1 Samuel 14:20

And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.

And Saul {H7586} and all the people {H5971} that were with him assembled {H2199} themselves, and they came {H935} to the battle {H4421}: and, behold, every man's {H376} sword {H2719} was against his fellow {H7453}, and there was a very {H3966} great {H1419} discomfiture {H4103}.

Sha'ul and the entire force with him assembled and went to battle, but they found the P'lishtim all fighting each other in utter confusion.

Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.

And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every manโ€™s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

Commentary

1 Samuel 14:20 describes a pivotal moment in the battle between the Israelites, led by King Saul, and the Philistines. After Jonathan, Saulโ€™s son, initiated a bold and faithful attack, God intervened dramatically, causing chaos within the enemy ranks.

Context

This verse follows Jonathanโ€™s courageous, faith-filled raid on a Philistine garrison, accompanied only by his armor-bearer. His actions, detailed in 1 Samuel 14:6-14, sparked an initial panic among the Philistines. The situation was further compounded by a divine tremor or earthquake, as noted in 1 Samuel 14:15, which intensified their confusion. When Saul and his army finally mobilized and approached the Philistine camp, they found the enemy already in utter disarray, fighting each other.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: The primary message of this verse is God's active role in Israel's victory. Rather than a direct frontal assault by Saul's large army, the Philistines' defeat came from internal strife, clearly orchestrated by God. This highlights the principle that the Lord fights for His people.
  • Confusion Among the Enemy: The phrase "every man's sword was against his fellow" vividly portrays the divinely-sent panic and disorientation that gripped the Philistine forces. This supernatural confusion is a recurring motif in biblical warfare, where God causes enemies to turn on themselves (Judges 7:22).
  • Jonathan's Faith and its Ripple Effect: Though Jonathan is not explicitly mentioned in this verse, his bold act of faith earlier in the chapter (1 Samuel 14:1) served as the catalyst for this miraculous divine intervention. It demonstrates how one person's trust in God can lead to a great deliverance.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's use of "discomfiture" for the Hebrew word mehumah (ืžึฐื”ื•ึผืžึธื”) is significant. Mehumah implies a state of panic, confusion, and utter rout, often with the connotation of divine causation. It's more than just a defeat; it's a profound, divinely-induced disorientation that leads to self-destruction among the enemy.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful encouragement. It reminds us that when facing overwhelming odds or seemingly insurmountable challenges, God is capable of working in unexpected ways. He can sow confusion among adversaries, turn their own strategies against them, and bring about victory through means we might not anticipate. Our role is to act in faith, like Jonathan, and trust that God will ultimately deliver.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 20:23

    For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them]: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

  • Judges 7:22

    And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

  • 1 Samuel 14:16

    ยถ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].

  • Isaiah 9:19

    Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

  • Isaiah 9:21

    Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Isaiah 19:2

    And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom.
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