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1 Samuel Chapter 14
Jonathan Defeats the Philistines
- 1Samuel 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.
- 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;
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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.
A pomegranate tree juice was used to
sweeten drinks, the outside peel was used to make leather and some
medicines. The Middle East were plentiful with them. They probably
tarried there to use it's shade from the sun. I can imagine warriers
having to take refreshment and rest on occasion.
Jonathan perhaps led by the Lord or
liked to wander off on his own, was missing. Perhaps he had to get
away to think. The priests of the Lord were present with Saul and
the men.
- 1 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.
- 5 The forefront of the one was
situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward
over against Gibeah.
They had to go over this place to reach
the camp of the Philistines.
-
1Samuel 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.
I appears that Jonathan was led by the
Lord for his faith was strong in that he knew that when the Lord was
leading them, no matter how big the enemy is, defeat was on the side
of those who trusted God. Perhaps this is why he and David made such
good friends later because they both had faith in God's power.
All those facing giant battles is
blessed to have a helper like this armourbearer. Faithful companions
and friends who will help and not betray is better than all the
riches we could have to pay for helpers.
- 1Samuel 14:8 Then
said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we
will discover ourselves unto them.
- 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.
- 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 took bravery for sure, for them to
go and reveal themselves to the enemy. They let the enemy know that
they were Hebrews. They did this to receive a sign from the Lord
whether or not to go up by whatever answer the Philistines gave
them.
This was years before the coming of
Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers as a
whole. Individual prophets, priest and those called of God
occasionally had the Holy Spirit come upon them but not the same as the
Acts chapter one and two experience of the Holy Spirit outpouring
that came when Jesus returned to God the
Father after His death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus said in the book of John:
-
John 14:15 If ye love me,
keep my commandments.
-
16 And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever;
-
17 Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you.
After the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy
Spirit, Holy Ghost in the King James version, came within believers
in Jesus Christ after they were born again by receiving and
believing in Jesus as their savior. This
type of outpouring was only for those that received Jesus and
believed on Him for salvation. It was for all who believed, not just
those called to be prophets or priests. Men, women, children,
servants, poor, and no matter what skin color.
The way to receive
was to believe and receive Jesus by faith. Before this those that
sought God could have the Holy Spirit come upon them but it was
different than the outpouring discribed by Jesus in the written
gospels and by the apostles in the book of Acts. The sign of
speaking in other tongues or languages often accompany this great
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They could prophesy, heal the sick,
cast out devils, preach the gospel and many other things to confirm
the word they believed and taught.
- 1Samuel 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.
- 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.
Their words to Jonathan was a sign that
the Lord was going to help them defeat the Philistines. Jonathan was
a man of faith in God's power to deliver even if their number of men
were small against a larger army of men by the enemy.
- 1Samuel 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
God intervened and caused the earth to
tremble so that the Philistines began to attack one another. They
were so scared and confused that they just lashed out at each other.
Jonathan and his armourbearer could not have done this alone. Lest
we feel sorry for the spoilers we must remember that these were
those who raided, attacked and killed the Israelis previously. They
were oppressing those in Israel so much that only God could deliver them. Saul
had men that could see what was happening and report to Saul.
- 1Samuel 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 23 So the LORD saved Israel that
day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
We see that when others among the Hebrews
and those that were hiding came out and joined in the battle against
their oppressors. It was a great day of rejoicing for them and they
gave God the glory for helping them. Verse 23 says that the Lord
saved Israel that day. The Philistines actually started killing each
other instead of fighting the Israelis. The ark of God was a sign
that they recognized God was with them.
Saul's Rash Vow
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1Samuel 14:24 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.
We all do stupid things but this one
doesn't make any sense. Food would give more energy. Those weiry in
battle need strength. My dad use to warn us against making rash
promises but always say, "If the Lord wills I will do such and
such." I still remember the vow of Jephthah that we can read about
in Judges chapter 11. It cost him his daughter not being able to
marry or being a human sacrifice. It was debatable which way that
story actually went since God forbids human sacrifices except for
the one Jesus made which He agreed to sacrifice Himself to usher in
the way of salvation to all who would believe in Him.
- 1Samuel 14:25 And all they of the
land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
- 26 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.
Must have been a lot of bees and no one to
gather it up but they were obedient to the vow of the Saul and did
not eat of it. They were probably starved at that point.
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1Samuel 14:27 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.
His eyes were enlightened simply means his
strength was revived. He of course didn't know of his father's vow.
- 1Samuel 14:28 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.
- 29 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.
- 30 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?
Jonathan was much wiser than his father or
else he possessed more compassion on his fellowmen.
Leaders of our armies and other defenders
of our nation and cities might have a lot to learn from the bible.
These people could have defeated more enemies had they had
nourishment. Instead the Philistines contineued to vex them on
occasion which led to the story of David and Goliah we can read
about later in other chapters of the book of Samuel.
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1Samuel 14:32 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.
They were so hungry that they ignored the
law which we read about in Deuteronomy 12:23. They were never to eat
blood because it represented life. Here is what is said about this
in Leviticus:
- Leviticus 17:10 And whatsoever man
there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn
among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face
against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among
his people.
- 11 For the life of the flesh is in
the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an
atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an
atonement for the soul.
- 12 Therefore I said unto the
children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall
any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
- 13 And whatsoever man there be of
the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you,
which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he
shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
- 14 For it is the life of all flesh;
the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the
children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh:
for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it
shall be cut off.
Saul recognizes this sin of eating blood and
does something about it.
- 1Samuel 14:33 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.
34 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.
35 And Saul built an altar unto the
LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
The first time he did this was an act of
disobedience by not waiting on Samuel and he took upon himself to do
the works of the priest. This time he seems to have a priest with
him. Sometimes he seemed to have tried to do the right thing.
-
1Samuel 14:36 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.
The priest wanted to seek counsel of the
Lord before going to battle which is always a good idea.
- 1Samuel 14:37 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.
- 38 And Saul said, Draw ye near
hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this
sin hath been this day.
- 39 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.
- 40 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.
- 41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD
God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken:
but the people escaped.
- 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between
me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
- 43 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.
- 44 And Saul answered, God do so and
more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
- 45 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.
- 46 Then Saul went up from following
the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
God may have refused to answer because
they had eaten blood. Jonathan did nothing wrong since he had not
heard his father's vow. Saul's vow was not the law of God and would
not require anyone's death. It was a rash vow even though Jonathan
was willing to submit to death it seems but the people refused to harm
Jonathan because he was a great hero in battle. Jonathan's life was
spared. Saul seems to be a very rash impatient person. Later on we
will see jealousy and refusing to accept the will of God seems to
bring his downfall. Perhaps if he would have been able to defeat the
enemy here, they wouldn't have caused trouble later on.
Saul Fights Israel's Enemies
- 1Samuel 14:47 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.
- 48 And he gathered an host, and
smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them
that spoiled them.
- 49 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:
- 50 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.
- 51 And Kish was the father of Saul;
and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
- 52 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.
Saul was being successful in battle it seems
and added to himself many mighty warriors. He became a great leader
but as we study further we shall see that he failed in that he was
not always obedient to the Lord. Perhaps personal prayer and seeking
God on a one on one basis was lacking. His weakness was jealousy and
being headstrong. Since he was king he sometimes took it upon
himself to go beyond what God called him to do. He respected Samuel
but didn't always heed his words. It is not long now until the
future king, the shepherd boy David arrives on the scene. -DC
1 Samuel Chapter 15
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