1 Samuel 14:10

10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands.”

1 Samuel 14:10 in Other Translations

10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

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."

10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the LORD ’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”

10 But if they say, 'Come on up,' we'll go right up - and we'll know God has given them to us. That will be our sign."

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

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 said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us.

9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands.”

11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.”

12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 24:14; Judges 6:36-37
• 2. S Joshua 2:24