each side, one called Bozez, the other Seneh.

5 One crag was to the north, toward Michmash, the other to the south, toward Geba.

6 Jonathan said to his armor-bearer: "Come let us go over to that outpost of the uncircumcised. Perhaps the LORD will help us, because it is no more difficult for the LORD to grant victory through a few than through many."

7 His armor-bearer replied, "Do whatever you are inclined to do; I will match your resolve."

8 Jonathan continued: "We shall go over to those men and show ourselves to them.

8 Jonathan continued: "We shall go over to those men and show ourselves to them.

9 If they say to us, 'Stay there until we can come to you,' we shall stop where we are; we shall not go up to them.

10 But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we shall go up, because the LORD has delivered them into our grasp. That will be our sign."

11 Accordingly, the two of them appeared before the outpost of the Philistines, who said, "Look, some Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding."

12 The men of the outpost called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. "Come up here," they said, "and we will teach you a lesson." So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the grasp of Israel."

13 Jonathan clambered up with his armor-bearer behind him; as the Philistines turned to flee him, he cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed him and finished them off.

14 In this first exploit Jonathan and his armor-bearer slew about twenty men within half a furlong.

15 Then panic spread to the army and to the countryside, and all the soldiers, including the outpost and the raiding parties, were terror-stricken. The earth also shook, so that the panic was beyond human endurance.

16 The lookouts of Saul in Geba of Benjamin saw that the enemy camp had scattered and were running about in all directions.

17 Saul said to those around him, "Count the troops and find out if any of us are missing." When they had investigated, they found Jonathan and his armor-bearer missing.

18 Saul then said to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here." (Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites at that time.)

19 While Saul was speaking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp kept increasing. So he said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

20 And Saul and all his men shouted and rushed into the fight, where the Philistines, wholly confused, were thrusting swords at one another.

21 In addition, the Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines and had gone up with them to the camp, turned to join the Israelites under Saul and Jonathan.

22 Likewise, all the Israelites who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim, on hearing that the Philistines were fleeing, pursued them in the rout

23 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day. The battle continued past Beth-horon;

24 the whole people, about ten thousand combatants, were with Saul, and there was scattered fighting in every town in the hill country of Ephraim. And Saul swore a very rash oath that day, putting the people under this ban: "Cursed be the man who takes food before evening, before I am able to avenge myself on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

25 Indeed, there was a honeycomb lying on the ground,

26 and when the soldiers came to the comb the swarm had left it; yet no one would raise a hand to his mouth from it, because the people feared the oath.

27 Jonathan, who had not heard that his father had put the people under oath, thrust out the end of the staff he was holding and dipped in into the honey. Then he raised it to his mouth and his eyes lit up.

28 At this one of the soldiers spoke up: "Your father put the people under a strict oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who takes food this day!' As a result the people are weak."

29 Jonathan replied: "My father brings trouble to the land. Look how bright my eyes are from this small taste of honey I have had.

30 What is more, if the people had eaten freely today of their enemy's booty when they came across it, would not the slaughter of the Philistines by now have been the greater for it?"

31 After the Philistines were routed that day from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were completely exhausted.

32 So they pounced upon the spoil and took sheep, oxen and calves, slaughtering them on the ground and eating the flesh with blood.

33 Informed that the people were sinning against the LORD by eating the flesh with blood, Saul said: "You have broken faith. Roll a large stone here for me."

34 He continued: "Mingle with the people and tell each of them to bring his ox or his sheep to me. Slaughter it here and then eat, but you must not sin against the LORD by eating the flesh with blood." So everyone brought to the LORD whatever ox he had seized, and they slaughtered them there;

35 and Saul built an altar to the LORD - this was the first time he built an altar to the LORD.

36 Then Saul said, "Let us go down in pursuit of the Philistines by night, to plunder among them until daybreak and to kill them all off." They replied, "Do what you think best." But the priest said, "Let us consult God."

37 So Saul inquired of God: "Shall I go down in pursuit of the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the power of Israel?" But he received no answer on this occasion.

38 Saul then said, "Come here, all officers of the army. We must investigate and find out how this sin was committed today.

39 As the LORD lives who has given victory to Israel, even if my son Jonathan has committed it, he shall surely die!" But none of the people answered him.

40 So he said to all Israel, "Stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other." The people responded, "Do what you think best."

41 And Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel: "Why did you not answer your servant this time? If the blame for this resides in me or my son Jonathan, LORD, God of Israel, respond with Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were designated, and the people went free.

42 Saul then said, "Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was designated.

43 Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." Jonathan replied, "I only tasted a little honey from the end of the staff I was holding. Am I to die for this?"

44 Saul said, "May God do thus and so to me if you do not indeed die, Jonathan!"

45 But the army said to Saul: "Is Jonathan to die, though it was he who brought Israel this great victory? This must not be! As the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for God was with him in what he did today!" Thus the soldiers were able to rescue Jonathan from death.

46 After that Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, who returned to their own territory.

47 After taking over the kingship of Israel, Saul waged war on all their surrounding enemies - Moab, the Ammonites, Aram, Beth-rehob, the king of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he was successful

48 and fought bravely. He defeated Amalek and delivered Israel from the hands of those who were plundering them.

49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; his two daughters were named, the elder, Merob, and the younger, Michal.

50 Saul's wife, who was named Ahinoam, was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of his general was Abner, son of Saul's uncle, Ner;

51 Kish, Saul's father, and Ner, Abner's father, were sons of Abiel.

52 An unremitting war was waged against the Philistines during Saul's lifetime. When Saul saw any strong or brave man, he took him into his service.

v 1-3. Saul and his men stood on a high place where he would be safe, and helplessly watched the Philistines below, while impulsive Jonathan, or in faith, took matters in his own hands. Some commentators wonder if Saul sent Jonathan on this skirmish, but this plainly states he did not tell his father, and it wasn’t known he was gone, v 17. (Ahijah was a young priest, the son of Ahitub Ichabod’s older brother.)

 

 

v 4-12. For all Jonathan’s impulsiveness, he trusted God for help,

 

 

 

 

v 6. His armor bearer was in perfect accord with him, and agreed with the plan to scale the nearly impossible cliff and ask God for a sign. If after they were seen, the Philistines asked them to climb on up, the Lord would deliver them, but if the Philistines said they would come to them, then they would retreat. When the Philistines saw them. they ridiculed them for coming out of their holes. They may have thought they wanted to defect to them. Their invitation could be understood as, “Come up here and we will teach you a lesson.” Thus Jonathan did not speak uncertainly as he did in v 6, but with assurance, knowing  the battle was the Lord’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 13-15. He did not attack as they slept, as Josephus states, but overcame by God’s power. Jonathan had quite a system, he knocked them down and his armor bearer finished them off. His heroic slaughter of 20 men in a small field caused the others to panic. The Lord increased their panic by sending an earthquake. Wherever they were, even those on raiding parties, spoilers, were affected and frightened.

 

 

v 16-18. The allied armies of the Philistines probably didn’t know the others from the Israelites and in the confusion, started killing each other. Possibly captured and defected Israelites also turned on them. After Saul found out Jonathan and his armor bearer were responsible for the Philistine rout, he called for the ark of God to be brought. Since Saul had been rejected by Samuel, he sought to get to God by the high priest, but his heart was still not right with God.

v 19-23. When Saul saw the total rout of the Philistines, he thought the will of God was so apparent he literally told the priest their was no need to consult the Urim and Thummim. It was as much as saying, never mind Lord, I don’t need you now. Never think we don’t need prayer just because things are going our way. Israelites who heard of the victory joined battle from wherever they had hidden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 24-32. Fasting is proper, but not in the heat of a strenuous battle. The forest had many bees and honey, and Jonathan, not being aware of the ban not to taste food till evening, ate some. Jonathan commented that they could have had a greater victory if they had been allowed to eat. Now evening, the people were so faint and hungry that they killed stock captured from  Philistines by just killing them on the ground instead of properly draining the blood. In their hunger they may also have eaten it half cooked. Saul had denied them even the privilege of oxen treading out the corn, Deut. 25:4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 33-35. Messengers told this to Saul, so he ordered a large stone to be brought at which to slay the animals, and he made an altar to the Lord. This was a propitiatory sacrifice, not improper like that in 13:9. Saul had disobeyed in other areas, but when he saw the people sin in this, he took action. People respond to a leader, good or bad. Apparently Saul made other altars, a form of Godliness, 2 Tim. 3:5.

 

 

 

 

v 36-39. After eating, the men were willing to follow Saul’s unwise idea of an all night battle in wiping out the enemy. However, the priest intervened and urged that they ask God. (Men writing our constitution were stalemated, until Benjamin Franklin suggested they call upon God.) But here, God refused to answer. Saul recognized this to mean sin in the camp, so made a rash and improper vow that even if Jonathan was guilty, he would have him killed. The people knew, but wouldn’t tell on Jonathan.

 

 

 

 

v 40-46. When the lot fell upon Jonathan, he admitted his minor error but was willing to accept death. Saul would have proceeded with the execution, even though Jonathan had not been aware of the order, but the people came to Jonathan’s rescue and did not allow their gallant hero to be killed. The people repented of their sin, but Saul did not. Since the Lord did not permit the battle to continue, and Saul had wasted time trying to prosecute Jonathan according to his ill advised orders, the Philistines escaped and  both sides returned to their own places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 47-51. Saul was in almost constant warfare repelling attacks during the rest of his reign, but the Lord very graciously permitted victory everywhere. The Amalekites had troubled Israel ruthlessly from the time they began picking off the stragglers in the wilderness and were defeated by Moses. As a result we will see in chapter 15 that he was to totally destroy them, but again he has incomplete obedience. Saul’s family are listed here. Correct rendering of the relationship is, Ner was Saul’s grandfather and Abner was his uncle,  brother to Kish.

 

 

 

 

v 52. The Philistines were a constant threat all of the years of Saul. Now came to pass what Samuel had warned the people about, 8:16. He would take their choice young men.