1 Samuel 13:23

Jonathan Ignites a Battle

13:23 A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash.

1 Samuel 14:11

14:11 When they ¹  made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, “Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves.”

1 Samuel 14:15

14:15 Then fear overwhelmed ²  those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God. ³ 

1 Samuel 14:1

14:1 Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, ⁴  “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know.

1 Samuel 14:4

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.

1 Samuel 14:6

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 ⁵  for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few.”

[14:11]  ¹ tn Heb “the two of them.”

[14:15]  ¹ tn Heb “fell upon.”

[14:15]  ² tn Heb “and it was by the fear of God.” The translation understands this to mean that God was the source or cause of the fear experienced by the Philistines. This seems to be the most straightforward reading of the sentence. It is possible, however, that the word “God” functions here simply to intensify the accompanying word “fear,” in which one might translate “a very great fear” (cf. NAB, NRSV). It is clear that on some occasions that the divine name carries such a superlative nuance. For examples see Joüon 2:525 §141.n.

[14:1]  ¹ tn Or “the servant who was carrying his military equipment” (likewise in vv. 6, 7, 12, 13, 14).

[14:6]  ¹ tn Heb “act.”