1 Samuel 14:10

10 But if they say to us, 'Come up here,' then we'll go up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has handed them over to us."

1 Samuel 14:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:10

But if they say unto us, come up unto us
Which however spoken in contempt of them, yet would discover some fear, that they did not care to come out of their hold to them, and expose themselves to any danger; and besides being bid to come up, though it might be in a sneering ironical way, as supposing it impracticable for them; yet this would lead them on to make the attempt; and while the men were careless and secure, they might obtain their point:

then we will go up:
the precipice, which was supposed impassable:

for the Lord hath delivered them into our hands:
they being afraid to come out, and scornful and self-confident in their garrison: and this shall be a sign unto us; a direction how to behave, what steps to take, and a confirming sign assuring of success. Bishop Patrick and others observe, from Herodotus ^F15, something similar to this, of the Paeonians, who went to war with the Perinthians, directed by the oracle; and were ordered that if the Perinthians provoked them to fight, calling them by name, then they should invade them; but, if not, should abstain; and so they did, and overcame; for when they met, there were three single combats; in the two first the Perinthians were conquerors, and began to triumph and insult; upon which the Paeonians said to one another, now is the oracle fulfilled, now is our business, and so fell upon them, and left few of them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Terpsichore, sive, l. 5. c. 1.

1 Samuel 14:10 In-Context

8 Jonathan continued, "Listen, we'll cross over to the Philistines and show ourselves to them.

9 If they say to us, 'Stay where you are until we come to you,' then we'll stay where we are and not go up to them.

10 But if they say to us, 'Come up here,' then we'll go up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has handed them over to us."

11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine troops. The Philistines said, "Look, some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in."

12 "Come up here," the men of the military post said to Jonathan and his armorbearer. "We have something to show you." Jonathan told his armorbearer, "Follow me up [to the military post] because the LORD has handed the troops over to Israel."