1 Samuel 14

Jonathan Moves in Faith

1 One day, Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “Let us slide over to that Philistine outpost.” But he did not tell his pops, Saul.

2 Saul was chilling on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about 600 men with him.

3 Ahijah, a priest wearing the ephod, was there too, he was the nephew of Ichabod. Nobody knew Jonathan had dipped off.

A Risky Climb

4 Between where Jonathan was and the Philistine outpost stood two steep cliffs, one called Bozez and the other Seneh.

5 One cliff faced north toward Michmash, the other south toward Geba.

6 Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “Let us roll up on these uncircumcised fools. Maybe the Lord will fight for us. God does not need a whole squad, He can save with many or few.”

7 His boy said, “Whatever is in your heart, I am with you. Let us get it.”

8 Jonathan said, “Here is the plan, we step out and let them see us.”

9 “If they say, ‘Wait right there,’ we will stay put.”

10 “But if they say, ‘Come up here,’ that is the sign, God is giving them to us. That is when we move.”

The Attack Begins

11 So they stepped out, and the Philistines saw them. “Look at this! The Hebrews crawling out their holes!”

12 The outpost shouted, “Come on up, we will teach you all a lesson!” Jonathan said, “That is the sign. Let us go, God is handing them to us.”

13 Jonathan climbed up using hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind. They dropped Philistines left and right, his boy finished them off.

14 In the first run, they took out about twenty men in half an acre of land.

God Shakes the Battlefield

15 Panic hit the Philistine camp, soldiers, outposts, and raiding parties were shook. Then God sent an earthquake, and the fear got worse.

Saul’s Crew Wakes Up

16 Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah saw the Philistine army wilding, scattering all over.

17 Saul said, “Do a roll call, see who is missing.” They checked, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

18 Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the Ark!” (Back then, the Ark stayed with Israel’s army.)

19 But while Saul was talking to the priest, the chaos in the Philistine camp kept growing. Saul said, “Forget the ritual, let us go!”

20 Saul and his men rushed into battle, and saw the Philistines turning on each other, swinging swords at their own crew.

21 Even the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines switched sides and fought with Saul and Jonathan.

22 When Israelites hiding in the hill country heard the Philistines were falling apart, they came out too and joined the fight.

23 That day, the Lord saved Israel, the battle pushed all the way past Beth-aven.

Saul’s Rash Vow

24 Saul made a dumb vow: “Nobody eats till evening, not until I get revenge!” The people were starving.

25 They came across a forest with honey dripping on the ground.

26 But nobody touched it, because of Saul’s oath.

27 But Jonathan did not hear the vow. He dipped his staff in the honey, ate a little, and his eyes lit up.

28 One soldier said, “Your dad said no food today, or you die.” Jonathan was like…

29 “My dad tripping. Look how this honey boosted me, imagine if everybody had eaten!”

30 “We could have crushed way more Philistines today!”

Israel Strikes, but Cannot Finish

31 That day, they beat the Philistines down from Michmash to Aijalon, but the people were mad hungry.

32 They rushed the plunder, killing sheep, cows, and calves, and ate the meat with the blood still in it (big no-no).

33 Saul was told, “The people sinning, eating with blood in it!” Saul said, “You all blowing it. Roll a big rock over here!”

34 “Each man bring his animal here, kill it properly and eat. Do not sin against the Lord.” So everybody did that.

35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord, his first one.

Saul Tries to Keep Going

36 Saul said, “Let us chase the Philistines all night, take all they got.” The priests said, “Maybe ask God first,”

37 Saul asked God, “Should I chase them?” But God did not answer.

38 So Saul said, “Somebody sinned today. Even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die.”

39 Nobody said a word.

40 Saul said, “Line up, me and Jonathan over here, you all over there.” The people said, “Do what you must do.”

41 Saul prayed, cast lots, and Jonathan got picked.

42 He asked again, and Jonathan was singled out.

Saul Almost Kills His Son

43 Saul said, “Tell me what you did.” Jonathan said, “I tasted a little honey, that is it. If I must die, then so be it.”

44 Saul said, “Yep, you are going to die today.”

45 But the people shouted, “Hold up, Jonathan just saved Israel! He is not dying today. Not a hair on his head touched, he moved in faith with God!” So they rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46 Saul backed off, and the Philistines went home.

Saul’s Resume

47 Saul locked down Israel’s rule. He fought Moab, Ammon, Edom, kings of Zobah, and the Philistines, wherever he turned, he won.

48 He was a savage, struck down Amalek and saved Israel from all their enemies.

49 His sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. His daughters were Merab and Michal.

50 His wife was Ahinoam. The commander of his army was Abner, Saul’s cousin.

51 Saul’s dad was Kish. Abner’s dad was Ner, Kish’s brother.

52 Saul fought hard against the Philistines all his life. And whenever he saw a strong or skilled man, he pulled him into his army.