1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14 (Listen)

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

14:1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave¹ at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish.² Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre³ of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.⁴

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.⁵ 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people⁶ of Israel. 19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.

Saul’s Rash Vow

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people⁷ came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 32 The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.”⁸ 34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”⁹ And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies

47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was 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 commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

(ESV)

1 Samuel 14 Commentary

In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan led his armor-bearer to attack a Philistine garrison. Although he didn’t tell his Father (King Saul), Jonathan had faith that “nothing can keep the Lord from saving” (1 Samuel 14:6). God granted them victory, causing panic in the Philistine camp (1 Samuel 14:15). Saul, seeing the confusion, engaged in battle, and even Israelites who had hidden or joined the Philistines turned back to fight (1 Samuel 14:21-22).

However, Saul made a rash oath, forbidding his men from eating until evening. This weakened them in battle (1 Samuel 14:24). Unaware of the oath, Jonathan ate honey, reviving his strength (1 Samuel 14:27). When confronted, he criticized his father’s command, recognizing that the army could have won a greater victory if they had been properly nourished (1 Samuel 14:29-30).

That night, the starving troops sinned by eating meat with blood, prompting Saul to intervene (1 Samuel 14:33-34). Seeking further victory, Saul inquired of God but received no answer (1 Samuel 14:37). Through casting lots, Jonathan was identified as the cause due to breaking the oath (1 Samuel 14:41-42). Saul declared that Jonathan must die, but the people defended him, recognizing God’s hand in his actions, and spared him (1 Samuel 14:45).

Saul fought Israel’s enemies throughout his reign, securing victories. There was constant warfare with the Philistines, and Saul recruited strong and valiant men into his service (1 Samuel 14:47-52).

Jonathan’s Faith

Jonathan was a man of faith. He believed that God could do just as much with two guys as He could with an entire army of men. In fact, he believed it so strongly that he decided to take his armor-bearer and climb up the side of a rocky pass to see if the Lord would give them an opportunity with the Philistines. His faith is rewarded, and the Lord fights with him. Amazingly, Jonathan and his armor-bearer take out about 20 men, and terror spreads among the camp.

Remember, this story is coming off the heels of 1 Samuel 13, where King Saul claimed that the circumstances “forced him” into sinning and offering a sacrifice instead of waiting patiently for Samuel. The narrator is intentionally contrasting Saul’s fear in 1 Samuel 13 with Jonathan’s faith here in 1 Samuel 14.

Another layer to this contrast is found in the fact that Saul (with his 600 men) was with Eli’s grandson, Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. The ephod also held the Urim and Thummim, objects used by the high priest to seek God’s guidance. When decisions needed to be made or God’s will was uncertain, the priest would inquire of God using the ephod and these objects (Exo 28:30; Num 27:21).

Saul has 600 men and access to God’s guidance, but he is waiting. Jonathan has one armor-bearer and faith alone that God is with him, and he is attacking.

“When Saul and Jonathan are compared, there is an obvious contrast: Saul constantly concerns himself with the number of his troops, especially with the decrease from 3,000 to 600, while Jonathan is concerned only with whether the Lord will act on his behalf. If the Lord is on his side, numbers do not matter for God saves whether by many or by few (1Sa 14:6). It is impressive that this incident of Jonathan’s act of trust is sandwiched by two incidents of Saul’s acts of disobedience in chs. 13 and 15. The narrator thus lucidly contrasts Saul and Jonathan before moving to Saul and David in the subsequent story.”

New International Commentary – Old Testament

Saul’s Impatience: Part 2

Saul was focused on Saul. After determining that it was Jonathan who was fighting the Philistines, he ordered Ahijah the priest to seek an answer from God with the Urim and Thummin. But here’s the thing… God was already moving! Jonathan was already battling the Philistines and winning. There is a time to pray and seek God but there is also a time to move.

“Instead of inquiring of the priest, Saul commands him to do specific things, which are primarily under the authority of the priesthood. He commands Ahijah to seek divine guidance by means of the ephod, but, at a crucial time, he interrupts the consultation. Saul is a person who prays when he should act and acts when he should pray. Such inconsistency is one of Saul’s characteristics.”

New International Commentary – Old Testament

This story illustrates to us the importance of personal conviction. Jonathan broke rank because his faith in God was greater than his circumstances. It also illustrates that the actions of an individual reveal their spiritual maturity, not their words or titles. But that is not all. Because he is distracted by the panic in the Philistine camp, he cancels his inquiry to God!

“Sensing that he was about to lose a golden opportunity to rout the enemy, Saul did the unthinkable—he ordered Ahijah to suspend his priestly activities before they were completed. This incredible interruption of the divine pattern—an action without precedent in the Bible—was intended to enable Israel to win an even greater victory over the Philistines. But for readers who were informed by the Torah, it meant that Saul was unfit to fulfill the task of leading Israel against their enemies (cf. 8:20).”

The New American Commentary

When Saul finally engaged in battle, he made a foolish vow to try and gain favor from God. He ordered his soldiers not to eat anything until evening, thinking that making such a sacrifice would help them win. But his heart wasn’t right with God, so the vow was meaningless.

Jonathan, not knowing about his father’s command, found some honey, ate it, and immediately felt stronger. Seeing this, the rest of the army also ate once the battle was over. But because they were so hungry, they made a serious blunder. They ate meat without properly draining the blood, which was against God’s law.

Realizing this, Saul tried to fix the situation by offering the food as a sacrifice to God. Later, when they prepared for their next battle, they asked God for guidance but got no answer. This led Saul to investigate why, and he discovered that Jonathan had broken his command by eating the honey. In his stubbornness, Saul was ready to execute his own son for this. Thankfully, the people intervened and stopped him.

In the end, although Israel won the battle, Saul’s leadership was exposed as flawed, proving that human kings are limited in ways that God is not. 1 Samuel 14 is a lesson in flawed leadership. Any model that relies on man instead of God is destined for failure.

“Taken as a whole, 14:24–45 is a stunningly effective critique of all monarchies. This passage showcases a spectrum of frailties and follies that beset monarchies. Using Saul, Israel’s first monarch, as an example, the narrative demonstrates that kings could lead Israel into battle, but they could also diminish a nation’s capacity to achieve victory. Kings could build altars for their subjects to sacrifice to God, but they could not guarantee an encounter with the divine. They could utter powerful words—curses and oaths—but lacked the power to bring about their fulfillment.”

The New American Commentary