1 SamuelChapitre 14

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One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree at Migron, and the troops with him numbered about six hundred men.

Among them was Ahijah son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas son of Eli, the LORD's priest at Shiloh; he was wearing the ephod. No one knew that Jonathan had gone.

In the pass that Jonathan meant to cross to reach the Philistine outpost there was a rocky crag on one side and a rocky crag on the other. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

One crag rose up on the north, facing Michmash, and the other on the south, facing Geba.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act for us, for nothing can keep the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

His armor-bearer answered him, "Do everything that is in your heart. Go ahead—I am with you, heart and soul."

Jonathan said, "Here is what we will do: we will cross over to those men and let them see us.

If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will climb up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. That will be our sign."

So the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost, and the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are crawling out of the holes where they've been hiding!"

The men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us, and we'll teach you a lesson!" Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up behind me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."

Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer came behind and finished them off.

In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men within an area of about half an acre.

Then panic spread through the camp, the field, and all the troops. The outpost and the raiding parties trembled too; the earth shook, and it became a terror from God.

Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the multitude melting away and scattering in every direction.

Saul said to the troops with him, "Call the roll and find out who has left us." When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing.

Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here"—for at that time the ark of God was with the Israelites. [Footnote: Some ancient witnesses read "ephod" instead of "ark of God," which fits the reference to Ahijah's ephod in verse 3 and Saul's words in verse 19.]

But while Saul was still speaking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

Then Saul and all his men rallied and went into the battle, and there they found the Philistines turning their swords against each other in utter confusion.

The Hebrews who had earlier been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into their camp now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

And when all the men of Israel who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too joined the pursuit in the battle.

So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the fighting moved on beyond Beth Aven.

The men of Israel were hard pressed that day, because Saul had bound the troops with an oath: "Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the troops tasted any food.

The whole army came into a forest, and there was honey on the ground.

When the men entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.

But Jonathan had not heard his father bind the people with the oath. He reached out the tip of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and raised his hand to his mouth—and his eyes brightened.

Then one of the soldiers spoke up: "Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, 'Cursed be anyone who eats food today.'" And the men were exhausted.

Jonathan said, "My father has brought trouble on the land. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.

How much better it would have been if the men had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?"

That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the men were utterly worn out.

They pounced on the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves; they slaughtered them on the ground and ate the meat with the blood still in it.

Then Saul was told, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood in it." He said, "You have broken faith. Roll a large stone over to me at once."

Then Saul said, "Go among the troops and tell them, 'Each of you bring me your ox or your sheep, and slaughter it here and eat it. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood in it.'" So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.

Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar he built to the LORD.

Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive." "Do whatever seems best to you," they answered. But the priest said, "Let us inquire of God here."

So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?" But God did not answer him that day.

Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the army; look into it and see how this sin came about today.

As surely as the LORD lives, who saves Israel—even if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must die." But not one of the men said a word.

Then he said to all Israel, "You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other." "Do what seems best to you," the men replied.

Then Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Give a perfect answer." Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the troops went free.

Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken.

Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him, "I merely tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff in my hand. And now I must die."

Saul said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan."

But the men said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has done this today with God's help." So the men rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

Then Saul broke off the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

After Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.

He fought valiantly, struck down the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.

Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and the name of the younger was Michal.

His wife's name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

Kish, Saul's father, and Ner, Abner's father, were sons of Abiel.

All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or valiant man, he took him into his service.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 14

Main Theme: Jonathan’s bold attack in faith gives Israel victory, while Saul’s unwise oath creates a crisis.

Content: Jonathan and his armor-bearer attack the Philistine outpost in faith that God can save "with few or many." God grants victory, and panic spreads through the enemy camp. Saul’s oath to fast leads to Jonathan unknowingly breaking it, and the people sin by eating meat with blood. Saul intends to execute Jonathan, but the people rescue him. The chapter concludes with an overview of Saul’s family and his successful wars.

Key Words/Images:

"With few or many" – Jonathan’s confession of faith that God is not limited by numbers (v.6).
The trembling of God (חֶרְדַּת אֱלֹהִים) – A supernatural panic that struck the Philistines (v.15).
The Oath and the Honey – Saul’s unwise oath that harmed his own son and exhausted the people.
Casting Lots (תָמִים) – Used to reveal God’s will and find the "guilty" one (vv.41–42).

Contexte historique

People

The chapter introduces several important figures. Jonathan (יוֹנָתָן/יְהוֹנָתָן), Saul’s son, appears as the main character and a brave warrior who acts in faith in God. His armor-bearer (נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו) was a trusted servant who accompanied his master into battle—a role that required both loyalty and courage. Ahijah (אֲחִיָּה), son of Ahitub, was a priest who carried the ephod; he was the brother of Ichabod and grandson of Eli, linking him to the priestly dynasty in Shiloh. The chapter also mentions Abner (אֲבִינֵר), son of Ner, as commander of the army. The genealogy in verses 49–51 lists Saul’s family: his sons Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua; his daughters Merab and Michal; and his wife Ahinoam.

Places

Migron (מִגְרוֹן) and the area near Gibeah (גִּבְעָה) in Benjamin form the starting point of the narrative, where Saul sat under the pomegranate tree (הָרִמּוֹן) with his 600 men. Michmash (מִכְמָשׂ) was the Philistine camp, and the pass between Michmash and Geba is geographically identified with Wadi Suweinit, a steep ravine with rocky walls. The two rocky peaks Bozez (בּוֹצֵץ) and Seneh (סֶנֶּה) (v. 4–5) marked the narrow passage that Jonathan climbed. The terrain here is extremely steep and difficult to traverse, underscoring the boldness of Jonathan’s attack. Beth-Aven (בֵּית אָוֶן, v. 23) marks how far the pursuit of the Philistines went, and Aijalon (אַיָּלוֹן, v. 31) shows that the Israelites pursued the enemy westward toward the coast.

Events and Customs

The ephod that Ahijah carried (v. 3) was a priestly garment used to seek God’s will. In verse 18, the ark of God (אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים) is mentioned as being with the Israelites on that day, and Saul asked the priest to bring it forward for an oracle inquiry. Saul’s interruption of the oracle inquiry (v. 19: "withdraw your hand") shows that the process took time and could be halted. The oath that Saul imposed on the people (v. 24)—that no one should eat until evening—was a form of sacred fasting connected to warfare, but it proved unwise and nearly cost Jonathan his life. Eating meat with its blood (vv. 32–34) was forbidden according to Leviticus 17:10–14, since the blood belongs to God. Saul resolved this by raising a large stone as an improvised slaughter altar. The altar that Saul built (v. 35) is described as the first altar he built for the Lord. The lot (תָמִים, vv. 41–42) was cast to reveal guilt—an accepted method of seeking God’s judgment in difficult matters.

Key Terms

The expression "the trembling of God" (חֶרְדַּת אֱלֹהִים, v. 15) describes a supernatural panic that God sent upon the Philistines—a known motif in Israel’s holy wars. Jonathan’s reference to the Philistines as "these uncircumcised" (הָעֲרֵלִים הָאֵלֶּה, v. 6) was a derogatory term marking them as outside the covenant with Israel’s God. The verb עָכַר (v. 29, "to bring trouble upon") is otherwise used concerning Achan in Joshua 7 and suggests that Jonathan’s criticism of his father’s oath was serious. The verb פדה (וַיִּפְדּוּ, v. 45) means "to ransom/deliver" and shows that the people rescued Jonathan from the death penalty Saul had prescribed.

Personnages18

Ahitub1 Jonathan20 God1 Michal1 Eli1 Abiel1 Malki-Shua1 Jishvi1 Kish (Saul's father)1 Abner (Saul's cousin, military commander)2 Merab (Saul's daughter)1 Saul22 Ahijah2 Jacob6 Ahinoam1 Phinehas1 Ahimaaz1 Ichabod1

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Mots-clés7

Jonathan — King Saul's son, a brave and loyal warrior who trusts in God and takes the initiative in battle against the Philistines.
Saul — Israel's first king, chosen by God through the prophet Samuel. He is Jonathan's father and has a complex relationship with God and obedience.
Philistines — A people living in Canaan, Israel's enemies during this period. They controlled iron production and oppressed the Israelites.
Michmash — A strategically important city in the region of Benjamin where Jonathan and his armor-bearer attacked a Philistine garrison.
Armor-bearer — An assistant or servant to a warrior, often responsible for carrying weapons and equipment. In this case, he helps Jonathan in battle against the Philistines.
Ephod — A priestly garment worn by the high priest to communicate with God. Saul uses it to seek God's guidance.
God's will — The term refers to God's plan and purpose for people and the world. Saul tries to understand God's will, but his disobedience leads to conflict.