Jonathan Defeats the Philistines. Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, his armor bearer following after him. The enemy fell before Jonathan [in combat], and his armor bearer killed some of them after him. 1 Sa 14:13
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY
INTRODUCTION
The authorship of these books cannot be determined, but there is abundant evidence that they embody the report of eye-witnesses. Some of the more prominent characters in the scenes described are name as writers in 1Ch_29:29.
The First Book of Samuel records the rise of a new political and spiritual order represented by the kings and the prophets. The establishment of the monarchy, with Saul as the first king, is an epochal event in the development of Israel’s national life.
Of no less importance is the appearance of the “schools of the prophets” under the leadership of Samuel. In these institutions we see the beginning of the movement which made Israel spiritually supreme among the nations.
II. FROM THE ANOINTING OF SAUL TO THE ANOINTING OF DAVID, I Samuel 9-15
6. Saul’s Wars with the Philistines, 1Sa_13:1-23; 1Sa_14:1-52
25. How did Jonathan achieve his victory over the Philistines?
JONATHAN DEFEATS THE PHILISTINES
One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron; and with him were about six hundred men,
and Ahijah the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest at Shiloh, was wearing the ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to get to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; one [crag] was named Bozez, and the other, Seneh.
The one crag was on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
And his armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is in your heart (mind); here I am with you in whatever you think [best].”
Jonathan said, “See now, we are going to cross over to the [Philistine] men and reveal ourselves to them.
If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.
But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will go up, for the LORD has handed them over to us; and this shall be the sign to us.”
When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”
So the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Climb up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel.”
Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, his armor bearer following after him. The enemy fell before Jonathan [in combat], and his armor bearer killed some of them after him.
That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a [plow] furrow in a plot of land [the area of which a yoke of oxen could plow in a day].
And there was trembling in the [Philistine] camp, in the field, and among all the people; even the garrison and the raiding party trembled [in fear], and the earth quaked and it became a trembling and terror from God.
JONATHAN DEFEATS THE PHILISTINES
JONATHAN’S EXPLOIT FOR THE LORD
Jonathan was a true knight of God. He was the Hebrew Galahad, a soldier without fear and without reproach. His life was pure, his word was true, he was faithful to the high claims of human love, and followed the Christ, though as yet he knew Him not.
He had entered into the spirit of the divine Covenant, and could not believe that God had forgotten and forsaken. Was not the old promise true that “one [should] chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight”? Deu_32:30. Happy are they who can rise above depression and misfortune into the clear heaven of fellowship with God, allying their weakness with His might, their ignorance with His wisdom! “It may be that the Lord will work for us,” said Jonathan; “for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” Then he offered himself as the humble instrument of God’s will. The people recognized this. They said: “He hath wrought with God this day.” And the soul that reckons on God cannot be ashamed. “The Lord saved Israel that day.”In such works God and man co-operate. See Joh_3:21.
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