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.
A.M.
1 Samuel 14:39-45 For, as the LORD lives, which saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan …
1 Samuel 13:2,22 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand …
1 Samuel 18:1-4 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, …
2 Samuel 1:4,5,25,26 And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. …
he told not
1 Samuel 25:19 And she said to her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after …
Judges 6:27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had …
Judges 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily on him, and he rent him …
Micah 7:5 Trust you not in a friend, put you not confidence in a guide: keep …
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;
in the uttermost
1 Samuel 13:15,16 And Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. …
Isaiah 10:28,29 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he has laid …
a pomegranate. The word rimmon, in Arabic romman, whence the Portuguese romaa, denotes the pomegranate, both tree and fruit; called by naturalists malus punica or malo-granatum. It is, according to the Linnean system, a genus of the icosandrai monogynia class of plants; and is a low tree, growing very common in Palestine, and other parts of the East. It has several small angular boughs, covered with a reddish-bark, and some of them armed with sharp thorns. They are garnished with small, narrow, spear-shaped leave, like those of the myrtle, but not so sharp, of a green colour, inclining to red. Its blossoms are large, beautiful, of an elegant red colour, inclining to purple, composed of several stalks resembling a rose, in the hollow of the cup: this cup is oblong, hard, purple, having a figure somewhat like that of a bell. It is chiefly valued for its fruit, which is exceedingly beautiful, of the form and size of a large apple, with a reddish rind, and red within; being full of small kernels, with red grains, replenished with a generous liquor, of which, Sir John Chardin informs us, they still make considerable quantities of wine in the East, particularly in Persia. But as the pomegranate tree, form its low growth, is but little adapted for pitching a tent under, it is probable that Rimmon here is the name of the rock mentioned in Jud.
Judges 20:45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: …
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.
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.
The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
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.
Come This action of Jonathan's was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is highly probable, that this gallant man was led to undertake the hazardous enterprise by an immediate divine impulse; and by the same influence was kept from informing the soldiers, and even from consulting his father, who might have opposed his design.
uncircumcised
1 Samuel 17:26,36 And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall …
Genesis 17:7-11 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed …
Judges 15:18 And he was sore thirsty, and called on the LORD, and said, You have …
2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest …
Jeremiah 9:23,26 Thus said the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither …
Ephesians 2:11,12 Why remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh…
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and …
it may be
2 Samuel 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the …
2 Kings 19:4 It may be the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, …
Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate…
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek you the LORD, all you meek of the earth, which have worked his …
for there is no restraint Where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely upon it with the utmost confidence.
Deuteronomy 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, …
Judges 7:4-7 And the LORD said to Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them …
2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing …
Psalm 115:1-3 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your …
Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of the …
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, With men this is impossible; …
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Come up to us Meaning, that they would cause them to repent of their audacity. This was the favourable sign which Jonathan had requested.
1 Samuel 14:10 But if they say thus, Come up to us; then we will go up: for the …
1 Samuel 17:43,44 And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me …
2 Samuel 2:14-17 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before …
2 Kings 14:8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son …
Come up after me
Genesis 24:26,27,42,48 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD…
Judges 4:14 And Deborah said to Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD …
Judges 7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the …
2 Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of …
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.
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.
an half acre of land. or, half a furrow of an acre of land. The original is obscure and variously understood; but it is probably a a proverbial expression for a small space.
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 trembling
Joshua 2:9 And she said to the men, I know that the LORD has given you the land, …
Judges 7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all …
2 Kings 7:6,7 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of …
Job 18:11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
Psalm 14:5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
the spoilers
1 Samuel 13:17,23 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three …
the earth quaked
Exodus 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended …
Matthew 24:6 And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not …
Matthew 27:50,51 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost…
very great trembling [heb] trembling of God
Genesis 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was on the cities that …
Leviticus 26:36,37 And on them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into …
2 Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of …
Daniel 5:6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled …
God will in some way or other direct the steps of those who acknowledge him in all their ways, and seek unto him for direction with full purpose of heart. Sometimes we find most comfort in that which is least our own doing, and into which we have been led by the unexpected, but well observed, turns of Providence.
And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
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.
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.
Bring hither The Septuagint reads () `Bring hither the ephod; for he bore the ephod on that day before Israel:' which Houbigant and others think is the true reading. Finding that his son Jonathan and his armour-bearer were absent, Saul wished to consult the high-priest; but the tumult increasing, he says to him, `Withdraw thine hand:' i.e, desist form consulting the ephod on this occasion, and immediately hastened to make the best use he could of this astonishing victory.
1 Samuel 4:3-5 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel …
1 Samuel 30:8 And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this …
Numbers 27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel …
Judges 20:18,23,27,28 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, …
2 Samuel 11:11 And Uriah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in …
2 Samuel 15:24-26 And see Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the …
For the ark
1 Samuel 5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the …
1 Samuel 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the …
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.
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.
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.
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.
So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
Cursed
1 Samuel 14:27-30 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the …
Leviticus 27:29 None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but …
Numbers 21:2 And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If you will indeed …
Deuteronomy 27:15-26 Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination …
Joshua 6:17-19,26 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, …
Judges 11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If you shall without …
Judges 11:31 Then it shall be, that whatever comes forth of the doors of my house …
Judges 21:1-5 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not …
Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge …
Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according …
1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
I may be
Judges 5:2 Praise you the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly …
Judges 1:28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites …
Psalm 18:47 It is God that avenges me, and subdues the people under me.
And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
all they
Deuteronomy 9:28 Lest the land from where you brought us out say, Because the LORD …
Matthew 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region …
honey This was wild honey, which to this day abounds in Judea; and bursting from the comb, runs down the hollow trees, rocks, etc.
Exodus 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, …
Numbers 13:27 And they told him, and said, We came to the land where you sent us, …
Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather …
And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
flew
1 Samuel 15:19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but did fly on the …
The people having abstained from food the whole of the day, and being now faint through hunger and fatigue, they flew upon the cattle, and not taking time to bleed them properly, they eagerly devoured the flesh with the blood, directly contrary to the law-- another bad effect of Saul's rash adjuration.
Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall you not eat.
Leviticus 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all …
Leviticus 7:26,27 Moreover you shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl …
Leviticus 17:10-14 And whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers …
Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall you use …
Deuteronomy 12:16,23,24 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the earth as water…
Ezekiel 33:25 Why say to them, Thus said the Lord GOD; You eat with the blood, …
Acts 15:20,29 But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, …
Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
with him [heb] in his hand
And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
built It is probable that Saul converted the great stone, on which the cattle had been slaughtered, into an altar, on which sacrifices were offered, before the people attempted to proceed any further. This we are told was the first he had built. Samuel, as a prophet and priest, had hitherto erected the altars, but Saul seems to have thought he had sufficient authority to erect one himself, without the prophet, as he had once offered sacrifice without him.
1 Samuel 7:9,17 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering …
Judges 21:4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and …
Hosea 8:14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and builds temples; and Judah …
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
the same, etc. [heb] that altar he began to build unto the Lord.
And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
Let us go
Joshua 10:9-14,19 Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night…
Jeremiah 6:5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
let us not leave
1 Samuel 11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; …
Joshua 11:14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of …
Then said the priest it is evident that Ahiah, who had before been interrupted by Saul's impatience, doubted of the propriety of pursuing the Philistines that night, and properly counselled them to enquire of the Lord.
Numbers 27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel …
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in …
Isaiah 48:1,2 Hear you this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of …
Isaiah 58:2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation …
Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek …
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, …
And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
Shall I go
1 Samuel 23:4,9-12 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered …
1 Samuel 30:7,8 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray you, …
Judges 1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children …
Judges 20:18,28 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, …
2 Samuel 5:19,23 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? …
1 Kings 22:5,15 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray you, …
he answered.
1 Samuel 28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither …
Ezekiel 14:3-5 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and …
Ezekiel 20:3 Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus …
And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
Draw ye near
1 Samuel 10:19,20 And you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out …
Joshua 7:14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes: …
chief [heb] corners
Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there …
Judges 20:2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, …
2 Samuel 18:3 But the people answered, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, …
Psalm 47:9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people …
Zechariah 10:4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him …
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone …
Ephesians 2:20 And are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus …
For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
1 Samuel 14:24,44 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured …
1 Samuel 19:6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As the …
1 Samuel 20:31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the ground, you shall not …
1 Samuel 22:16 And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all …
1 Samuel 28:10 And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives, there …
2 Samuel 12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said …
Ecclesiastes 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, …
Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
Therefore Both the Septuagint and Vulgate add much to this verse: `And Saul said [to the Lord God of Israel Vulgate] [give a sign Vulgate] Why is it that thou has not answered thy servant today? If the iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan, [O Lord God of Israel, LXX.] make it manifest; and if thou say thus, give to thy people Israel, give mercy,' etc. [but Vulgate Or, if this iniquity be in thy people, give sanctification,' etc.]
give a perfect lot. or, Shew the innocent
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all …
And Saul
1 Samuel 10:20,21 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, …
Joshua 7:16-18 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their …
Jonah 1:7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, …
escaped. [heb] went forth
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
God
1 Samuel 25:22 So and more also do God to the enemies of David…
Ruth 1:17 Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do …
2 Samuel 3:9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD has sworn …
2 Samuel 19:13 And say you to Amasa, Are you not of my bone, and of my flesh? God …
thou shalt
1 Samuel 14:39 For, as the LORD lives, which saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan …
Genesis 38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, …
2 Samuel 12:5,31 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said …
Proverbs 25:16 Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest …
And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
who hath
1 Samuel 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over to Bethaven.
1 Samuel 19:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and …
Nehemiah 9:27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who …
there shall not The people judged rightly, that the guilt was contracted by Saul, and not by Jonathan; and therefore they rescued him from the hands of his rash and severe father.
2 Samuel 14:11 Then said she, I pray you, let the king remember the LORD your God, …
1 Kings 1:52 And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall …
Matthew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Acts 27:34 Why I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for …
he hath
2 Chronicles 19:11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters …
Isaiah 13:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty …
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they …
Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul…
Acts 21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things …
Romans 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ …
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you …
2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that you …
Philippians 2:12,13 Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence …
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: …
Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, …
the people
Isaiah 29:20,21 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, and the scorner is consumed, …
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
