1 Now it came to pass upon a day, H3117 that Jonathan H3129 the son H1121 of Saul H7586 said H559 unto the young man H5288 that bare H5375 his armour, H3627 Come, H3212 and let us go over H5674 to the Philistines' H6430 garrison, H4673 that is on the other side. H5676 H1975 But he told H5046 not his father. H1
2 And Saul H7586 tarried H3427 in the uttermost H7097 part of Gibeah H1390 under a pomegranate tree H7416 which is in Migron: H4051 and the people H5971 that were with him were about six H8337 hundred H3967 men; H376
3 And Ahiah, H281 the son H1121 of Ahitub, H285 Ichabod's H350 brother, H251 the son H1121 of Phinehas, H6372 the son H1121 of Eli, H5941 the LORD'S H3068 priest H3548 in Shiloh, H7887 wearing H5375 an ephod. H646 And the people H5971 knew H3045 not that Jonathan H3129 was gone. H1980
4 And between the passages, H4569 by which Jonathan H3129 sought H1245 to go over H5674 unto the Philistines' H6430 garrison, H4673 there was a sharp H8127 rock H5553 on the one side, H5676 and a sharp H8127 rock H5553 on the other side: H5676 and the name H8034 of the one H259 was Bozez, H949 and the name H8034 of the other H259 Seneh. H5573
5 The forefront H8127 of the one H259 was situate H4690 northward H6828 over against H4136 Michmash, H4363 and the other H259 southward H5045 over against H4136 Gibeah. H1387
6 And Jonathan H3083 said H559 to the young man H5288 that bare H5375 his armour, H3627 Come, H3212 and let us go over H5674 unto the garrison H4673 of these uncircumcised: H6189 it may be that the LORD H3068 will work H6213 for us: for there is no restraint H4622 to the LORD H3068 to save H3467 by many H7227 or by few. H4592
7 And his armourbearer H5375 H3627 said H559 unto him, Do H6213 all that is in thine heart: H3824 turn H5186 thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. H3824
8 Then said H559 Jonathan, H3083 Behold, we will pass over H5674 unto these men, H582 and we will discover H1540 ourselves unto them.
9 If they say H559 thus unto us, Tarry H1826 until we come H5060 to you; then we will stand still H5975 in our place, and will not go up H5927 unto them.
10 But if they say H559 thus, Come up H5927 unto us; then we will go up: H5927 for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into our hand: H3027 and this shall be a sign H226 unto us.
11 And both H8147 of them discovered H1540 themselves unto the garrison H4673 of the Philistines: H6430 and the Philistines H6430 said, H559 Behold, the Hebrews H5680 come forth H3318 out of the holes H2356 where they had hid H2244 themselves.
12 And the men H582 of the garrison H4675 answered H6030 Jonathan H3129 and his armourbearer, H5375 H3627 and said, H559 Come up H5927 to us, and we will shew H3045 you a thing. H1697 And Jonathan H3129 said H559 unto his armourbearer, H5375 H3627 Come up H5927 after H310 me: for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel. H3478
13 And Jonathan H3129 climbed up H5927 upon his hands H3027 and upon his feet, H7272 and his armourbearer H5375 H3627 after H310 him: and they fell H5307 before H6440 Jonathan; H3129 and his armourbearer H5375 H3627 slew H4191 after H310 him.
14 And that first H7223 slaughter, H4347 which Jonathan H3129 and his armourbearer H5375 H3627 made, H5221 was about twenty H6242 men, H376 within as it were an half H2677 acre H4618 of land, H7704 which a yoke H6776 of oxen might plow.
15 And there was trembling H2731 in the host, H4264 in the field, H7704 and among all the people: H5971 the garrison, H4673 and the spoilers, H7843 they also trembled, H2729 and the earth H776 quaked: H7264 so it was a very great H430 trembling. H2731
16 And the watchmen H6822 of Saul H7586 in Gibeah H1390 of Benjamin H1144 looked; H7200 and, behold, the multitude H1995 melted away, H4127 and they went H3212 on beating down H1986 one another.
17 Then said H559 Saul H7586 unto the people H5971 that were with him, Number H6485 now, and see H7200 who is gone H1980 from us. And when they had numbered, H6485 behold, Jonathan H3129 and his armourbearer H5375 H3627 were not there.
18 And Saul H7586 said H559 unto Ahiah, H281 Bring hither H5066 the ark H727 of God. H430 For the ark H727 of God H430 was at that time H3117 with the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
19 And it came to pass, while Saul H7586 talked H1696 unto the priest, H3548 that the noise H1995 that was in the host H4264 of the Philistines H6430 went H3212 on H1980 and increased: H7227 and Saul H7586 said H559 unto the priest, H3548 Withdraw H622 thine hand. H3027
20 And Saul H7586 and all the people H5971 that were with him assembled H2199 themselves, and they came H935 to the battle: H4421 and, behold, every man's H376 sword H2719 was against his fellow, H7453 and there was a very H3966 great H1419 discomfiture. H4103
21 Moreover the Hebrews H5680 that were with the Philistines H6430 before H865 that time, H8032 which went up H5927 with them into the camp H4264 from the country round about, H5439 even they also turned to be with the Israelites H3478 that were with Saul H7586 and Jonathan. H3129
22 Likewise all the men H376 of Israel H3478 which had hid H2244 themselves in mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 when they heard H8085 that the Philistines H6430 fled, H5127 even they also followed hard H1692 after H310 them in the battle. H4421
23 So the LORD H3068 saved H3467 Israel H3478 that day: H3117 and the battle H4421 passed over H5674 unto Bethaven. H1007
24 And the men H376 of Israel H3478 were distressed H5065 that day: H3117 for Saul H7586 had adjured H422 the people, H5971 saying, H559 Cursed H779 be the man H376 that eateth H398 any food H3899 until evening, H6153 that I may be avenged H5358 on mine enemies. H341 So none of the people H5971 tasted H2938 any food. H3899
25 And all they of the land H776 came H935 to a wood; H3293 and there was honey H1706 upon H6440 the ground. H7704
26 And when the people H5971 were come H935 into the wood, H3293 behold, the honey H1706 dropped; H1982 but no man put H5381 his hand H3027 to his mouth: H6310 for the people H5971 feared H3372 the oath. H7621
27 But Jonathan H3129 heard H8085 not when his father H1 charged H7650 the people H5971 with the oath: H7650 wherefore he put forth H7971 the end H7097 of the rod H4294 that was in his hand, H3027 and dipped H2881 it in an honeycomb, H3295 H1706 and put H7725 his hand H3027 to his mouth; H6310 and his eyes H5869 were enlightened. H215
28 Then answered H6030 one H376 of the people, H5971 and said, H559 Thy father H1 straitly H7650 charged H7650 the people H5971 with an oath, H7650 saying, H559 Cursed H779 be the man H376 that eateth H398 any food H3899 this day. H3117 And the people H5971 were faint. H5774
29 Then said H559 Jonathan, H3129 My father H1 hath troubled H5916 the land: H776 see, H7200 I pray you, how mine eyes H5869 have been enlightened, H215 because I tasted H2938 a little H4592 of this honey. H1706
30 How much more, H637 if haply H3863 the people H5971 had eaten H398 freely H398 to day H3117 of the spoil H7998 of their enemies H341 which they found? H4672 for had there not been now a much greater H7235 slaughter H4347 among the Philistines? H6430
31 And they smote H5221 the Philistines H6430 that day H3117 from Michmash H4363 to Aijalon: H357 and the people H5971 were very H3966 faint. H5774
32 And the people H5971 flew H5860 H6213 upon the spoil, H7998 and took H3947 sheep, H6629 and oxen, H1241 and calves, H1121 and slew H7819 them on the ground: H776 and the people H5971 did eat H398 them with the blood. H1818
33 Then they told H5046 Saul, H7586 saying, H559 Behold, the people H5971 sin H2398 against the LORD, H3068 in that they eat H398 with the blood. H1818 And he said, H559 Ye have transgressed: H898 roll H1556 a great H1419 stone H68 unto me this day. H3117
34 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Disperse H6327 yourselves among the people, H5971 and say H559 unto them, Bring me hither H5066 every man H376 his ox, H7794 and every man H376 his sheep, H7716 and slay H7819 them here, and eat; H398 and sin H2398 not against the LORD H3068 in eating H398 with the blood. H1818 And all the people H5971 brought H5066 every man H376 his ox H7794 with him H3027 that night, H3915 and slew H7819 them there.
35 And Saul H7586 built H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD: H3068 the same was the first H2490 altar H4196 that he built H1129 unto the LORD. H3068
36 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Let us go down H3381 after H310 the Philistines H6430 by night, H3915 and spoil H962 them until the morning H1242 light, H216 and let us not leave H7604 a man H376 of them. And they said, H559 Do H6213 whatsoever seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee. Then said H559 the priest, H3548 Let us draw near H7126 hither H1988 unto God. H430
37 And Saul H7586 asked H7592 counsel of God, H430 Shall I go down H3381 after H310 the Philistines? H6430 wilt thou deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel? H3478 But he answered H6030 him not that day. H3117
38 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Draw ye near H5066 hither, H1988 all the chief H6438 of the people: H5971 and know H3045 and see H7200 wherein H4100 this sin H2403 hath been this day. H3117
39 For, as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 which saveth H3467 Israel, H3478 though it be H3426 in Jonathan H3129 my son, H1121 he shall surely H4191 die. H4191 But there was not a man among all the people H5971 that answered H6030 him.
40 Then said H559 he unto all Israel, H3478 Be ye on one H259 side, H5676 and I and Jonathan H3129 my son H1121 will be on the other H259 side. H5676 And the people H5971 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 Do H6213 what seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee.
41 Therefore Saul H7586 said H559 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 Give H3051 a perfect H8549 lot. And Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3129 were taken: H3920 but the people H5971 escaped. H3318
42 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Cast H5307 lots between me and Jonathan H3129 my son. H1121 And Jonathan H3129 was taken. H3920
43 Then Saul H7586 said H559 to Jonathan, H3129 Tell H5046 me what thou hast done. H6213 And Jonathan H3129 told H5046 him, and said, H559 I did but H2938 taste H2938 a little H4592 honey H1706 with the end H7097 of the rod H4294 that was in mine hand, H3027 and, lo, H2009 I must die. H4191
44 And Saul H7586 answered, H559 God H430 do so H6213 and more also: H3254 for thou shalt surely H4191 die, H4191 Jonathan. H3129
45 And the people H5971 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 Shall Jonathan H3129 die, H4191 who hath wrought H6213 this great H1419 salvation H3444 in Israel? H3478 God forbid: H2486 as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 there shall not one hair H8185 of his head H7218 fall H5307 to the ground; H776 for he hath wrought H6213 with God H430 this day. H3117 So the people H5971 rescued H6299 Jonathan, H3129 that he died H4191 not.
46 Then Saul H7586 went up H5927 from following H310 the Philistines: H6430 and the Philistines H6430 went H1980 to their own place. H4725
47 So Saul H7586 took H3920 the kingdom H4410 over Israel, H3478 and fought H3898 against all his enemies H341 on every side, H5439 against Moab, H4124 and against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and against Edom, H123 and against the kings H4428 of Zobah, H6678 and against the Philistines: H6430 and whithersoever he turned H6437 himself, he vexed H7561 them.
48 And he gathered H6213 an host, H2428 and smote H5221 the Amalekites, H6002 and delivered H5337 Israel H3478 out of the hands H3027 of them that spoiled H8154 them.
49 Now the sons H1121 of Saul H7586 were Jonathan, H3129 and Ishui, H3440 and Melchishua: H4444 and the names H8034 of his two H8147 daughters H1323 were these; the name H8034 of the firstborn H1067 Merab, H4764 and the name H8034 of the younger H6996 Michal: H4324
50 And the name H8034 of Saul's H7586 wife H802 was Ahinoam, H293 the daughter H1323 of Ahimaaz: H290 and the name H8034 of the captain H8269 of his host H6635 was Abner, H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 Saul's H7586 uncle. H1730
51 And Kish H7027 was the father H1 of Saul; H7586 and Ner H5369 the father H1 of Abner H74 was the son H1121 of Abiel. H22
52 And there was sore H2389 war H4421 against the Philistines H6430 all the days H3117 of Saul: H7586 and when Saul H7586 saw H7200 any strong H1368 man, H376 or any valiant H2428 man, H1121 he took H622 him unto him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 14
Commentary on 1 Samuel 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
1Sa 14:1-14. Jonathan Miraculously Smites the Philistines' Garrison.
1. the Philistines' garrison—"the standing camp" (1Sa 13:23, Margin) "in the passage of Michmash" (1Sa 13:16), now Wady Es-Suweinit. "It begins in the neighborhood of Betin (Beth-el) and El-Bireh (Beetroth), and as it breaks through the ridge below these places, its sides form precipitous walls. On the right, about a quarter of an acre below, it again breaks off, and passes between high perpendicular precipices" [Robinson].
2. Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah—Hebrew, "Geba"; entrenched, along with Samuel and Ahiah the high priest, on the top of one of the conical or spherical hills which abound in the Benjamite territory, and favorable for an encampment, called Migron ("a precipice").
4. between the passages—that is, the deep and great ravine of Suweinit.
Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison—a distance of about three miles running between two jagged points; Hebrew, "teeth of the cliff."
there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side … Bozez—("shining") from the aspect of the chalky rock.
Seneh—("the thorn") probably from a solitary acacia on its top. They are the only rocks of the kind in this vicinity; and the top of the crag towards Michmash was occupied as the post of the Philistines. The two camps were in sight of each other; and it was up the steep rocky sides of this isolated eminence that Jonathan and his armorbearer (1Sa 14:6) made their adventurous approach. This enterprise is one of the most gallant that history or romance records. The action, viewed in itself, was rash and contrary to all established rules of military discipline, which do not permit soldiers to fight or to undertake any enterprise that may involve important consequences without the order of the generals.
6. it may be that the Lord will work for us—This expression did not imply a doubt; it signified simply that the object he aimed at was not in his own power—but it depended upon God—and that he expected success neither from his own strength nor his own merit.
9, 10. if they say, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand—When Jonathan appears here to prescribe a sign or token of God's will, we may infer that the same spirit which inspired this enterprise suggested the means of its execution, and put into his heart what to ask of God. (See on Ge 24:12).
11. Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes—As it could not occur to the sentries that two men had come with hostile designs, it was a natural conclusion that they were Israelite deserters. And hence no attempt was made to hinder their ascent, or stone them.
14, 15. that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow—This was a very ancient mode of measurement, and it still subsists in the East. The men who saw them scrambling up the rock had been surprised and killed, and the spectacle of twenty corpses would suggest to others that they were attacked by a numerous force. The success of the adventure was aided by a panic that struck the enemy, produced both by the sudden surprise and the shock of an earthquake. The feat was begun and achieved by the faith of Jonathan, and the issue was of God.
16. the watchmen of Saul … looked—The wild disorder in the enemies' camp was described and the noise of dismay heard on the heights of Gibeah.
17-19. Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us—The idea occurred to him that it might be some daring adventurer belonging to his own little troop, and it would be easy to discover him.
18. Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God—There is no evidence that the ark had been brought from Kirjath-jearim. The Septuagint version is preferable; which, by a slight variation of the text, reads, "the ephod"; that is, the priestly cape, which the high priest put on when consulting the oracle. That this should be at hand is natural, from the presence of Ahiah himself, as well as the nearness of Nob, where the tabernacle was then situated.
19. Withdraw thine hand—The priest, invested with the ephod, prayed with raised and extended hands. Saul perceiving that the opportunity was inviting, and that God appeared to have sufficiently declared in favor of His people, requested the priest to cease, that they might immediately join in the contest. The season for consultation was past—the time for prompt action was come.
20-22. Saul and all the people—All the warriors in the garrison at Gibeah, the Israelite deserters in the camp of the Philistines, and the fugitives among the mountains of Ephraim, now all rushed to the pursuit, which was hot and sanguinary.
23. So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven—that is, "Beth-el." It passed over the forest, now destroyed, on the central ridge of Palestine, then over to the other side from the eastern pass of Michmash (1Sa 14:31), to the western pass of Aijalon, through which they escaped into their own plains.
24. Saul had adjured the people—Afraid lest so precious an opportunity of effectually humbling the Philistine power might be lost, the impetuous king laid an anathema on any one who should taste food until the evening. This rash and foolish denunciation distressed the people, by preventing them taking such refreshments as they might get on the march, and materially hindered the successful attainment of his own patriotic object.
25. all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey—The honey is described as "upon the ground," "dropping" from the trees, and in honeycombs—indicating it to be bees' honey. "Bees in the East are not, as in England, kept in hives; they are all in a wild state. The forests literally flow with honey; large combs may be seen hanging on the trees as you pass along, full of honey" [Roberts].
31-34. the people were very faint. And the people flew upon the spoil—at evening, when the time fixed by Saul had expired. Faint and famishing, the pursuers fell voraciously upon the cattle they had taken, and threw them on the ground to cut off their flesh and eat them raw, so that the army, by Saul's rashness, were defiled by eating blood, or living animals; probably, as the Abyssinians do, who cut a part of the animal's rump, but close the hide upon it, and nothing mortal follows from that wound. They were painfully conscientious in keeping the king's order for fear of the curse, but had no scruple in transgressing God's command. To prevent this violation of the law, Saul ordered a large stone to be rolled, and those that slaughtered the oxen to cut their throats on that stone. By laying the animal's head on the high stone, the blood oozed out on the ground, and sufficient evidence was afforded that the ox or sheep was dead before it was attempted to eat it.
45. the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not—When Saul became aware of Jonathan's transgression in regard to the honey, albeit it was done in ignorance and involved no guilt, he was, like Jephthah [Jud 11:31, 35], about to put his son to death, in conformity with his vow [1Sa 14:44]. But the more enlightened conscience of the army prevented the tarnishing the glory of the day by the blood of the young hero, to whose faith and valor it was chiefly due.
47, 48. So Saul … fought against all his enemies on every side—This signal triumph over the Philistines was followed, not only by their expulsion from the land of Israel, but by successful incursions against various hostile neighbors, whom he harassed though he did not subdue them.