1 Samuel 14:1

“Now it came to pass upon a day, etc.] At a certain time, a little after the garrison of the Philistines had made the movement, (<091323>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 f259 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…”

“JONATHAN MIRACULOUSLY SMITES THE PHILISTINES' GARRISON. (Sa1 14:1-14) the Philistines' garrison--"the standing camp" (Sa1 13:23, Margin) "in the passage of Michmash" (Sa1 13:16), now Wady Es-Suweinit. "It begins in the neighborhood of Betin (Beth-el) and El-Bireh (Beetroth), and as it breaks through the ridge below these places, its sides form precipitous walls. On the right, about a quarter of an acre below, it again breaks off, and passes between high perpendicular precipices" [ROBINSON].”

“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. return to 'Top of Page'”

“14:1-52 Saul’s behavior in this chapter further justifies his dismissal as king (13:8-14; see also ch 15). Saul was alienated from both Samuel and his heroic son Jonathan. Chapter 14 anticipates the significant role that Jonathan played in the transition from Saul’s kingship to David’s. 14:1-15 Jonathan again fought in his father’s battles (see also 13:2-4; ch 31). 14:1 armor bearer: See study note on 16:21. • Jonathan did not tell his father because he knew that Saul would not grant permission for the dangerous plan. But he also knew that Saul wanted no one—not even his own son—to upstage him.”

“am 2917, bc 1087, An, Ex, Is 404 it came to pass upon a day: or, there was a day Jonathan: Sa1 14:39-45, Sa1 13:2, Sa1 13:22, Sa1 18:1-4; Sa2 1:4, Sa2 1:5, Sa2 1:25, Sa2 1:26 he told not: Sa1 25:19; Jdg 6:27, Jdg 14:6; Mic 7:5 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 14:2”

“Jonathan's heroic act. - With strong faith and confidence in the might of the Lord, that He could give the victory even through the hands of very few, Jonathan resolved to attack the outpost of the Philistines at the pass of Mukhmas, accompanied by his armour-bearer alone, and the Lord crowned his enterprise with a marvellous victory. Sa1 14:1-2 Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, "We will go over to the post of the Philistines, that is over there." To these words, which introduce the occurrences that followed, there are attached from וּלאביו to Sa1 14:5 a series of sentences introduced to explain the situation, and the thread of the narrative is resumed in Sa1 14:6 by a repetition of…”