14:1 Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know.
Jonathan planned a secret military mission against the Philistines.
14:2 Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron, on the outskirts of Gibeah. The army that was with him numbered about six hundred men.
King Saul possessed a small army of about 600 men. Gibeah was the former Benjaminite city which produced the sodomite rape gang which raped and killed a Levitical priest’s daughter.
14:3 Now Ahijah was carrying an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, who was the brother of Ichabod and a son of Phineas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh. The army was unaware that Jonathan had left.
The ephod was used to consult God in emergency situations. This was probably done by the Urim and Thummim. These two divination devices were attached to the breastplate of the ephod of the High Priest. The High Priest would find out the will of God by asking yes or no questions. Israel never had to speculate about what political choices to make. The Urim and Thummin were always available. Therefore, Israel had no excuse for ever making a wrong political or military decision.
14:4 Now there was a steep cliff on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to go to reach the Philistine garrison. One cliff was named Bozez, the other Seneh.
Jonathan found a steep cliff which would give him safe entrance into the Philistine camp.
14:5 The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.
The Holy Spirit gave the exact locations of the two steeps. These geographic details give witness to the reliability of the eyewitness report.
14:6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few.”
Jonathan was a great man of faith. Like Caleb, Jonathan knew that God decided all battles. Israel’s history recorded that God could win a battle with a few men or many men. This is a great principle for believers to remember. With God, nothing is impossible. The criterion is not human strength, but God’s will.
14:7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is on your mind. Do as you’re inclined. I’m with you all the way!”
The armor bearer also possessed strong faith in God. He understood that God could deliver His enemies even to just two men.
14:8 Jonathan replied, “All right! We’ll go over to these men and fight them.
Two Israelite soldiers were going to attack the Philistine camp, expecting God to give them victory. Courage is shaped by strong bible doctrine.
14:9 If they say to us, ‘Stay put until we approach you,’ we will stay right there and not go up to them.
Jonathan asked God for a test to see if this attack was in the will of God.
14:10 But if they say, ‘Come up against us,’ we will go up. For in that case the Lord has given them into our hand – it will be a sign to us.”
Jonathan asked for a second test as well.
14:11 When they made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, “Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves.”
Jonathan and his armor bearer were noticed by the Philistines.
14:12 Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, “Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!” Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up behind me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel!”
The Philistines passed the test but flunked the course.
14:13 Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines, while his armor bearer came along behind him and killed them.
As long as God was with Jonathan and the armor bearer, then they were both immortal until they accomplished the task.
14:14 In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre.
Two men in God’s will killed twenty enemies of God without even breathing hard.
14:15 Then fear overwhelmed those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God.
God brought supernatural fear and a supernatural earthquake upon the Philistine camp.
14:16 Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin looked on as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another.
King Saul’s spies noticed the fear and confusion that resulted in the Philistine camp.
14:17 So Saul said to the army that was with him, “Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us.” When they mustered the troops, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
King Saul took a roll call to see who started this attack without his permission.
14:18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the ephod,” for he was at that time wearing the ephod.
The ephod of the High Priest was used to find out divine information from God.
14:19 While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistines’ camp was becoming greater and greater. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”
The panic in the Philistine camp increased.
14:20 Saul and all the army that was with him assembled and marched into battle, where they found the Philistines in total panic killing one another with their swords.
When the Israelite army arrived, the Philistines were too busy killing each other to notice them.
14:21 The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
The Hebrews who earlier hid on the other side of the Jordan decided to return and fight.
14:22 When all the Israelites who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they too pursued them in battle.
The Israelites who had hidden in the hills of Ephraim also returned to the battle.
14:23 So the Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven.
Jehovah gave Israel victory over the Philistines.
Jonathan Violates Saul’s Oath
14:24 Now the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had made the army agree to this oath: “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening! I will get my vengeance on my enemies!” So no one in the army ate anything.
King Saul made a foolish military decision. He passed a military order that his soldiers were not to eat any of the spoil from the Philistines.
14:25 Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground.
Honey would have given quick energy to the soldiers so that they could have resumed their pursuit of the enemy.
14:26 When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath.
The army needed food and energy, but it would cost them their death.
14:27 But Jonathan had not heard about the oath his father had made the army take. He extended the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he ate it, his eyes gleamed.
Jonathan did not know of this order. He ate of the honey. It gave him quick energy to pursue the enemy.
14:28 Then someone from the army informed him, “Your father put the army under a strict oath saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today!’ That is why the army is tired.”
After Jonathan ate the honey, he was informed of his father’s previous order.
14:29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed when I tasted just a little of this honey.
Jonathan admitted that his father had made a military blunder.
14:30 Certainly if the army had eaten some of the enemies’ provisions that they came across today, would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
If Israel would have been able to eat, they would have more energy to pursue and destroy the enemy.
14:31 On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired.
The Israelite army became quickly fatigued.
14:32 So the army rushed greedily on the plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all.
This foolish military blunder of Saul caused his army to become desperate enough to feed upon flesh without draining the blood. This was a violation of the Mosaic Law.
14:33 Now it was reported to Saul, “Look, the army is sinning against the Lord by eating even the blood.” He said, “All of you have broken the covenant! Roll a large stone over here to me.”
King Saul was informed that most of his military had disobeyed his orders.
14:34 Then Saul said, “Scatter out among the army and say to them, ‘Each of you bring to me your ox and sheep and slaughter them in this spot and eat. But don’t sin against the Lord by eating the blood.” So that night each one brought his ox and slaughtered it there.
King Saul gave the army permission to eat, but only according to the standards of the Mosaic Law.
14:35 Then Saul built an altar for the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar for the Lord.
King Saul broke another Mosaic Law. Altars could only be built in one location chosen by God.
14:36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout them until the break of day. We won’t leave any of them alive!” They replied, “Do whatever seems best to you.” But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.”
King Saul wanted to attack without consulting God.
14:37 So Saul asked God, “Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day.
Someone in camp had sinned by breaking the fast. God refused to answer Saul until this sin was confessed.
14:38 Then Saul said, “All you leaders of the army come here. Find out how this sin occurred today.
Saul commanded the leaders to find the identity of the guilty person.
14:39 For as surely as the Lord, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!” But no one from the army said anything.
This was another foolish decision. Jonathan was the Prince of Israel. King Saul was willing to kill his own dynastic line because of a foolish military decision which he had ordered.
14:40 Then he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The army replied to Saul, “Do whatever you think is best.”
The lot was to be thrown to see if the sin was committed by the royal family or the army.
14:41 Then Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O Lord God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim.” Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated.
The Urim and Thummin were utilized to find the will of God.
14:42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!” Jonathan was indicated by lot.
The lot fell upon Jonathan. This method of discovery was similar to the case of Achan, who stole plunder from the Canaanites.
14:43 So Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I used the end of the staff that was in my hand to taste a little honey. I must die!”
Jonathan knew the story of Achan. However, Achan intentionally sinned. Jonathan did not intentionally sin, because he was unaware of the command. Jonathan was willing to die for the foolishness of his father’s oath.
14:44 Saul said, “God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn’t die!”
King Saul was willing to kill his own son and ruin his own dynasty, all because of a foolish military decision which he had made.
14:45 But the army said to Saul, “Should Jonathan, who won this great victory in Israel, die? May it never be! As surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground! For it is with the help of God that he has acted today.” So the army rescued Jonathan from death.
Notice that the army credited Jonathan with the victory. The army had to save Jonathan from the foolish decision of a political leader who possessed very little divine viewpoint.
14:46 Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home.
This pursuit ended and the army returned to their homes.
14:47 After Saul had secured his royal position over Israel, he fought against all their enemies on all sides – the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. In every direction that he turned he was victorious.
King Saul was a very strong military leader. He was able to defeat most of his enemies. However, his Achilles' heel was his lack of bible doctrine.
14:48 He fought bravely, striking down the Amalekites and delivering Israel from the hand of its enemies.
The Amalekites were nomadic descendants of Esau. They fought against Israel at Rephidim and were placed under divine judgment for attacking the weak and crippled Jewish stragglers during the Exodus.
Members of Saul’s Family
14:49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. He had two daughters; the older one was named Merab and the younger Michal.
The royal family at this time consisted of three sons and two daughters. Michal was introduced, as she will later become the first wife of David.
14:50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the general in command of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
Abner was also introduced as the commanding general of the Israelite army. Abner was a nephew of King Saul.
14:51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
This verse recorded Ner as the uncle of Saul, but 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 recorded Ner as the great-grandfather of Saul. Skeptics argue that this was a bible contradiction. However, there were most likely two men named Ner. One was the uncle of Saul and the other was the great-grandfather of Saul. Multiple names within a family was common in Israel. Even today, people name their children after their father, grandfather, or other relatives.
14:52 There was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. So whenever Saul saw anyone who was a warrior or a brave individual, he would conscript him.
The Philistines were becoming powerful enemies against Israel. King Saul needed to draft as many brave individuals as possible.