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Texts -- 1 Samuel 14:1-12 (NET)

Context
14:1 Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer , “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know . 14:2 Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron , on the outskirts of Gibeah . The army that was with him numbered about six hundred men . 14:3 Now Ahijah was carrying an ephod . He was the son of Ahitub , who was the brother of Ichabod and a son of Phineas , son of Eli , the priest of the Lord in Shiloh . The army was unaware that Jonathan had left . 14:4 Now there was a steep cliff on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to go to reach the Philistine garrison . One cliff was named Bozez , the other Seneh . 14:5 The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash , the one to the south closer to Geba . 14:6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer , “Come on , let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men . Perhaps the Lord will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering , whether by many or by a few .” 14:7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is on your mind . Do as you’re inclined . I’m with you all the way !” 14:8 Jonathan replied , “All right ! We’ll go over to these men and fight them. 14:9 If they say to us, ‘Stay put until we approach you,’ we will stay right there and not go up to them. 14:10 But if they say , ‘Come up against us,’ we will go up . For in that case the Lord has given them into our hand – it will be a sign to us.” 14:11 When they made themselves known to the Philistine garrison , the Philistines said , “Look ! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves.” 14:12 Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer , “Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!” Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer , “Come up behind me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel !”

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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

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  • Ackroyd, Peter R. The First Book of Samuel. Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible series. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1971._____. "The Verb Love--'Aheb in the David-Jonathan Narratives--A Footnote."Vetus ...
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