Skip to content
Journey Through the Bible

1 Samuel 14:1-15

1 14 One 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.

2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,

3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh.

5 One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba.

6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

8 Jonathan said, “Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us.

9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”

11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.”

12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”

13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.

14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

15 Israel Routs the Philistines
Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.

Cross References for 1 Samuel 14:1-15

1 Chronicles 18:13 - He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David vic... Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 18:13 Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 18:13

Micah 7:5 - Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace ... Click to read the verse Micah 7:5 Click to read the verse Micah 7:5

Judges 6:27 - So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of h... Click to read the verse Judges 6:27 Click to read the verse Judges 6:27

Judges 14:6 - The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hand... Click to read the verse Judges 14:6 Click to read the verse Judges 14:6

1 Samuel 13:2 - Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hil... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 13:2 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 13:2

1 Samuel 13:23 - Jonathan Attacks the Philistines Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mi... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 13:23 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 13:23

1 Samuel 13:22 - So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his ha... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 13:22 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 13:22

1 Samuel 18:1-4 - Saul’s Jealousy of David After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spi... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 18:1-4 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 18:1-4

2 Samuel 1:25-26 - “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 1:25-26 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 1:25-26

1 Samuel 14:39-45 - As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must d... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 14:39-45 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 14:39-45

1 Samuel 25:19 - Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Na... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 25:19 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 25:19

2 Samuel 1:4-5 - “What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.” He said, “The men fled from the battle. Many of them f... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 1:4-5 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 1:4-5

1 Chronicles 9:39 - Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shu... Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 9:39 Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 9:39

2 Samuel 8:6 - He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 8:6 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 8:6