¹⁵ And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(A)as you have always ^(B)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for ^(C)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(D)his good pleasure.

² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like ^(A)a mighty rushing wind, and ^(B)it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Cyrus, God's Instrument

⁷ Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that ^(A)he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him ^(B)fall by the sword in his own land.’”

⁶ For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians ^(A)hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us ^(B)the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.”

⁹ If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” ¹¹ So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming ^(A)out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” ¹² And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” ¹³ Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. ¹⁴ And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre^[a] of land. ¹⁵ And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even ^(B)the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.^[b]

¹⁶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude ^(C)was dispersing here and there.^{[c] 17} Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. ¹⁸ So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people^[d] of Israel. ¹⁹ Now ^(D)while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” ²⁰ Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, ^(E)every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. ²¹ Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, ^(F)even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² Likewise, when all the men of Israel ^(G)who had hidden themselves ^(H)in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle.