Armed with trust in God and courage, Jonathan ventured out to destroy Israel"s enemy in obedience to God"s command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (cf. 1 Samuel 9:16). He would have made a good king of Israel. Saul remained in Gibeah, evidently on the defensive. His comfortable position under a fruit tree (cf. 1 Samuel 22:6; Judges 4:5) in secure Gibeah, surrounded by his soldiers, contrasts with Jonathan"s vulnerable and difficult position with only the support of his armor bearer. Jonathan was launching out in faith to obey God, but Saul was resting comfortably and failing to do God"s will. [source][source][source]
The reference to priestly activity at Shiloh ( 1 Samuel 14:3) shows that the nation still regarded Shiloh as a cultic site (i.e, a site where the people practiced formal worship). [source][source][source]
"Saul is accompanied by Ahijah, a member of the rejected priestly house of Eli ( 1 Samuel 14:3), and this first mention of an Elide after the disasters which befell Eli"s family in chap4triggers the response "rejected by Yhwh." Lest the point be missed, it is reinforced by the odd and needless genealogical reference to Ichabod, Ahijah"s uncle, picking up on 1 Samuel 4:21-22, and reminding the reader that "the glory has departed." His own royal glory gone, where else would we expect Saul to be than with a relative of "Glory gone"? The axes which here intersect, the rejection of Saul and the rejection of the Elide priesthood, will do so again in 1 Samuel 22:11-19, when Saul will bloodily fulfill the prophecy of 1 Samuel 2:31-33, wreaking Yhwh"s will on the Elides." [1][source]
Bozez ( 1 Samuel 14:4, lit. shining) was the south-facing cliff near the Philistine camp at Michmash, perhaps so named because it reflected the sun that shone on it from the south. Seneh (lit. thorny) faced north and was closer to Geba. Jonathan"s route was an extremely difficult one. This fact accounts for his being able to surprise the Philistines. [source][source][source]
In contrast to Saul, Jonathan had a true perception of God"s role as the leader and deliverer of His people ( 1 Samuel 14:6). He viewed the Philistines as unbelievers under divine judgment whom God wanted exterminated (cf. Genesis 17). He believed that God would work for His people in response to faith, as He had done repeatedly in Israel"s history. He also had learned that superior numbers were not necessary for God to give victory in battle (cf. 1 Samuel 17:47; Judges 7:4; Judges 7:7). [source][source][source]
"Other parallels with the story of Gideon commend themselves as well: the hero accompanied by only one servant ( 1 Samuel 14:7; cf. Judges 7:10-11); the sign ( 1 Samuel 14:9-10; cf. Judges 7:13-15); the panic ( 1 Samuel 14:15; cf. Judges 7:21); the confusion, causing the enemy soldiers to turn on "each other with their swords" ( 1 Samuel 14:20; cf. Judges 7:22); reinforcements from the "hill country of Ephraim" ( 1 Samuel 14:22; cf. Judges 7:24); and the pursuit ( 1 Samuel 14:22; cf. Judges 7:23 ...)." [2][source]
Perhaps Jonathan chose his sign arbitrarily simply to determine how the Lord wanted him to proceed. Some commentators have felt he did not. [source][source][source]
"If the Philistines said, "Wait till we come," they would show some courage; but if they said, "Come up to us," it would be a sign that they were cowardly ..." [3][source]
Half a furrow of land ( 1 Samuel 14:14) was half a parcel of land that a yolk of oxen could plow in one day. Evidently God assisted Jonathan by sending a mild earthquake to unnerve the Philistines further ( 1 Samuel 14:15; cf. Deuteronomy 7:23). [source][source][source]
When Saul should have been acting, he was waiting, and when he should have been waiting, he was acting ( 1 Samuel 14:18-19). He may have viewed the ark as a talisman that he planned to use to secure God"s help. Or he may have used the Urim and Thummim. [4] As Saul watched, the multitude of Philistine soldiers that covered the area began to dissipate. He evidently concluded that he did not need to seek the Lord"s guidance or blessing (cf. 1 Samuel 13:12). [source][source][source]
God caused the Philistines to fight one another ( 1 Samuel 14:20; cf. Judges 7:22; 2 Chronicles 20:23). Some Israelite deserters or mercenaries who were fighting for the Philistines even changed their allegiance and took sides with Jonathan. The tide of battle had turned. Beth-aven stood near Michmash, but the exact site is uncertain. [source][source][source]