1 Samuel 13:15 - 14:23 – Jonathan’s Faith & Courage

By Nate Wilson, Rocky Mtn. Men’s Retreat summer 2000, CTR-Manhattan June 2006 & 07 Mar 2021

INTRO: What is it that makes a person courageous?

In the Bible, when God spoke to His man at the beginning of the book of Joshua, what did He say, “Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed... for if you look deep into yourself, and only trust your heart, you will find the strength to carry on?!?!” NO! “…For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!” FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD! It is Biblical faith in God that gives strength and courage!

Introducing Jonathan

Let’s turn to First Samuel chapter 14 and look at a paragon of manliness in the Bible. This man had incredible courage. He was a warrior par excellence. He had amazing self-discipline. He was tough, and yet one of the things he is best known for is his loyalty in friendship. And this man had faith. First Samuel 14 gives us a brief glimpse into the life of Jonathan.

The context of this chapter is that Jonathan’s Dad, Saul, had just been crowned the first king of the country of Israel two years ago. (Use Map) Up until now, the country of Israel was a weak federation of tribes living up in the hills, surrounded by other nations who were more cruel and powerful than they were. The biggest problem at this time was a people called the Philistines who had migrated from a superior culture base in the area of Greece and spread out along the flat coastal land between the central mountains of Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. The Philistines were a more advanced civilization—they knew how to make superior weapons out of iron, and they also had horse-drawn chariots, things the Israelites didn’t have. Militarily, the Israelites were at a disadvantage, stuck with inferior weapons and slower modes of transportation. The Philistines, however, were worried about the unification of Israel under one king; they didn’t want a powerful, united kingdom right next-door, so they made persistent attempts to divide and weaken the Israelites whenever they made attempts at unity.

Philistine Battle Plan

In Chapter 13, Saul made a quick trip from his capitol city hometown of Gibeah to the nearby area of Gilgal, where the great prophet Samuel was going to offer a sacrifice. Saul had called the people of Israel to come and join him for this solemn occasion. This expression of national unity worried the Philistines, so they marched an army of 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and more foot-soldiers than could be counted, straight through the middle of Israel and set up for battle at Michmash, fanning out across the middle of Israel to cut the Southern part of Israel off from the support of the Northern tribes. The only escape route was across the Jordan River in the other direction, and some people were doing just that. Others were finding hideouts in the caves along the Dead Sea coast.

Saul’s position in Gilgal placed him poorly on the opposite side of the Philistine army from the residential areas of central Israel on the other side of the Philistine front, leaving the Philistines free to raid the Israelite homes unopposed, so Saul moved to join Jonathan and his troops in Gibeah, which at least positioned the Israelite troops between the Philistines and the Judean hills settlements of Israel to the south. By this time, only 600 of the over 3,000 Israelite soldiers were left bravely standing by King Saul and Prince Jonathan.

Furthermore, they were weaponless. The Philistines, in a calculated effort to keep the Israelites from defending themselves militarily, had killed or deported all the Israelite blacksmiths so that they could not make weapons¹. Jonathan and Saul were the only Israelites who had a sword or spear; the other 600 had nothing but clubs and garden tools to fight against the Philistines’ swords and spears. They were dead meat!

So, this is the context of one of the most amazing exercises of courage in the entire Bible. Jonathan and his bodyguard challenge a whole Philistine garrison, and they end up demolishing them and turning the tide of the war! Notice what it is that Jonathan attributes this kind of courage to. What gave him the guts to take on a whole bunker full of Philistine warriors?

The Source of Jonathan’s Courage

Look at verse 6: "Maybe Yahweh will work for us–nothing is impossible for Him, so He could win a battle if we are many or if we are few." “Yahweh is not restrained by many or by few.”

Remember, Moses and Joshua told us that with the LORD, one of us will chase a thousand! (Deut. 32:32, Josh 23:10)
Jonathan’s faith in the LORD is what gave him the guts to face this superior group of armed Philistines.
And it wasn’t just blind faith, It was faith in a Biblical truth about God—His sovereignty.

The lack of any sort of “restraint” is unique to God. There is no one who can put restraints on God. He is totally unlimited in His power, unlimited in His knowledge—He can do whatever He pleases, and nothing can hold Him back. Jonathan knew that as long as he was doing the will of a sovereign God, he had nothing to fear. “God can not only save us, but save by us... An active faith will venture far in God's cause upon an 'it may be.'” ~Matthew Henry

The Source of Fear

Now, the opposite of courage is fear, and the root of fear is the awareness of your limitations in the face of potential harm.

A child has no fear because he is not aware of his limitations and he is not aware of the harm that can be done to him. That is not courage; that is ignorance.
Fear is when we know that there is someone or something which is more powerful than we are, and therefore can hurt us. We are naturally afraid of what is stronger than we are, and we try to protect ourselves from getting hurt by it.
If an army is camped in the next valley that outnumbers your army 1000 to 1, it is natural to be afraid of their superior strength and technology and protect yourself by hiding. That’s what most of the Israelites were doing.
If we know that a missionary crossing the ocean is likely to face death from a million things outside his control--tropical diseases, travel mishaps, linguistic misunderstandings, antagonistic natives, witch doctors, and evil spirits--our natural reaction is to protect ourselves from these dangers by staying home.
Martin Luther knew from experience that Satan's “craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate,” but in his famous hymn, he counters that fear with faith: “And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.”

Jonathan’s Example of Courage

Now, if we know—as Jonathan knew—that we are accompanied by a God who knows no limitations because He is totally sovereign over all the things that threaten us, if we know that such a God loves us and will be our constant companion as we carry out His will, then we lose all grounds for fear, just like Jonathan did. This is Biblical courage, when we can no longer be intimidated by the things of this world which stand against God’s will.

This is Biblical courage, when we can no longer be intimidated by the things of this world which stand against God’s will. Jonathan knew that the inferiority of His Israelite army was not a limitation for God, for God could save “by many or by few.” Jonathan knew that it was God’s will that he defend his nation and preserve the people of God - from whom would come the Messiah. He knew it was God’s will that Israel not be wiped out yet, and he knew that the inferiority of his Israelite army was not a restraining factor for the sovereign Lord, so he no longer had grounds to be afraid of the Philistine army; he went after them!

The Philistine army in the valley apparently had an observation post on a high point on one side of the ravine at Mikmash, so they could see everything that was going on and give intelligence to the officers down on the ground. From the description, it sounds like it was about half an acre in area, and it was that observation post which Jonathan and his brave armor-bearer decided to attack. As the main body of Philistine troops moved west to engage Israel in battle, the Philistine presence on the east side would have grown thin, and it was there that Jonathan decided to penetrate (Tsumura). Jonathan chose an easily-defensible spot in the rocks that would give an advantage to a duo fighting against a mob. Then he crawled up to the Philistine fort with the sure faith that "God has given them into our hands!" And, wonder of wonders, they wasted the 20 Philistine warriors there! Perhaps Jonathan’s armor-bearer was carrying the sword, so Jonathan used a club to knock his enemies down, and the armor-bearer finished them off once they were on the ground. The Philistines may not have been able to see how many men were coming up to attack them, so, in their minds it may have been a whole army, which might have led to them panicking rather than standing their ground (K&D).

This caused no little consternation in the Philistine camp. ("We thought the Israelites had no swords!"). And now they didn’t have their observation post up on the high ground anymore, so they didn’t know what was going on. Then God followed up with an earthquake (literally a “trembling of God” which is a way of stating a superlative in Hebrew (“the greatest trembling possible” cf. 5:9), but also seems to have have had a supernatural origin, and it put the Philistines over the edge!²

Contrast with Saul

Now, back in the Israelite camp, Saul was not exercising this kind of Biblical faith, so he had no courage. He did not know God’s will, and he did not know God’s power, therefore he was afraid of the huge Philistine army that was threatening him. He was trying to exercise responsibility in his own strength. His eyes were on the men, watching the Philistine's movements and re-counting his men to see who else had left. If you don’t know how powerful God is, and you’re not sure what He wants, then you will never have true courage.

Saul calls for the ark³, perhaps treating it like a magic charm to somehow enhance the accuracy of the priest's use of the ephod with the Urim and Thumim lot-casting apparatus in it, but Saul changes his mind and sends the priest away before the priest can get advice from God. Here is a second instance of Saul's impatience with God: He didn't wait the full 7 days in Gilgal, and now he won't even wait for the few minutes it would take for his chaplain to offer a prayer before rushing into battle.
v.21–The rumbling in the Philistine camp grabbed the Israelite's attention ("THEY'RE COMING!") and they prepared for a last stand. But, what a shock to find the Philistines panicking and fighting each other!
There were apparently Israelite solders within the ranks of the Philistines - perhaps captives or perhaps turn-coats who had joined the Philistine army (or been forced to join it), and they realized that the tide had turned, so they seized the weapons available to them and fought against the Philistines from within their own ranks. God also turned the Philistines themselves to stabbing each other with their swords. And, as it became evident that the battle was turning in favor of Israel, the Israelite men who had hidden themselves in hidey-holes to avoid the battle now came out to join the battle, and it turned into a rout of the Philistine army, chasing them out of Israel back to the Mediterranean coast.
v.23–Who gets the credit? Again, not Jonathan, but GOD.

Example of C.T. Studd

C.T. Studd was a famous British athlete about a hundred years ago who took an amazing step of courage and faith to go to China and later Africa as a missionary, back when it was utterly foolhardy to do such a thing. There were no airplanes, no vaccines, no language training centers, no hostage mediation services, no telephones, none of that! The life expectancy of a missionary in Africa was less than 2 years. But Studd knew that it is God’s will that the Gospel be preached to the uttermost parts of the earth, and he knew that God’s power is limitless. Listen to what he said:

I am more than ever determined that no ring or limit shall be placed around us, other than that of our Lord Himself, ‘To the uttermost parts,’ ‘To every creature.’ I belong and will ever belong to ‘The Great God’ party. I will have naught to do with “The Little God’ party… Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible, by faith in the omnipotence, fidelity and wisdom of the Almighty Savior Who gave the command.

Is there a wall in our path? By our God we will leap over it! Are there lions and scorpions in our way! We will trample them under our feet! Does a mountain bar our progress? Saying, “be removed and cast into the sea,’; we will march on. Soldiers of Jesus! Never Surrender!”

C.T. Studd is one of the reasons why the Christians in China and in Africa far outnumber the Christians in the United States today. Like Jonathan, God granted Him success when he exercised Biblical faith and courage.

And when we look at the end of the Gospel of Mark, we see that Jesus set His disciples to expect this very thing: And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:15-18, NKJV)

Blessings From Courage

Often, God is just waiting for His people to exercise faith in Him before He really does the impressive stuff, and this was the case in 1 Samuel 14. Once Jonathan took that bold step of faith and started fighting Philistines, God sent an earthquake to shake up the rest of them. This emboldened the traitors and slaves to break ranks with the enemy and start fighting them instead. And Jonathan's courage inspired all the men in hiding to come out of their caves and rout the Philistine army, even though it had seemed impossible up ‘till then. “There is no limitation with God to save by many or by few!”

The Challenge to Us Today

And there is no limitation with God in regards to the challenges He has set before us. Like Jonathan, we must exercise Biblical faith to find the strength and courage we need. We must believe that there are no limitations with God, and we must know what He has commanded us to do in the Bible. If we have these two things—confidence in the will of God, and confidence in the Sovereignty of God, we can face anything without fear! If we’re like Saul, who should have known what he was supposed to do, yet was unwilling to face it and trust in God, we will never have the courage we need.

Knowing God’s Will

It’s not that difficult to know what God’s will is for your life. There are only a few basic things. As a Christian you are to worship God alone, participate in the fellowship of the church, and confront the world with Christ. As a husband and father, you are to protect and nurture your wife and children. Anything you must do to fulfill these few things is God’s will. It’s really pretty simple—you don’t need to be like Saul and seek some kind of special direction from God. Jonathan didn’t need God to speak out of the sky and tell him to assault the Philistines; he already knew all he needed to know; that he was armed to defend the people of God and so he just did it the best way he could, and God blessed him for doing His will.

In Vocations

Some of us need courage simply to pursue our own vocations. If your job does not prevent you from worshiping God, does not prevent you from fellowship with Believers, does not prevent you from sharing the faith with others - and, men, if your job does provide income to protect and nurture your wife and children, then work that job with the confidence that you are doing God’s will and that He is sovereign enough to fulfill His purposes through it!

On the other hand, it can be a step of Biblical faith to leave the stable income of one job to gain greater ministry opportunities in another. For me personally, that has been the greatest test of my faith. Am I willing to work as a missionary and let God take care of the bills? That’s scary. I had to remind myself often that it is God’s will for His name to be declared among the nations and that God has more than enough resources to take care of my needs, and that has given me the courage to face situations which the world considers to be crazy.

In Child-rearing

For some of us, it is our children. I’ve had my kids act up so bad that people have, in all seriousness, asked if they’re demon-possessed.
Follow the way of Saul, and our reaction is, “I’m too tired; my kid is impossible; should I discipline him or not; ahh, just let my wife handle it.”
Do we have the confidence that it is God’s will that we, as fathers bring our children up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord”?
Do we believe that God is powerful enough to control even the heart of a two-year-old? A twelve-year-old? A 22-year-old? If so, we have nothing to fear with our children.
We must jump into the battle for our children’s hearts, knowing it is God’s will that we do so and knowing that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!” God will reward that kind of faith and courage.

In Witnessing

If you’re afraid to share your faith, you need to get a dose of Jonathan’s courage! 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Do not fear what they fear and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” If it is God’s will for you to tell other people about Jesus, and if He knows everything—including every thought your evangelistic prospect is going to think, then what do we have to be afraid of? God will give us the words to say and will bless the exercise of our faith if we will just do it!

Conclusion

Do you get the idea? God calls us to courage. Jonathan was courageous because he knew what God wanted done and he trusted that God was big enough to enable him to do it. If there’s anything that strikes fear in your heart, anything you know you ought to do, but you feel you can’t do, you need to apply the same principles Jonathan did, know what God’s basic will is, remembering how powerful He is, and just do it! God will reward that kind of faith and courage!

Prayer

Father, we want to do great things for You and see Your blessings poured out in our lives and in the lives of others, but we are afraid. Afraid of the dangers, afraid of poverty, afraid of ridicule, afraid of failure. Please strengthen our faith in You to believe that You are truly sovereign—that you are not limited in any way. Please give us the courage to trust You and obey Your word, no matter how scary it is to step out from what the rest of the world is doing. Dear God, give us faith and courage to do Your will. Amen.

Discussion Questions:

Are you wondering whether or not you are doing God’s will in a certain area of your life? How much confirmation is necessary before you know if something is God’s will?
When is a time when you have had to exercise real courage? What gave you courage?
How can we know where the line is in going overboard with courage—when does faith become presumption? Why wasn’t Jonathan being presumptuous?
What about things that you know are not God’s will, but you do anyway. Are they a matter of faith? (Whether you believe your way is best or whether you have faith that obeying God is the only way to true satisfaction.)

APPENDIX: 1 Samuel 13:15-23 – NAW version + notes

15 Then Samuel got up and went away from Gilgal⁴, {but, the remainder of the people went up behind Saul to engage against the people of war. After they came along from Gilgal} to Gibeah of Benjamin, Saul reviewed the troops found with him, and there were about 600 men.

16 So, Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people found with them were staying-put in Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines held position in Mikmash.

17 Then the destruction⁵ went forth from the Philistine position. There were three captains: One captain headed down the road to Ofrah in the land of Shual,

18 and one captain headed down the road to Beth Horon, and one captain headed down the border road which looks down over the ravine of Tseboiym toward the desert⁶.

19 Now, no blacksmith was to be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had said, “Otherwise those Hebrews would make a sword or a spear!”

20 Each and every Israelite went down to the Philistines to do metalwork on his plowshare and his shovel and his axe and his hoe.

21 And the smithy-price⁷ was a pim for plowshares and for shovels, and three for a pitchfork and for axes and to sharpen their goad.

22 So it was, that on the day of battle, not even a sword or a spear was to be found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but such was found for Saul and for Jonathan his son.

23 Then the standing-troop of the Philistines went out to the pass of Mikmash.

1 Samuel 14:1-23- Side-by side comparison of versions^{^A}

Septuagint	Brenton	D-R	KJV	MT/DSS
1 Καὶ γίνεται ἡμέρα καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν υἱὸς Σαουλ τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ αἴροντι τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ Δεῦρο καὶ διαβῶμεν εἰς μεσσαβ^B τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τὴν ἐν τῷ πέραν ἐκείνῳ· καὶ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν.	1 And when a certain day arrived, Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to Messab of the Philistines that is on the other side yonder; but he told not his father.	1 Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, and let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines, which is on the other side of yonder place. But he told not this to his father.	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.	1 וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹנָתָן בֶּן-שָׁאוּל אֶל-הַנַּעַר נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו לְכָה וְנַעְבְּרָה אֶל-מַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים אֲשֶׁר מֵעֵבֶר הַלָּז וּלְאָבִיו לֹא הִגִּיד:
2 καὶ Σαουλ ἐκάθητο ἐπ᾿ ἄκρου τοῦ βουνοῦ ὑπὸ τὴν ῥόαν τὴν ἐν Μαγδων, καὶ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ὡς ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες·	2 And Saul sat on the top of the hill under the pomegranate tree that is in Magdon, and there were with him about six hundred men.	2 And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gabaa, under the pomegranate tree, which was in Magron: and the people with him were about six hundred men.	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;	2 וְשָׁאוּל יוֹשֵׁב בִּקְצֵה הַגִּבְעָה^C תַּחַת הָרִמּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּמִגְרוֹן^D וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ כְּשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ:
3 καὶ Αχια υἱὸς Αχιτωβ ἀδελφοῦ Ιωχαβηδ υἱοῦ Φινεες υἱοῦ Ηλι ἱερεὺς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Σηλωμ αἴρων εφουδ. καὶ ὁ λαὸς οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι πεπόρευται Ιωναθαν.	3 And Achia son of Achitob, the brother of Jochabed the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, was the priest of God in Selom wearing an ephod: and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.	3 And Achias, the son of Achitob, brother of Ichabod the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the priest of the Lord in Silo, wore the ephod. And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone.	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.	3 וַאֲחִיָּה^E בֶן- אֲחִטוּב אֲחִי אִיכָבוֹד בֶּן- פִּינְחָס בֶּן- עֵלִי כֹּהֵן יְהוָה בְּשִׁלוֹ נֹשֵׂא אֵפוֹד וְהָעָם לֹא יָדַע כִּי הָלַךְ יוֹנָתָן:
4 καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς διαβάσεως, οὗ ἐζήτει Ιωναθαν διαβῆναι εἰς τὴν ὑπόστασιν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, [καὶ^F] ἀκρωτήριον πέτρας X ἔνθεν καὶ ἀκρωτήριον πέτρας X ἔνθεν, X ὄνομα τῷ ἑνὶ Βαζες καὶ ὄνομα τῷ ἄλλῳ Σεννα·	4 And in the midst of the passage whereby Jonathan sought to pass over to the encampment of the Philistines, there was [both] a sharp rock X on this side, and a sharp rock X on the other side: X the name of the one was Bases, and the name of the other Senna.	4 Now there were between the ascents, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the garrison of the Philistines, rocks standing up on both sides, and steep cliffs like teeth on the one side, and on the other, the name of the one was Boses, and the name of the other was Sene:	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.	4 וּבֵין הַמַּעְבְּרוֹת אֲשֶׁר בִּקֵּשׁ יוֹנָתָן לַעֲבֹר עַל-מַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים שֵׁן- הַסֶּלַע מֵהָעֵבֶר מִזֶּה וְשֵׁן-הַסֶּלַע מֵהָעֵבֶר מִזֶּה וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד בּוֹצֵץ וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד סֶנֶּה:
5 ἡ ~~ὁδὸς~~ ἡ μία X ἀπὸ βορρᾶ ἐρχομένῳ Μαχμας καὶ [ἡ ὁδὸς] ἡ ἄλλη ἀπὸ νότου ἐρχομένῳ Γαβεε.	5 The one ~~way~~ ~~was~~ northward to one coming to Machmas, and the other [way] was southward to one coming to Gabae.	5 One rock stood out toward the north, over against Machmas, and the other to the south, over against Gabaa.	5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.	5 הַשֵּׁן הָאֶחָד מָצוּק מִצָּפוֹן מוּל מִכְמָשׂ וְהָאֶחָד מִנֶּגֶב מוּל^G גָּבַע: ס
6 καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς τὸ παιδάριον τὸ αἶρον τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ Δεῦρο διαβῶμεν εἰς μεσσαβ τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων τούτων, εἴ τι ποιήσαι ἡμῖν κύριος· ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν τῷ κυρίῳ συνεχόμενον^H σῴζειν ἐν πολλοῖς ἢ ἐν ὀλίγοις.	6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, let us go over to Messab of these uncircumcised, if peradventure the Lord may do something for us; for the Lord is not straitened to save by many or by few.	6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be the Lord will do for us: because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few.	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.	6 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹנָתָן אֶל- הַנַּעַר נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו לְכָה וְנַעְבְּרָה אֶל- מַצַּב הָעֲרֵלִים הָאֵלֶּה אוּלַי^I יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה לָנוּ כִּי אֵין לַיהוָה מַעְצוֹר לְהוֹשִׁיעַ בְּרַב אוֹ בִמְעָט^J:
7 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ Ποίει πᾶν, ὃ ἐὰν ἡ καρδία σου ἐκκλίνῃ· X ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μετὰ σοῦ, ὡς ἡ καρδία σοῦ [καρδία μοῦ].	7 And his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that thine heart inclines toward: X behold, I am with thee, [my heart is] as thy heart.	7 And his armourbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth thy mind: go [whither thou wilt], and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a mind.	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.	7 וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו עֲשֵׂה כָּל- אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבֶךָ נְטֵה לָךְ הִנְנִי עִמְּךָ כִּלְבָבֶךָ: ס
8 καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν Ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς διαβαίνομεν πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας καὶ κατακυλισθησόμεθα^K πρὸς αὐτούς·	8 And Jonathan said, Behold, we will go over to the men, and will come down suddenly upon them.	8 And Jonathan said: Behold we will go over to these men. And when we shall be seen by them,	8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.	8 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹנָתָן הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ עֹבְרִים אֶל-הָאֲנָשִׁים וְנִגְלִינוּ אֲלֵיהֶם:
9 ἐὰν τάδε εἴπωσιν πρὸς ἡμᾶς Ἀπόστητε [ἐκεῖ] ἕως ἂν ~~ἀπαγγείλωμεν~~^L ὑμῖν, καὶ στησόμεθα ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτοῖς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀναβῶμεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς·	9 If they should say thus to us, Stand aloof [there] until we shall ~~send you word~~; then we will stand still by ourselves, and will not go up against them.	9 If they shall speak thus to us: Stay till we come to you: let us stand still in our place, and not go up to 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.	9 אִם-כֹּה יֹאמְרוּ אֵלֵינוּ דֹּמּוּ עַד- הַגִּיעֵנוּ אֲלֵיכֶם וְעָמַדְנוּ תַחְתֵּינוּ וְלֹא נַעֲלֶה אֲלֵיהֶם:
10 καὶ ἐὰν τάδε εἴπωσιν πρὸς ἡμᾶς Ἀνάβητε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἀναβησόμεθα, ὅτι παραδέδωκεν αὐτοὺς κύριος εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν· τοῦτο ἡμῖν τὸ σημεῖον.	10 But if they should say thus to us, Come up to us; then will we go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hands; this shall be a sign to us.	10 But if they shall say: Come up to us: let us go up, because the Lord hath delivered them into our hands, this shall be a sign unto us.	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.	10 וְאִם-כֹּה יֹאמְרוּ עֲלוּ עָלֵינוּ וְעָלִינוּ כִּי-נְתָנָם יְהוָה בְּיָדֵנוּ^M וְזֶה-לָּנוּ הָאוֹת:
11 καὶ εἰσῆλθον ἀμφότεροι εἰς μεσσαβ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων· καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι Ἰδοὺ οἱ Εβραῖοι ἐκπορεύονται ἐκ τῶν τρωγλῶν αὐτῶν, οὗ ἐκρύβησαν ἐκεῖ.	11 And they both went in to Messab of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of their Caves, where they had hidden themselves.	11 So both of them discovered themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said: Behold the Hebrews come forth out of the holes wherein they were hid.	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.	11 וַיִּגָּלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם אֶל- מַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיֹּאמְרוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים הִנֵּה עִבְרִים יֹצְאִים מִן-הַחֹרִים אֲשֶׁר הִתְחַבְּאוּ-שָׁם:
12 καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες μεσσαβ πρὸς Ιωναθαν καὶ πρὸς τὸν αἴροντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγουσιν Ἀνάβητε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ γνωριοῦμεν ὑμῖν ῥῆμα. καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς τὸν αἴροντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ Ἀνάβηθι ὀπίσω μου, ὅτι παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς κύριος εἰς χεῖρας Ισραηλ.	12 And the men of Messab answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing: and Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.	12 And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan, and to his armourbearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armourbearer: Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel.	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.	12 וַיַּעֲנוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמַּצָּבָה אֶת-יוֹנָתָן וְאֶת-נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ עֲלוּ אֵלֵינוּ וְנוֹדִיעָה אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר ף וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹנָתָן אֶל-נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו עֲלֵה אַחֲרַי כִּי-נְתָנָם יְהוָה בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל:
13 καὶ ἀνέβη Ιωναθαν ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη^N αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ~~ἐπέβλεψαν~~ κατὰ πρόσωπον Ιωναθαν, [καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς], καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐπεδίδου^O ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.	13 And Jonathan went up on his hands and feet, and his armour-bearer with him; and they ~~looked~~ on the face of Jonathan, [and he smote them,] and his armour-bearer did smite them after him.	13 And Jonathan went up creeping on his hands and feet, and his armourbearer after him. And some fell before Jonathan, others his armourbearer slew as he followed him.	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.	13 וַיַּעַל יוֹנָתָן עַל-יָדָיו וְעַל-רַגְלָיו וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו אַחֲרָיו וַיִּפְּלוּ לִפְנֵי יוֹנָתָן וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו מְמוֹתֵת אַחֲרָיו:
14 καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ πληγὴ ἡ πρώτη, ἣν ἐπάταξεν Ιωναθαν καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ, ὡς εἴκοσι ἄνδρες ἐν ~~βολίσι~~^P καὶ ἐν ~~πετροβόλοις~~ καὶ ἐν ~~κόχλαξιν~~ τοῦ πεδίου.	14 And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer effected was twenty men, with ~~darts and slings, and pebbles~~ of the field.	14 And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was of about twenty men, within half an acre of land, which a yoke [of oxen] is wont to plough in a day.	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.	14 וַתְּהִי הַמַּכָּה הָרִאשֹׁנָה אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יוֹנָתָן וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו כְּעֶשְׂרִים אִישׁ כְּבַחֲצִי מַעֲנָה צֶמֶד^Q שָׂדֶה:
15 καὶ ἐγενήθη ἔκστασις^R ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ [καὶ] ἐν ἀγρῷ, καὶ X πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οἱ ἐν μεσσαβ καὶ οἱ διαφθείροντες ἐξέστησαν, καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ποιεῖν· καὶ ἐθάμβησεν ἡ γῆ, καὶ ἐγενήθη ἔκστασις παρὰ κυρίου.	15 And there was dismay in the camp, [and] in the field; and all the people in Messab, and the spoilers were amazed; and they would not act, and the land was terror-struck, and there was dismay from the lord.	15 And there was a ~~miracle~~ in the camp, in the field[s]: and X all the people of their garrison, who had gone out to plunder, were amazed, and the earth trembled: and it happened as a miracle from God.	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.	15 וַתְּהִי חֲרָדָה בַמַּחֲנֶה בַשָּׂדֶה וּבְכָל- הָעָם הַמַּצָּב וְהַמַּשְׁחִית חָרְדוּ גַּם- הֵמָּה וַתִּרְגַּז הָאָרֶץ וַתְּהִי לְחֶרְדַּת אֱלֹהִים:
16 καὶ εἶδον οἱ σκοποὶ τοῦ Σαουλ ἐν Γαβεε Βενιαμιν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ παρεμβολὴ τεταραγμένη ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν.	16 And the watchmen of Saul beheld in Gabaa of Benjamin, and, behold, the army was thrown into confusion on every side.	16 And the watchmen of Saul, who were in Gabaa of Benjamin looked, and behold a multitude overthrown, and fleeing this way and that.	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.^S	16 וַיִּרְאוּ הַצֹּפִים לְשָׁאוּל בְּגִבְעַת בִּנְיָמִן וְהִנֵּה הֶהָמוֹן^T נָמוֹג וַיֵּלֶךְ וַהֲלֹם: פ
17 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ τῷ λαῷ τῷ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ Ἐπισκέψασθε δὴ καὶ ἴδετε τίς πεπόρευται ἐξ ὑμῶν· καὶ ἐπεσκέψαντο, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐχ εὑρίσκετο Ιωναθαν καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ.	17 And Saul said to the people with him, Number yourselves now, and see who has gone out from you: and they numbered themselves, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not found.	17 And Saul said to the people that were with him: Look, and see who is gone from us. And when they had sought, it was found that Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.	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.	17 וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ פִּקְדוּ-נָא וּרְאוּ מִי הָלַךְ מֵעִמָּנוּ וַיִּפְקְדוּ וְהִנֵּה אֵין יוֹנָתָן וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו:
18 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ τῷ Αχια Προσάγαγε^U τὸ ~~εφουδ~~·X ὅτι αὐτὸς ἦρεν τὸ ~~εφουδ~~ X^V ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐνώπιον X^W Ισραηλ.	18 And Saul said to Achia, Bring the ~~ephod~~ X; for he wore the ~~ephod~~ X in that day before X Israel.	18 And Saul said to Achias: Bring the ark^X of the ~~Lord~~. (For the ark of God was there that day with the children of Israel.)	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.	18 וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לַאֲחִיָּה הַגִּישָׁה אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי-הָיָה אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּבְנֵי^Y יִשְׂרָאֵל:
19 καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἐλάλει Σαουλ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα, καὶ ὁ ἦχος ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ἐπορεύετο πορευόμενος καὶ ἐπλήθυνεν· καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα Συνάγαγε τὰς χεῖρά[ς] σου.	19 And it came to pass while Saul was speaking to the priest, that the sound in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase greatly; and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hand[s].	19 And while Saul spoke to the priest, there arose a great uproar in the camp of the Philistines: and it increased by degrees, and was heard more clearly. And Saul said to the priest: Draw in thy hand.	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.	19 וַיְהִי עַד דִּבֶּר שָׁאוּל אֶל-הַכֹּהֵן וְהֶהָמוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּמַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וָרָב ף וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל- הַכֹּהֵן אֱסֹף יָדֶךָ^Z:
20 καὶ ἀνεβόησεν Σαουλ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρχονται ἕως τοῦ πολέμου, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγένετο ῥομφαία ἀνδρὸς ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, σύγχυσις^AA μεγάλη σφόδρα.	20 And Saul went up and all the people that were with him, and they come to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his neighbour, a very great confusion.	20 Then Saul, and all the people that were with him, shouted together, and they came to the place of the fight: and behold every man's sword was turned upon his neighbour, and there was a very great slaughter.	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.	20 וַיִּזָּעֵק שָׁאוּל וְכָל- הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-הַמִּלְחָמָה וְהִנֵּה הָיְתָה חֶרֶב אִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ מְהוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד:
21 καὶ οἱ δοῦλοι^BB οἱ ὄντες ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν μετὰ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων οἱ ἀναβάντες εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἐπεστράφησαν καὶ αὐτοὶ εἶναι μετὰ Ισραηλ τῶν μετὰ Σαουλ καὶ Ιωναθαν.	21 And the servants who had been before with the Philistines, who had gone up to the army, turned themselves also to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.	21 Moreover, the Hebrews that had been with the Philistines yesterday and the day before, and went up with them into the camp, returned to be with the Israelites, who were with Saul and Jonathan.	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.	21 וְהָעִבְרִים הָיוּ לַפְּלִשְׁתִּים כְּאֶתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָלוּ עִמָּם בַּמַּחֲנֶה סָבִיב וְגַם-הֵמָּה לִהְיוֹת עִם- יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר עִם-שָׁאוּל וְיוֹנָתָן:
22 καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ οἱ κρυπτόμενοι ἐν τῷ ὄρει Εφραιμ καὶ ἤκουσαν ὅτι πεφεύγασιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι, καὶ συνάπτουσιν καὶ αὐτοὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν εἰς πόλεμον.	22 And all the Israelites who were hidden in mount Ephraim heard also that the Philistines fled; and they also gather themselves after them to battle:	22 And all the Israelites that had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines fled, joined themselves with their countrymen in the fight. And there were with Saul about ten thousand men.	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.	22 וְכֹל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמִּתְחַבְּאִים בְּהַר-אֶפְרַיִם שָׁמְעוּ כִּי-נָסוּ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיַּדְבְּקוּ גַם- הֵמָּה אַחֲרֵיהֶם בַּמִּלְחָמָה:
23 καὶ ἔσωσεν κύριος ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὸν Ισραηλ. Καὶ ὁ πόλεμος διῆλθεν τὴν Βαιθων^CC, [καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἦν μετὰ Σαουλ ὡς δέκα χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν· καὶ ἦν ὁ πόλεμος διεσπαρμένος εἰς ὅλην τὴν πόλιν ἐν τῷ ὄρει Εφραιμ.]	and the Lord saved Israel in that day; and the war passed through Bamoth; [and all the people with Saul were about ten thousand men. 23 And the battle extended itself to every city in the mount Ephraim.]	23 And the Lord saved Israel that day. And the fight went on as far as Bethaven.	23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.	23 וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת- יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַמִּלְחָמָה עָבְרָה אֶת- בֵּית אָוֶן: