I Samuel 14 · The Lantern

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

And it was one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and let us cross over to the garrison of the Philistines that is on the other side over there.” But he did not tell his father.

And Saul was staying at the edge of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree that is at Migron; and the people who were with him were about six hundred men —

and Ahijah the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD at Shiloh, was carrying an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

And between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the garrison of the Philistines there was a tooth of rock on the one side and a tooth of rock on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

The one tooth was a pillar on the north, opposite Michmash; and the other on the south, opposite Geba.

And Jonathan said to the young man carrying his weapons: “Come, and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. Perhaps the LORD will act for us — for there is no restraint on the LORD from saving, by many or by few.”

And his weapon-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Turn where you will — look, I am with you, as your own heart is.”

And Jonathan said: “Look — we are crossing over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them.

If they say this to us, ‘Stand still until we reach you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.

But if they say this, ‘Come up against us,’ then we will go up — for the LORD has given them into our hand; and this shall be the sign for us.”

And the two of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Look — Hebrews coming out of the holes where they hid themselves!”

In these circumstances [with few weapons and Saul's fearful army], Jonathan, with an audacious design and with his armor bearer as his only companion, entered the camp of the enemy, and having slain about twenty of them, [he] spread a terror throughout the whole army.

What is the meaning of Jonathan being said to appear to the Philistines with his armor-bearer, if not that the teacher himself must first display the good that he strives to teach others? For he cannot be received with reverence in preaching if he does not first exhibit the honor of his ministry through the light of a good life.

Both appeared to the garrison of the Philistines, etc. Although the Philistines mockingly speak true things mystically; clearly the spiritual Hebrews, that is, those crossing over from vices, are defended from the assaults of enemies by the safest fortresses of the Scriptures, and refreshed by the consolation of these, proceed to public works of virtues to overcome the same mos…

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his weapon-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will teach you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his weapon-bearer, “Come up after me — for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”

And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, with his weapon-bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his weapon-bearer was putting them to death after him.

And the first blow that Jonathan and his weapon-bearer struck was about twenty men, within about half a furrow of an acre of field.

And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and the raiders — they trembled too. And the earth quaked, and it became a trembling of God.

And the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin looked — and look, the multitude was melting away, going this way and that.

And Saul said to the people who were with him, “Muster now, and see who has gone from us.” And they mustered — and look, Jonathan and his weapon-bearer were not there.

And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the ark of God” — for the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel.

And it was, while Saul was speaking to the priest, that the uproar in the camp of the Philistines went on, going on and growing; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

And Saul and all the people who were with him were called together, and they came to the battle — and look, every man’s sword was against his neighbor: a very great panic.

And the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before, who had gone up with them into the camp all around — they too turned, to be with Israel, who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Who are the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines, if not sinners who have fallen from a religious way of life? Of whom it was said not far above: "The Hebrews crossed the Jordan." They are Hebrews indeed by the order of religion, but they are with the Philistines, and they go up with them, as long as they are deceived by harmful suggestions and advance in wicked conduct.

And the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines yesterday and the day before, etc. Many, having been seduced by heretics and fighting against the Church with them, when they perceived the dissonance of their doctrine, and saw their dialectical subtleties surpassed by the simplicity of the Catholic faith, as if by the act of Jonathan, returned to be reconciled to the Catholic…

And all the men of Israel who were hiding themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, and they too pursued hard after them in the battle.

And the LORD saved Israel on that day; and the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.

Jonathan Eats the Honey

And the men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, for Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats bread before the evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” And none of the people tasted bread.

And all the land came into the forest, and there was honey on the face of the field.

And the people came into the forest — and look, a flow of honey; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under the oath; and he stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and brought his hand back to his mouth — and his eyes brightened.

And a man from the people answered and said, “Your father strictly put the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats bread today.’” And the people were faint.

And Jonathan said: “My father has brought trouble on the land. See, please, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

How much more, if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found — for now the blow against the Philistines has not been great.”

And they struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon; and the people were very faint.

And the people pounced on the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate with the blood.

And they told Saul, saying, “Look — the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a great stone to me today.”

It is proper to the preachers of the holy Church both to rebuke committed faults and to show how those rebuked faults ought to be avoided. Once rebuked, they become known, but if people do not know how to avoid them, once exposed they are repeated. What is shown in this eating of blood, if not the hidden poison of pride? But hidden vices are not cured unless they are exposed.

They reported to Saul, saying that the people had sinned against the Lord, etc. The diligent leaders, knowing the negligence of idle teachers, wherein the people sin against the Lord, baptizing those who have not yet been purified from carnality nor fully instructed in faith, immediately rebuke such transgressors and command that the rule of heavenly life be openly proposed wit…

And Saul said, “Scatter among the people and say to them: Bring near to me, each man his ox and each man his sheep, and slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And all the people brought near, each man his ox with him that night, and slaughtered them there.

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

And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the light of morning, and let us not leave a man among them.” And they said, “Do all that is good in your eyes.” And the priest said, “Let us draw near here to God.”

The People Save Jonathan

And Saul asked of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him on that day.

And Saul said: “Come here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see by what this sin has happened today.

For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel — even if it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” And no one of all the people answered him.

And he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on one side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what is good in your eyes.”

And Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel: “Why have you not answered your servant this day? If the iniquity is in me or in Jonathan my son, LORD, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this iniquity is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people went free.

And Saul said, “Cast between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

And Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him and said, “I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am — I will die.”

Jonathan tasted of a honeycomb on a rod, and his eyes were enlightened, and his life was in danger because he acted through ignorance. For Scripture testifies to the fact that he did not know that his father had given strict orders that no one was to taste any food until the victory of the Lord was accomplished.

It is no light sin, as I have said, to violate the appointed fast. In order to demonstrate this briefly by examples, we read in the book of Kings [Samuel] that when Saul the king of Israel was waging war against the foreigners he proclaimed a fast for his entire army, and when all were abstaining he began to fight against the opposing forces.

It should also be known that the vice of gluttony tempts us in five ways. For it sometimes anticipates the seasons of want, but sometimes [it] does not anticipate them but seeks for daintier food.

And Saul said, “Thus may God do, and thus may he add — you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

And the people said to Saul: “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! As the LORD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground — for with God he has worked this day.” And the people ransomed Jonathan, and he did not die.

And Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul’s Victories

And Saul took the kingship over Israel; and he fought all around against all his enemies — against Moab, and against the sons of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he did them harm.

And he acted with valor, and struck Amalek, and delivered Israel from the hand of its plunderer.

And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.

And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.