Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

vvv One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor,“Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side But [Jonathan] did not tell his father.

2 

Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree[fn] in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who [were] with him numbered about six hundred men, 3 including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

4 

Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

6 

Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor,“Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7 

His armor-bearer replied“Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

8 

“Very well,” said Jonathan,“we will cross over toward [these] men and show ourselves to them. 9 If they say‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them. 10 But if they say,‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this vvv will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.”

11 

So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, [who] exclaimed,“Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”

12 

So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer“Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!”

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer“for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

13 

So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And [the Philistines] fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. 14 In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre[fn] of land.

15 

Then panic struck [the Philistines] in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God.[fn]

16 

Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,[fn] 17 Saul said to the troops who [were] with him,“Call the roll and see who has left us.”

And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer [were] not [there].

18 

Then Saul said to Ahijah,“Bring the ark of God.”( For at that time it was with the Israelites 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest,“Withdraw your hand.”

20 

Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found [the Philistines] in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. 21 And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit

23 

So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on vvv beyond Beth-aven.

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