1 Samuel14

Jonathan, without his father Saul's knowledge, initiates a daring attack on a Philistine garrison with only his armourbearer, trusting in God's power to save by few or many. Their unexpected success causes a great panic and earthquake among the Philistines, leading to a rout. Saul's subsequent rash oath, forbidding his soldiers from eating until evening, distresses the people and inadvertently ensnares Jonathan, who unknowingly breaks it. Though Saul condemns Jonathan to death for the transgression, the people intervene and rescue him, recognizing his pivotal role in Israel's salvation that day.

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Jonathan Attacks the Philistine Garrison

Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father.

And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.

And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them.

If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

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

And both of them disclosed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armorbearer slew them after him.

And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.

And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.

Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of Israel.

And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand.

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

Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp, from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

Likewise all the men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

So Jehovah saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.

Saul’s Rash Oath Troubles Israel

And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.

And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground.

And when the people were come unto the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.

But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day. And the people were faint.

Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for now hath there been no great slaughter among the Philistines.

And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint;

and the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood.

Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this day.

And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah: the same was the first altar that he built unto Jehovah.

The Lot Identifies Jonathan’s Sin

And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.

And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

For, as Jehovah liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped.

And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die.

And Saul said, God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

Summary of Saul’s Reign and Family

Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he put them to the worse.

And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that despoiled them.

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

and the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

Study Notes for 1 Samuel 14

Verse 1

Jonathan acts independently of Saul, highlighting the crucial difference between his proactive faith and Saul’s passive, isolated waiting (see v. 2). This act initiates the deliverance of Israel.

Verse 2

Saul is described as 'tarrying' (waiting idly) with a small, demoralized army (600 men). This contrasts sharply with Jonathan’s immediate, faith-driven movement, emphasizing Saul’s current state of weak leadership.

Verse 3

Ahiah the priest is introduced, establishing the official presence of the religious authority. His lineage connects him to the disgraced house of Eli (Ichabod’s brother), adding context to the fragile state of religious leadership.

Verse 6

This verse contains the theological core of the narrative. Jonathan expresses profound faith, declaring that God’s saving power is not limited by the size of the army, echoing the principle seen later in the story of Gideon (Judges 7).

Verse 10

Jonathan uses a specific military sign (an omen or oracle by arrangement) to confirm divine approval. He relies on God's guidance before executing what is humanly a suicidal plan.

Verse 15

The resulting panic is described as a 'trembling' and quaking earth, often signifying divine intervention (the 'terror of God'). God amplified the small-scale assault, causing chaos and self-destruction among the enemy ranks.

Verse 18

Saul seeks divine counsel via the priest, likely using the Urim and Thummim associated with the ephod (or the Ark, depending on the textual tradition). This shows Saul’s attempt to assert religious leadership, though it is quickly abandoned.

Verse 19

Saul interrupts the divine inquiry process when the noise increases, prioritizing immediate military action over waiting for God’s clear direction. This impulsive decision is a recurring flaw in his leadership.

Verse 23

This verse affirms that the victory was fundamentally an act of salvation by the LORD, despite Saul’s flawed command and Jonathan’s independent action.

Verse 24

Saul’s rash, binding oath severely handicapped his troops, prioritizing his personal desire for vengeance over the welfare of his soldiers and the completeness of the victory. Such oaths were common but often disastrous in ancient warfare.

Verse 27

Jonathan’s ignorance of the oath mitigates his transgression. The immediate physical effect of the honey—his 'eyes were enlightened'—shows the vital necessity of the food for the weary troops.

Verse 29

Jonathan rightly assesses that Saul’s oath was counterproductive. He uses the term 'troubled the land' (*akar*), suggesting that Saul’s misplaced religious zeal actually hindered God's work and weakened Israel’s military effort.

Verse 32

Driven by extreme hunger, the soldiers violated the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 17:10-14) against eating meat with the blood still in it. This communal sin of ritual impurity required immediate atonement.

Verse 35

Saul’s building of an altar addresses the ritual sin of eating blood. This is noted as the first altar he built, demonstrating his concern for ritual correctness, even if his own actions caused the initial transgression.

Verse 36

The priest prompts Saul to consult God before resuming the attack. Saul agrees to inquire, establishing the standard practice of seeking divine approval before critical military maneuvers.

Verse 37

God’s silence indicates divine displeasure. Since Saul had interrupted the consultation (v. 19) and issued a foolish oath (v. 24), the lack of response signals that a serious, unconfessed sin or ritual impurity remains in the camp.

Verse 39

Saul’s insistence that the guilty party must die demonstrates his rigid application of the oath, even at the cost of his own son. This contrasts with God's view of Jonathan, who had 'wrought this great salvation' (v. 45).

Verse 41

The use of lots (likely Urim and Thummim) was a legitimate means of seeking divine judgment. The process dramatically narrows the guilt down to Saul and Jonathan, confirming that the trouble originated within the royal house.

Verse 45

The people intervene, recognizing that Jonathan’s action, though technically a violation of the oath, resulted in God’s demonstrable salvation. They prioritize God's saving act over Saul's human decree, effectively nullifying the oath.

Verse 47

This summary highlights Saul’s success as a military leader against Israel’s neighbors, contrasting his effectiveness as a warrior king with his repeated failures in spiritual and political judgment documented throughout the chapter.

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1 Samuel14

Jonathan Attacks the Philistine Garrison

Saul’s Rash Oath Troubles Israel

The Lot Identifies Jonathan’s Sin

Summary of Saul’s Reign and Family

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