VICTORY OVER THE PHILISTINES
A. Jonathan's adventure in faith
1. (1 Sam 14:1-3) Jonathan's proposal
Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying the armor, "Come and let us cross over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people who 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 the LORD at Shiloh, was wearing the ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
Now the day came: The phrase means that Jonathan's brave feat happened not many days after the garrison had occupied the cliff. Josephus says that is was day light when Jonathan and his armor bearer came to the camp of the Philistines. Since the it would have taken several hours for Jonathan to traverse the roughed terrain and come upon the Philistines, it is likely Jonathan formed this scheme the night before, and he and his armor bearer set out during the night. By the break of day, they would have come to the Philistine garrison.
The young man who was carrying his armor: As was common in those times, generals and military leaders of armies had young men carry their armor, giving the military leader the ability to better scope out the land and devise a military plan without being burdened by the weight of heavy military equipment. Armor bearers had to be unusually brave and loyal, since the lives of their masters often depended upon them.
The Philistine army that is on the other side: That is, there was a valley which lay between Michmash (where the Philistines were) and Gibeah (were Saul and his men were). Jonathan and his armor bearer had to travel through a valley to reach the Philistine garrison at Michamash.
He did not tell his father: It is very unlikely that Saul gave his son unlimited commission to attack the enemy at anytime and anywhere. So, Jonathan stirred by the Lord to carry out this daring commission, did not tell his father least his father should disapprove of such a risky military move. It is quite interesting that Jonathan started this conflict with destroying a Philistine outpost, and now Jonathan is about to end the conflict by a daring military feat. Although Israel wanted a king and thought a king would save them from their enemies hands, we are about to see how one man, stirred up by the Lord, can defeat a whole Philistine army. By this example, God declares to Israel that the victory did not consist of a multitude of men and great military armor, but the victory was achieved only by his grace.
Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah: Not daring to go out against the Philistines, Saul remained in the farthest part of Gibeah, at the greatest distance from the camp of the Philistines. This is a big contrast to Jonathan. The military leader of Israel was simply staying...under the pomegranate tree while his son boldy went over to the Philistine garrison. Saul and the priest sat back while Jonathan bravely trusted the LORD.
And the people who were with him were about six hundred men: Again we are told about the tiny army which supported Saul. There was no additional men added to the army and people did not flock to assist Saul in his pursuit of the Philistines. The army remained at six hundred men ("Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin, and Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men" 1 Samuel 13:15).
Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother: Ichabod was the child that Phinehas's wife bore prematurely upon hearing the news of the ark being taken and the deaths of her husband and father-in-law ("Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas's wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her" 1 Samuel 4:19.)
The mention of Ichabod seems almost unnecessary. Why would we need to know that the priest with Saul, Ahijah, was the nephew of Ichabod? It might be that God wants us to associate the meaning of Ichabod's name (the glory has departed) with where Saul is at spiritually.
The priest of the LORD at Shiloh: This refers not to Ahijah for he was not now priest in Shiloh, but was priest for Saul and his army. But, this refers to Eli, who when living exercised the priest's office in Shiloh.
Wearing the ephod: This is what Ahijah wore, which was not worn by common priests but by the high priest. The ephod had the breastplate of judgment and the urim and thummim (by which inquiry from the LORD was made). The meaning of this is that the high priest was now with Saul.
2. (1 Sam 14:4-5) Jonathan finds a strategic position
Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh. The one crag rose on the north side opposite Michmash, and the other on the south side of Geba.
Between the passes: On his way to the Philistine garrison, Jonathan saw a strategic position--a narrow path through a pass with large, sharp rocks on either side. A few men could easily fight against a much larger number of people at this strategic location.
Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines' garrison: If Jonathan never decided to go over to the Philistines' garrison, he would have never found this garrison. God guided Jonathan as he boldly trusted God and acted on that bold trust.
3. (1 Sam 14:6-7) Jonathan's bold proposal
Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few." His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire."
Uncircumcised: The term "uncircumcised" is commonly applied to the Philistines. It is used as a special term of reproach. The enmity between Philistia and Israel lasted over a long period of many years. Underneath Jonathan's speech lies the conviction of the covenant relationship of Israel to God, of which circumcision was the outward sign. Jonathan's hope of success was based upon the reflection that the Philistines stood in no covenant-relation to God as Israel did.
Perhaps the LORD will work for us: This expression did not imply doubt; it signified simply that the object Jonathan aimed at was not in his power, but it depended on God. Jonathan did not expect success from his own strength or from his own merit. Jonathan knew the need was great. Israel was hopelessly outnumbered and demoralized. Jonathan knew God wanted to use someone. King Saul just wanted to sit under the pomegranate tree. Something had to be done, and Jonathan was willing to let God use him. Jonathan could have just prayed that God would rain down fire from heaven on the Philistines, but Jonathan knew that God uses the bold action and the fighting spirit of His people.
The LORD is not restrained: The only thing that can be said to restrain God is out unbelief ("And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief" Matthew 13:58.). God's power is never restrained, but His will may be restrained by our unbelief. He may choose not to act until we partner with Him in trust. God had a trusting partner in Jonathan.
By many or by few: The odds were against Israel. Did it matter if it was a million-to-one or a thousand-to-one odds? Numbers of odds did not restrain God, but unbelief could. In fact, many times God uses a tiny group of people to defeat a huge army. Gideon had assembled 32,000 men to defeat the Midians, but God tells Gideon there are too many people. "The LORD said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, "My own power has delivered me."'" (Judges 7:2) So, God instructs Gideon to cut his forces until there are only 300 men. Then, God uses this tiny force to defeat the vast Midian army (See Judges 7). Time and time again, God shows us that with Him, there is no enemy too great which can not be defeated. Jonathan had little faith in himself, but he had great faith in God. It was not "I can win a great victory with God's help." But it was "God can win a great victory through me."
Do all that is in your heart...I am with you according to your desire: These words from Jonathan's armor bearer must have cheered Jonathan greatly. When we step out in faith, encouragement can make all the difference for good. Discouragement can make all the difference for not following God. God was going to use Jonathan, but God was not going to use Jonathan alone. When God uses a man, He almost always calls others around the man to support and help him. The cheering squad is just as important in getting God's work done as the man God uses.
4. (1 Sam 14:8-10) Jonathan proposes a test
Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will cross over to the 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 t them. But if they say, 'Come up to us", then we will go up for the LORD has given them into our hands; and this shall be the sign to us."
This shall be the sign to us: In his step of faith, Jonathan wanted to know if God was really leading him. He proposed a test based on the response of the Philistine guards. Jonathan showed wisdom and not unbelief. He does not act on a specific confirmed word of God. Instead, he followed the bold hope and impression of his heart. He was humble enough to know his heart might be wrong on this day; so, Jonathan asked God to guide him. This was not the same setting as Gideon's fleece (Judges 6:36-40). Gideon had a confirmed word of God to guide him, and yet he doubted God's word. Jonathan did not doubt God's word; he doubted his own heart and mind. Jonathan was prompted by faith. Significantly, he did not demand to know the whole battle plan from God in advance. He was willing to take it one step at a time, and let God unfold His plans. Faith is the willingness to let God know the whole plan and to be satisfied with knowing our part one step at a time.
5. (1 Sam 14:11-14) Jonathan and his armor bearer attack the Philistines
When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, "Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves." So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, "Come up to us and we will tell you something." And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel." Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land.
When both of them revealed themselves: Jonathan and his armor bearer had crept up a precipice unseen, but at some convenient place near the top, they allowed themselves to be seen by the Philistine garrison.
Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves: During this time of crisis for the Israelites, they hid wherever they could (1 Samuel 13:6). It was reasonable for the Philistines to think these were Hebrew deserters surrendering themselves to the Philistines because they thought it was better than hiding in a hole. Concluding that Jonathan and his armor bearer were deserters, no attempt was made to hinder their ascent or stone them.
Come up to us and we will tell you something: The Philistines give Jonathan the very omen he had desired. We will tell you something is a popular phrase and expresses a sort of amused contempt for Jonathan and his armor bearer. This is threat by the Philistines that emphasizes if Jonathan and his armor bearer should dare come up any farther to the Philistines, they will pay dearly for their actions.
The LORD has given them into the hands of Israel: Jonathan modestly ascribes the success which he now foresees to God alone.
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet: A single stone rolled down from the top of the cliff could have easily sent Jonathan and his armor bearer tumbling to the ground, but the Philistines apparently considering the ascent impossible, seem to have disregarded any possible threat posed by these two Israelites. Perhaps also, the youthful appearance of these two individuals might have lulled the Philistines into a false sense of security.
And they fell before Jonathan: The brevity of the Hebrew expresses the rapidity of Jonathan's actions. As soon as Jonathan reached the top of the cliff, he sprung into action, and the Philistines, little expecting so vigorous an onslaught from such a feeble force were surprised and made but a slight resistance. The armor bearer no doubt behaved with bravery like his master.
Jonathan knew that the battle was the LORD'S; yet, he knew God would use him to fight. When Jonathan saw God's confirming sign, he did not lay down his sword and start praying that God would strike them all down. He prayed, made sure his sword was sharp and trusted God would use him to strike down the Philistines.
Within about half a furrow in an acre of land: The garrison seems to have been divided into several bands and posted on several craggy eminences. The first party that Jonathan attacked seems to have been quite separate from the rest of the Philistine camp. The literal Hebrew is "about half a furrow of a yoke of land". "A yoke of land" denotes a piece of land as a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. "A half a furrow" would be half the length a yoke of oxen could plow in one day.
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