1 Samuel 14:1-23 - Jonathan Leads The Counterattack
1 Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor: Come and let us go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side. He did not tell his father.
2 Saul stayed on the edge of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. There were about six hundred men with him. 3 Ahiah son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, Jehovah's priest in Shiloh, who was wearing an ephod were with him. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone.
4 Johathan tried to go over to the Philistines garrison between the passes. There was a rocky crag on each side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other crag was Seneh. 5 One cliff was on the north side of the pass facing Michmash. The other was on the south side facing Geba. 6 Jonathan said to the young man: Let us cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe Jehovah will help us. If he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory no matter how few of us there are.
7 His armor bearer answered him: Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead! I agree with you.
8 We will do this, Jonathan said. We will go across so they can see us. 9 If they agree to come to us down the hill and fight where we are, then we will not climb up to their camp. 10 But we will go to them if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean Jehovah will help us win.
11 So they let the Philistines see them. The Philistines said: Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in! 12 They called out to Jonathan and the young man: Come up here! We have something to tell you! Jonathan said to the young man: Follow me, for Jehovah gives Israel victory over them. 13 Jonathan climbed out of the pass on his hands and knees. The young man followed him. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and knocked them down. The young man killed them. 14 In that first slaughter Jonathan and the young man killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
15 There was panic among the army in the field. All the troops in the military post trembled with fear. The raiding party also trembled in fear. The earth shook, and there was a panic sent from God. 16 Saul's watchmen at Gibeah of Benjamin could see the crowd in the Philistine camp dispersing in all directions. 17 Call the roll, Saul told the troops who were with him, See who has left our camp. They looked and found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18 Then Saul said to Ahijah: Bring the Ark of God here. At that time it was with the Israelites. 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew worse. Then Saul said to the priest: Remove your hand.
20 Saul and all the people with him came together and went forward to the battle. Every man's sword was turned against the man at his side. There was a very great noise. 21 The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines for some time went to their camp. They joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 All the men of Israel who had taken cover in the mountains of Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines had been put to flight chased them and attacked them. 23 Jehovah made Israel safe that day. The battle shifted to Beth-aven.