1 Samuel 14:1-23

1Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2Saul was staying in the outskirts of 1Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in 2Migron. And the people who were with him were 3about six hundred men, 3and Ahijah, the 4son of Ahitub, 5Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord at 6Shiloh, 7was 8wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 49Between 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 Seneh. 5The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

6Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of 10these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for 11the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your 12desire.” 8Then Jonathan said, “13Behold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9If they 14say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10But if they 15say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands; and 16this shall be the sign to us.” 11When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, 17Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12So the men of the garrison 18hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and 19we will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for 20the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13Then 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. 14That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. 15And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and 21the raiders trembled, and 22the earth quaked so 23that it became a 24great trembling.

16Now Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17Saul said to the people who were with him, “25Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had 26numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “27Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 1928While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, 29every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even 30they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22When all the 31men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. 23So 32the Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle 33spread beyond 34Beth-aven.