1 Samuel 14:1-23 - Jonathan Leads The Counterattack

¹ And it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto his young man that bare his harness, "Come, and let us go over to the watchmen of the Philistines that are yonder on the other side" - and told not his father.

² But Saul tarried in the utmost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, that was in Migron, and the people that were with him were upon a six hundred men. ³ And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the LORD's priest in Shiloh and bare an ephod. But the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

⁴ And in the way over by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the garrison of the Philistines, were there two sharp rocks, even one on the one side, and the other one the other side: the one called Bozez, and the other Seneh. ⁵ And the one leaneth northward toward Michmash, and the other southward toward Gibeah. ⁶ Then said Jonathan to the young man that bare his harness, "Come, and let us go over unto the standing of these uncircumcised, peradventure the LORD will work with us: for the LORD is free to save with many or with few."

⁷ And his harness bearer said unto him, "Do all that is in thine heart. Set thee forward; and see, I am with thee, as thine heart lusteth."

⁸ Then said Jonathan, "Behold, when we go over unto the men, and show ourselves unto them, ⁹ if they say on this wise to us, 'Tarry until we come to you,' then we will stand still where we be and not go up unto them. ¹⁰ But and if they so say unto us, 'Come up unto us,' then we will go up, for the LORD hath delivered them into our hands. And this shall be a sign unto us."

¹¹ And when they had both showed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, "See, the Hebrews come out of the holes where they had hid themselves in." ¹² And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his harness bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." Then said Jonathan unto his harness bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD hath delivered them into the hands of Israel." ¹³ And Jonathan clame upon hands and feet, and his harness bearer after him. Then they fell before Jonathan: and his harness bearer slew them after him. ¹⁴ And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his harness bearer made was upon a twenty men, within the compass as it were about a half acre of land.

¹⁵ And there was a fear in the host that was in the field, and among all the people: insomuch that they that kept the hold, and they that were gone to rob, were afraid also: and the earth trembled and there was a fear sent of God. ¹⁶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw. And behold, the people scattered and ran hither and thither. ¹⁷ Then said Saul unto the people that was with him, "Number, and see who is gone away from us." And when they had told: behold, Jonathan and his harness bearer were not there.

¹⁸ And then Saul said unto Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God was at the time with the children of Israel. ¹⁹ And while Saul talked unto the priest, the people that were in the host of the Philistines ran more and more. And Saul said unto the priest, "Withdraw thine hand."

²⁰ And Saul cried, and all the people that were with him, and went to battle. And behold every man's sword was against his fellow, with a mighty great slaughter. ²¹ Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, and were come with them in all parts of the host, joined themselves unto Israel which were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² And they also which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, as soon as they heard how that the Philistines were fled, they followed after them in battle. ²³ And so God helped Israel that day. And the battle continued until they came unto Bethaven.