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1 Samuel 14:12

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And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

And the men {H582} of the garrison {H4675} answered {H6030} Jonathan {H3129} and his armourbearer {H5375}{H3627}, and said {H559}, Come up {H5927} to us, and we will shew {H3045} you a thing {H1697}. And Jonathan {H3129} said {H559} unto his armourbearer {H5375}{H3627}, Come up {H5927} after {H310} me: for the LORD {H3068} hath delivered {H5414} them into the hand {H3027} of Israel {H3478}.

Then the men of the garrison said to Y'honatan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us; we want to show you something." Y'honatan told his armor-bearer, "Come on up after me, for ADONAI has handed them over to Isra'el."

So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

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.

Commentary

1 Samuel 14:12 captures a pivotal moment in Jonathan's courageous and faith-filled initiative against the Philistines, revealing his deep trust in God's providential leading.

Context

This verse occurs after Jonathan and his armourbearer have embarked on a daring, two-man assault against a Philistine garrison. Jonathan had previously declared his conviction that "there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." As a test of God's will, he set a specific sign (1 Samuel 14:10): if the Philistines challenged them to "Come up to us," it would signify that the LORD had delivered them into Israel's hand. The Philistines, upon seeing Jonathan and his armourbearer emerge from their hiding place, unwittingly fulfilled this sign, issuing the exact challenge Jonathan had specified. This was a period of severe Philistine oppression over Israel, with King Saul's army being small and poorly armed, making Jonathan's actions an extraordinary display of faith and bravery.

Key Themes

  • Divine Confirmation: The Philistines' taunting invitation directly served as the clear sign Jonathan sought, confirming that God was indeed with them and had already "delivered them into the hand of Israel." This highlights the importance of seeking and recognizing God's specific guidance and timing.
  • Unwavering Faith: Jonathan's immediate and confident response, "Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them," showcases his absolute trust in God's word and His ability to grant victory. He did not hesitate or doubt once the divine signal was given.
  • Bold Action and Courage: This verse is a powerful testament to the impact of courageous faith. Jonathan's willingness to act decisively on God's confirmation, despite facing overwhelming odds, set the stage for a significant victory that ultimately led to a wider deliverance for Israel (1 Samuel 14:23).

Linguistic Insights

The Philistines' phrase "shew you a thing" was likely intended as a contemptuous challenge, implying they would easily defeat or "teach a lesson" to Jonathan and his armourbearer. However, for Jonathan, this seemingly arrogant utterance was the very signal he had prayed for, transforming an intended insult into a divine assurance of impending victory. Jonathan's use of "the LORD" (Hebrew: YHWH), the covenant name for God, emphasizes his conviction that this was not merely a human military engagement but a battle orchestrated and guaranteed by the sovereign God of Israel.

Practical Application

Jonathan's story in 1 Samuel 14:12 offers profound encouragement for believers today to cultivate a similar spirit of faith and obedience. It teaches us that when we sense God's leading, even if the path ahead seems daunting or illogical from a human perspective, we are called to step out in faith. This verse reminds us that God often provides confirmations of His will, and recognizing these divine signals empowers us to act with courage. It encourages us to look beyond immediate circumstances and trust in God's power to bring about deliverance, often through the bold and obedient actions of those who believe and act on His word.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 17:43 (4 votes)

    And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

  • 1 Samuel 17:44 (4 votes)

    And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

  • 2 Samuel 5:24 (4 votes)

    And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

  • Genesis 24:42 (2 votes)

    And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

  • Genesis 24:48 (2 votes)

    And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

  • 2 Kings 14:8 (2 votes)

    ¶ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

  • Judges 4:14 (2 votes)

    And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this [is] the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.