Jonathan and Armorbearer Attack

Jonathan did not depend so much on his armor as on the unlimited power of God. He simply used that which he had at hand, and God blessed his humble dependence on Heaven. Even if the king should turn aside from the path of obedience, God proposed to prove to all Israel that salvation is a matter of individual choice and action, and not so much a mass movement. How tragic the situation would have been had God rejected all Israel when the king chose not to obey.

Josephus thinks that it was at break of day that Jonathan and his armor—bearer approached the Philistine outpost, and reached it when most of the men were yet asleep (Antiquities vi. 6. 2). The narrative of ch. 14 confirms the idea that it was early morning (see vs. 15, 16, 20, 23, 24—28, 30, 31, 45). Whether the two Israelites waited till night to make the ascent or whether it took them but a few minutes to climb the precipice is not stated. They evidently took the fortress completely by surprise, for the utmost confusion reigned in the Philistine garrison.

Saul's impetuosity was developing rapidly. The apparent confusion in the enemy's camp threw him into such excitement that he could not even wait for counsel from the Lord. For days he and his fellows had stood by and heard reports of raids by the enemy upon nearby towns, and though he did not know the reason for the flight of forces across the wadi, he abruptly gave the order to attack.

Had he taken time to seek divine guidance, he would probably have avoided many of the problems that confronted the army of Israel during the next few hours, and his victory over the enemy would have been far more complete. Clearly, this was a case of haste making waste. Jesus' times of meditation and of prayer brought Him the calm judgment necessary to endure with patience the ordeal awaiting Him Jacob's night of wrestling with the angel at Jabbok strengthened him not only to face Esau but to face the years of perplexing problems that followed.