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1 Samuel 14:8-18

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8 Then Jonathan said, "1Behold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them.
9 "If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you'; then we will stand in our place and 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 hands; and 2this shall be the sign to us."
11 When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, "Behold, 3Hebrews are coming out of the holes where * they have hidden themselves."
12 So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, "Come up to us and 4we will tell you something." And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, for 5the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel."
13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him.
14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land.
15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and 6the raiders trembled, and 7the earth quaked so 8that it became a great trembling.
16 Now Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there.
17 Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number now and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, "9Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel.
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1 Samuel 14:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 14

This chapter gives an account of an adventure of Jonathan and his armourbearer smiting a garrison of the Philistines, 1Sa 14:1-14, which with other circumstances struck terror into the whole army; which being observed by Saul's spies, he and his men went out against them, and being joined by others, pursued them, and obtained a complete victory, 1Sa 14:15-23, but what sullied the glory of the day was a rash oath of Saul's, adjuring the people not to eat any food till evening which Jonathan not hearing of ignorantly broke, 1Sa 14:24-31 and which long fasting made the people so ravenous, that they slew their cattle, and ate them with the blood, contrary to the law of God, for which they were reproved by Saul, 1Sa 14:32-34, upon which he built an altar, and inquired of the Lord whether he should pursue the Philistines all that night till morning, but had no answer; which made him conclude sin was committed, and which he inquired after, declaring that if it was his own son Jonathan that had committed it he should surely die, 1Sa 14:35-39, the people being silent, he cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonathan; who had it not been for the resolution of the people that rescued him out of his hands, because of the great salvation he had wrought, must have died, 1Sa 14:40-46 and the chapter is cited with an account of Saul's battles with the neighbouring nations in general, and of his family, 1Sa 14:47-52.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 9

  • 1. Judges 7:9-14
  • 2. Genesis 24:14; Judges 6:36
  • 3. 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Samuel 14:22
  • 4. 1 Samuel 17:43, 44
  • 5. 2 Samuel 5:24
  • 6. 1 Samuel 13:17, 18
  • 7. 1 Samuel 7:10
  • 8. Genesis 35:5; 2 Kings 7:6
  • 9. 1 Samuel 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7

Footnotes 6

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.