1 Samuel 14:1

Contextual Overview

¹One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.¹ One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father. ¹Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father. ¹ Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father.¹ Then on a time Ionathan the sonne of Saul sayde vnto his young man that bare his harnesse: Come, & let vs go ouer to the Philistines garison that are yonder on the other syde: and he tolde not his father. ¹ That day, Saul's son Jonathan was talking with the young man who carried his weapons. Jonathan said, "Let's go to the Philistine camp on the other side of the valley." But Jonathan did not tell his father. ¹ And the day came that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, Come, and we will go over to the fort of the Philistines on the other side. But he did not tell his father. ¹ One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder side." But he did not tell his father. ¹ Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on yonder side. But he didn't tell his father. ¹ Now it came to passe vpon a day, that Ionathan the sonne of Saul said vnto the yong man that bare his armour, Come, and let vs goe ouer to the Philistines garison, that is on the other side: but hee told not his father.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 2917, bc 1087, An, Ex, Is 404

it came to pass upon a day: or, there was a day

Jonathan: 1 Samuel 14:39-45, 1 Samuel 13:2, 1 Samuel 13:22, 1 Samuel 18:1-4, 2 Samuel 1:4, 2 Samuel 1:5, 2 Samuel 1:25, 2 Samuel 1:26

he told not: 1 Samuel 25:19, Judges 6:27, Judges 14:6, Micah 7:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:27 - a wolf 1 Samuel 13:3 - the garrison 1 Samuel 13:23 - passage 1 Samuel 31:2 - Jonathan 2 Samuel 8:6 - garrisons 2 Samuel 23:14 - garrison 1 Chronicles 9:39 - and Saul 1 Chronicles 18:13 - garrisons

Cross-References

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The chyldren of Sem: Elam, and Assur, Arpharad, and Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
Shem's sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpach'shad, Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The sones of Sem weren Elam, and Assur, and Arfaxath, and Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The children of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 10:22
The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now it came to pass upon a day,.... At a certain time, a little after the garrison of the Philistines had made the movement, 1 Samuel 13:23 and it is not to be taken strictly for the day time; for it is probable it was in the night that the following proposal was made, and began to be carried into execution; for Josephus k says it was day light when Jonathan and his armourbearer came to the camp of the Philistines; he had formed his scheme perhaps the night before, and he and his man set out in the night time, and by break of day came up to the garrison, as after related:

that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour; as was usual in those times for generals of armies to have such, and so in later times; such were Automedon to Achilles, and Achates to Aeneas, as Grotius observes:

come and let us go over to the Philistine garrison that is on the other side; that is, go over the valley which lay between Michmash and Gibeah, to the Philistines, that lay on the other side the valley beyond it; and so was not in it, but at a pass on the hills, at the bottom of which this valley lay, and could be seen at a distance, and pointed at with the finger, as Jarchi notes:

but he told not his father; lest he should disapprove of his project, and hinder him from pursuing it; and had not his spirit been stirred up to this by the Lord, of which he was fully persuaded, he would have acted not only a rash part, but contrary to military discipline, in engaging in an enterprise without the knowledge and direction of his general; unless we can suppose he had all unlimited commission from his father to attack the enemy, at discretion, at any time, and any where.

k Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now ... - Rather “and,” since this verse is in immediate dependence upon the preceding. When Jonathan saw the garrison come out again and again, in defiance “of the armies of the living God,” at length “upon a day” he determined to attack them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XIV

Jonathan and his armour-bearer purpose to attack a garrison of

the Philistines, 1.

Saul and his army, with Ahiah the priest, tarry in Gibeah, 2, 3.

Jonathan plans his attack of the Philistine garrison, 4-10.

He and his armour-bearer climb over a rock: attack and rout the

garrison, 11-15.

Saul and has company, seeing confusion on the Philistine host,

come out against them; as did the men who had hidden

themselves; and the Philistines are defeated, 16-23.

Saul lays every man under a curse who shall eat food until the

evening; in consequence of which the people are sorely

distressed, 24-26.

Jonathan, not hearing the adjuration, eats a little honey, which

he found on the ground, 27-30.

The Philistines being defeated, the people seize on the spoil,

and begin to eat flesh without previously bleeding the animals,

which Saul endeavours to prevent, 31-34.

He builds an altar there, 35.

Inquires of the Lord if he may pursue the Philistines by night,

but receives no answer, 36, 37.

Attributes this to some sin committed by some unknown person:

makes inquiry by lot; and finds that Jonathan had tasted the

honey, on which he purposes to put him to death, 38-44.

The people interpose, and rescue Jonathan, 45.

Saul fights against the Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites,

46-48.

An account of the family of Saul, 49-52.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIV

Verse 1 Samuel 14:1. Come, and let us go over — This action of Jonathan was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is likely that he was led to this by a Divine influence.

The armour-bearer is the origin of what we call esquire, from escu, old French, a shield; armiger is the Latin, from arma, weapons, and gero, I bear. In the times of chivalry, the armiger, or esquire, was the servant of the knight who went after him, and carried his lance, shield, &c. It is now (strange to tell!) a title of honour.