1 SAMUEL LESSON 14


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 14:1 "Now it came to pass
upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that
bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines'
garrison, that [is] on the other side. But he told not his father."

     Jonathan seemed to be much braver than Saul. We do not know
specifically what day this happens. It was, however, after the
happenings in chapter 13. Jonathan told no one, but his armourbearer.
It would be much easier for the two of them to slip close to the
Philistines without being detected. He, probably, did not tell his
father, because his father would have stopped him. I would believe,
the LORD put this idea in the heart of Jonathan.

     I Samuel 14:2 "And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah
under a pomegranate tree which [is] in Migron: and the people that
[were] with him [were] about six hundred men;"

     It seems that, Saul was relaxing with his men in Gibeah. More
specifically, they were in Migron. It seems, Saul was sitting in the
shade under the pomegranate tree. 600 of the men were with Saul. They
were, probably, near enough to help, if Jonathan needed them. Saul did
not know where Jonathan was, but God knew.

     I Samuel 14:3 "And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother,
the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh,
wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone."

     We remember, from a previous lesson, that Phinehas was one of the
two sons of Eli, who sinned greatly against God. We remember that,
Ichabod received his name, because of the sins of his father. Ahitub
had to be a younger brother. Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, had been
restored to the priesthood at this time. He had on the ephod, so he
must have been high priest. "Ahiah" means brother of Jehovah. Ahiah
was in charge of the ark. The ark was kept at Shiloh. They had no idea
that Jonathan had gone to the Philistines.

     I Samuel 14:4  "And between the passages, by which Jonathan
sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, [there was] a sharp
rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name
of the one [was] Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh."

     "Bozez" means shining. "Seneh" means thorn. These two rocks
seemed to guard the entrance to this garrison. It seemed, it was a
natural garrison protected by high rocks on three sides.

     I Samuel 14:5 "The forefront of the one [was] situate northward
over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah."

     These were two lookout stations for the entire garrison.

     I Samuel 14:6 "And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his
armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these
uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there
is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few."

     Jonathan had great faith in the LORD. He knew that he and his
armourbearer would be a majority, if the LORD was with them. The fact
that Jonathan mentioned them being uncircumcised, shows that he
believes God is with him, and not with the Philistines. The Israelites
had a covenant agreement with the LORD. Jonathan has no fear, that the
LORD will be with him and his armourbearer. Two can put ten thousand
to flight, if the two are in the perfect will of God.

     I Samuel 14:7 "And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that
[is] in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to
thy heart."

     Jonathan's armourbearer had confidence, that what Jonathan said
was true. If Jonathan is brave enough to do this, certainly the
armourbearer will go with him, and help.

     I Samuel 14:8 "Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto
[these] men, and we will discover ourselves unto them."

     These two could easily go in undetected. A whole army would have
been seen immediately. We see from this, that one person can sometimes
restore the confidence of a whole people, by the actions he takes.
Even in our land today, one or two people could start a revival which
would sweep across our land. We just need to have the courage to step
out, and do it. The men will not know they are there, until they want
them to know it.

     I Samuel 14:9 "If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to
you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto
them." I Samuel 14:10 "But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we
will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this
[shall be] a sign unto us."

     This is like laying a fleece before the LORD. What the
Philistines say, when they see Jonathan and his armourbearer, will
determine whether Jonathan will stay where he is, or attack them. If
they say come up to them, this is a sign from God that Jonathan is to
attack.

     I Samuel 14:11 "And both of them discovered themselves unto the
garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the
Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves."

     This just means that, Jonathan and his armourbearer made
themselves obvious to the Philistines. The Philistines think they have
come to surrender. They laugh, about Jonathan and his armourbearer
coming out of the holes where they had been hidden.

     I Samuel 14:12 "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."

     Jonathan is a brave man, who has confidence in the LORD. What
they had intended to frighten Jonathan with was, in fact, the signal
from God that he would win this battle.

     I Samuel 14:13 "And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon
his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before
Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him."

     These men that were taunting Jonathan and his armourbearer, could
have thrown a rock off the side of the cliff they were climbing, and
killed them both, before they made it to the top. They were making
sport out of this whole thing. After all, there was just Jonathan and
his armourbearer against all of these men. We see that, Jonathan
killed those in front of him, and the armourbearer killed those behind
him.

     I Samuel 14:14 "And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his
armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half
acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow]."

     These two men {Jonathan and his armourbearer} came in the name of
the Lord. Two men killed twenty men. It seemed, their bodies were
scattered over a half acre.

     I Samuel 14:15 "And there was trembling in the host, in the
field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they
also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great
trembling."

     There was widespread terror in the camp, when it was told what
happened to the garrison. They, probably, thought the entire army of
Israel was coming against them. They had, probably, forgotten about an
attack from Jonathan and his men. This was totally unexpected.

     I Samuel 14:16 "And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin
looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on
beating down [one another]."

     It appears, in their fright, they turned on each other. Saul's
watchmen have now suddenly become aware of the tumult. It seems to
them, as if Israel is winning. They have no idea who of Israel is
fighting, however.

     I Samuel 14:17 "Then said Saul unto the people that [were] with
him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had
numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer [were] not [there]."

     This numbering is not a count, but a calling of names, until they
find who is not with them. Saul, possibly, thought someone had
mustered a small group from his men, and gone and done this thing. To
his surprise, it is Jonathan and his armourbearer only.
     I Samuel 14:18 "And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of
God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel."

     We remember that, the ark of God was cared for by the priest.
This is, possibly, speaking of the high priest coming wearing the
ephod. God spoke to the people through the Urim and the Thummim of the
high priest. Perhaps, the ark was brought, so the people would
recognize the answer from God.

     I Samuel 14:19  "And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the
priest, that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines went
on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand."

     Saul did not wait to hear what the will of God was, in this,
before he acted. Saul had done the wrong thing, when he offered the
burnt offering, not willing to wait for Samuel. Now, he is making the
same mistake again, by not waiting to hear from God through the
priest. His impatience costs him.

     I Samuel 14:20 "And Saul and all the people that [were] with him
assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every
man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great
discomfiture."

     This is not speaking of the Israelites' swords, because Saul was
the only one of this group that had one. This just means that, the
Philistines turned their swords on each other and killed their own
army. Saul's army had no swords, or spears. Of course, they could have
taken some from the fallen Philistines.

     I Samuel 14:21 "Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the
Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp
[from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the
Israelites that [were] with Saul and Jonathan."

     Jonathan's bravery caused these frightened Israelites, who had
gone with the Philistines, to return to the service of Jonathan. They
had not fought with the Philistines against Israel. They had been like
slaves to the Philistines.

     I Samuel 14:22 "Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid
themselves in mount Ephraim, [when] they heard that the Philistines
fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle."

     It seems, the bravery of Jonathan had encouraged the bravery of
them all. Those who had hidden, so they would not have to fight, when
the army of the Philistines came, are now coming out of hiding, so
they can share in the victory.

     I Samuel 14:23 "So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle
passed over unto Beth-aven."

     The one thing we must notice, above, is who won the war for them.
It was the LORD. The LORD saved Israel, because of Jonathan's faith.
                        1 Samuel 14 Questions


1.  Who did Jonathan tell to come with him, to the Philistine's
    garrison?
2.  Why did Jonathan not tell Saul, where he was going?
3.  Who put this thought into the mind of Jonathan?
4.  Where was Saul, when this happened?
5.  How many men were with Saul?
6.  Who was wearing an ephod?
7.  Who was Phinehas?
8.  Why was his son named Ichabod?
9.  What does "Ahiah" mean?
10. What does "Bozez" mean?
11. What does "Seneh" mean?
12. These two rocks guarded the entrance to the __________.
13. What did Jonathan call the Philistines in verse 6?
14. Who did Jonathan have faith in?
15. Two can put _____ ________ to flight, if the two are in the
    perfect will of God.
16. Did his armourbearer go willingly with Jonathan?
17. When would the Philistines see them?
18. How can we relate to these two today?
19. How will Jonathan know whether the LORD wants him to go against
    the Philistines, or not?
20. Why did the Philistines not roll a rock down the embankment, and
    kill them?
21. How many did Jonathan and his armourbearer kill in the first
    slaughter?
22. When the Philistines heard what happened at the garrison, how did
    they react?
23. What did the Philistines think was happening?
24. In their fright, they turned on ________ ________.
25. Who discovered what was going on and told Saul?
26. What did Saul do, to determine who had gone out to fight?
27. What did Saul tell Ahaiah to bring?
28. How did the LORD speak to the people?
29. Why did Saul not wait to hear the will of God?
30. Who came to help Jonathan?
31. Who returned to help?
32. The _________ saved Israel that day.