Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

²³ Now a Philistine garrison^(A) took control of the pass at Michmash. 14 ¹ That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron^(B) on the outskirts of Gibeah.^[a](C) The troops with him numbered about 600.^{(D) 3} Ahijah,^(E) who was wearing an ephod,^(F) was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod^(G) son of Phinehas, son of Eli the Lord’s priest at Shiloh.^(H) But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

⁴ There were sharp columns^[b] of rock on both sides of the pass^(I) that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh; ⁵ one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba. ⁶ Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men.^(J) Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”^(K)

⁷ His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. You choose. I’m right here with you whatever you decide.”

⁸ “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. ⁹ If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us—that will be our sign.”

¹¹ They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” ¹² The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said.

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”^{(L) 13} Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. ¹⁴ In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about 20 men in a half-acre field.

A Defeat for the Philistines

¹⁵ Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties^(M) were terrified. The earth shook,^(N) and terror spread from God.^{[c](O) 16} When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction. ¹⁷ So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

¹⁸ Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites^[d] at that time. ¹⁹ While Saul spoke to the priest,^(P) the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”^[e]

²⁰ Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there, the Philistines were fighting against each other in great confusion!^{(Q) 21} There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites^(R) who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim^(S) heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle. ²³ So the Lord saved Israel that day.^(T)

Saul’s Rash Oath

The battle extended beyond Beth-aven,