1 Samuel 14:1 - Meaning and Application

We should first notice God’s goodness in holding back the Philistines. They had a large army of brave soldiers in the field, and they could easily have crushed that small, fearful group with Saul. An unseen power sets limits on the hatred of the church’s enemies and keeps them from doing all they want to do.

We should also notice Saul’s weakness. He seems here to be at a loss and unable to help himself. He camped under a tree and had only 600 men with him, although he had once chosen 3,000 men and trusted them so much (1 Samuel 13:2; 1 Samuel 14:2). Those he leaned on most failed him when he needed them most.

He did not dare stay in Gibeah, but moved to a hidden place near a pomegranate tree, under Rimmon, a place linked with the caves near Gibeah. Some think he hid there because his spirit was so low after falling under God’s displeasure, and he kept expecting the Philistines to attack, just as Samuel had warned (1 Samuel 13:14). People can never feel truly safe if they see themselves outside God’s protection.

Saul now sent for a priest and the ark, bringing the priest from Shiloh and the ark from Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 14:3, 1 Samuel 14:18). He had once sinned by offering sacrifice himself (1 Samuel 13:9). Now he seems to think he can avoid that sin and make things right with God by one outward change, while his heart stays unchanged.

Samuel, the Lord’s prophet, had left him, but Saul seems to think he can make up for that loss by bringing in Ahiah, the Lord’s priest. He would not want a priest who corrected him the way Samuel did. He wanted one who would do what he said and speak gently to him (1 Samuel 14:18, 1 Samuel 14:19). Many people like ministers who tell them what they want to hear, and they hope that treating such ministers kindly will cancel out their anger toward faithful ones.

He also had the ark brought, perhaps to insult Samuel, who had not, as far as we know, made public use of it during his rule. Or maybe he hoped the ark would make up for his weak army. One would have thought they would never bring the ark into camp again, since the last time it did not save them and was even taken by the Philistines. Yet people who have lost the heart of religion often become most fond of its outward signs, as here a deserted prince courts a deserted priest.

We should also notice the courage and devotion of Jonathan, Saul’s son, who was much better suited than his father to wear the crown. Bishop Hall called him “a sweet shoot from a crab stock.” Jonathan decided to go, unknown to anyone, into the Philistines’ camp. He did not tell his father, because he knew Saul would forbid it. He did not tell the people, because he knew they would all discourage him. Since he would not listen to their objections, he chose not to hear them at all or ask their advice (1 Samuel 14:1, 1 Samuel 14:3).

He did not even think to consult the priest, but felt a clear divine urge leading him. So he threw himself into danger, hoping to serve his country. The route to the enemy camp is described as especially hard and naturally fortified, yet that did not shake him (1 Samuel 14:4, 1 Samuel 14:5). The steep rocks only made him more determined. Strong and noble souls are stirred up by obstacles and take joy in breaking through them.

Jonathan also encouraged his armor-bearer, the young man who attended him, to go with him in this daring plan (1 Samuel 14:6). “Come,” he said, “let us risk our lives and go over to the Philistine outpost and see what we can do to throw them into confusion.” His courage rested on three things.

First, he said they were uncircumcised. That meant they did not bear the sign of God’s covenant in their flesh, as Israel did. In other words, they were outside the special covenant protection God had given his people. If our enemies are also strangers to God, then we need not fear them.

Second, he believed God could make two men victorious over countless enemies. There is no limit on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. It is all the same to him whether he saves by many or by few. That is easy to say in general, but it is harder to believe in a specific crisis. When we are few and weak, to trust that God can save us, and even save by us, is true faith. That kind of faith deserves honor, and it can strengthen the weak, calm the fearful, and support our prayers (2 Chronicles 14:11).

Third, Jonathan hoped that God might act for them. “The Lord may work for us,” he seems to say, “and maybe he will do a sign or a wonder for us.” We may take courage from that kind of hope, even when we do not have full certainty. Living faith will go far in God’s cause on a simple “perhaps the Lord will help.”

Jonathan’s armor-bearer, who seems to have learned to carry not only his weapons but also his heart, promised to stand with him and follow him wherever he went (1 Samuel 14:7). We have good reason to think Jonathan felt a real divine leading in this bold plan. His servant’s agreement encouraged him, for otherwise the danger was so great that he would have been tempting God instead of trusting him. Perhaps Jonathan also had in mind Joshua’s words, “One man of you will chase a thousand,” which were borrowed from Moses (Joshua 23:10; Deuteronomy 32:30).

However bold Jonathan’s resolve was, he still meant to follow God’s guidance in carrying it out. He believed Providence would guide him with its eye (Psalm 32:8), so he would watch carefully for direction and take his cues from it. He put himself into God’s hands and meant to be led by God’s leading.

Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come, let us show ourselves to the enemy. We will face them openly, like men who are not afraid” (1 Samuel 14:8). Then he set out a simple test. If the Philistines told them to stay where they were, he would take that as a sign that God wanted them to act only in defense. If the first guard told them to come up, Jonathan would press forward and trust that God wanted them to attack, and that God would support them (1 Samuel 14:9-10).

Jonathan was acting on two firm beliefs that we should also hold. First, God rules the hearts and words of all people, even those who do not know him or care about him. He can use them to carry out his own purposes, even when they do not mean to serve him. Jonathan trusted that God could make his will known to him, and that he could learn it just as surely from a Philistine as from a priest. Second, God will guide the steps of those who acknowledge him in all their ways and ask him for direction, with a real intent to obey.

Providence gave Jonathan the sign he was looking for, and he answered it. He and his armorbearer did not sneak up on the Philistines while they slept. Instead, they showed themselves in daylight (1 Samuel 14:11). The Philistine guards mocked them and made fun of the Hebrews, calling them out of their holes, as if they were cowards hiding underground. When some of Christ’s soldiers act afraid, others who act boldly may still be mocked for it.

The guards also challenged them, saying, “Come up, and we will show you a thing” (1 Samuel 14:12). They meant, “Come and look, if you like,” while planning to kill them like easy prey, much like Goliath’s threat in (1 Samuel 17:44). But this insult strengthened Jonathan. He now spoke with confidence: “The Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel” (1 Samuel 14:12). He was not seeking his own honor, only the good of his people. With his faith encouraged, no obstacle could stop him, so he climbed the rocky slope on his hands and feet, with only his servant beside him and no human reason to expect anything but death.

The result was remarkable. The Philistines did not seize Jonathan or kill him. Instead, they fell before him at once under the first blows he struck (1 Samuel 14:13). Twenty Philistines fell quickly, slain by Jonathan and his armorbearer (1 Samuel 14:14). It was not Jonathan’s name alone that made them yield, though his earlier victory over one of their outposts may have frightened them (1 Samuel 13:3). It was the Lord’s power, his right hand and strong arm, that gave Jonathan the victory.

The rest of the Philistines panicked and turned on one another. There was terror in the camp (1 Samuel 14:15). There was no visible reason for fear. They were many, bold, and well placed, while Israel had already fled from them. No army was attacking them, only one man and his servant. Yet they shook with fear like leaves in the wind. The fear spread through the whole camp, even to the raiders who had been most confident. Their bodies gave way, their knees knocked together, and they could not tell why.

Scripture calls it a trembling from God, meaning not just a very great fear, but one that came directly from him. The God who made the heart also knows how to make it tremble. To add to the panic, the earth itself shook, making them afraid it might give way under them. Those who will not fear the eternal God can be made afraid even of a shadow (Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 33:14).