Ver. 1. Jonathan the son of Saul said.] By an extraordinary instinct of the Spirit, and by the force of his faith, founded upon God’s promise, (Deuteronomy 28:7 32:10) the ground of all true valour and magnanimity. Said unto the young man that bare his armour.] His squire; such as was Joannes de Temporibus to Charles the Great, in the year of grace 1139. But he told not his father.] Lest Saul should have counted him as temerarious as himself was timorous; and have said unto him as afterwards Archidamus did to his son, rashly conflicting with the Athenians whom he was not able to deal with, Aut viribus adde, ant animis adime; Either add to thy strength, or abate of thy courage.
Ver. 2. And Saul tarried.] In his fastness; observing the enemies’ motions, but unable to encounter them. Under a pomegranate tree.] Or, Under Rimmon, a place so called from the store of pomegranates there growing: as Granata, a chief city in Spain, is to this day, a malogranatorum copia vel figura.
Ver. 3. And Ahiah.] Called also Ahimelech, (1 Samuel 22:11,12) and basely butchered by the command of Saul, who here had sent for him, and served himself upon him. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.] Or, For what purpose. The engine that doth all in great works, is oft inward, hidden, unobserved.
Ver. 4. There was a sharp rock.] Heb., The tooth of a rock: these were two promontories which hung over and ran out, after the manner of dogs’ teeth, or boars’ tusks, and so rendered the passage to the enemy’s camp hard, and as might be thought impossible. But what may not be done by daring? Alexander the Great got a strong fort, set on a high steep rock from his enemies, -who asked him in derision, Whether he could fly?—by the help of three hundred gallant soldier, and then used these words, En, ostendi me posse volare, Lo, I have showed you that I can fly: but Jonathan, with one only, made a harder and higher attempt, and achieved a far greater victory by the force of his faith, whereunto nothing is impossible. See Hebrews 11:33,34. Vat. Curtius.
Ver. 5. The fore front.] Heb., The tooth. See 1 Samuel 14:4. Northward over against Michmash.] So that these rocks were placed on either end of the inlet or passage; and he that would pass must climb over both. Sic petitur caelum.
Ver. 6. Unto the garrison of these uncircumcised.] Strangers to the covenant, and therefore we shall the sooner prevail against them. By the consideration of the sacraments we should strengthen our faith against all adverse power; this being one special use of them. It may be that the Lord will work for us.] A promise God had made, that Saul should save them out of the hand of the Philistines; (1 Samuel 9:16) but whether at this time, and by this means, he submitteth to God’s holy will, saying, “It may be that the Lord,” &c., which is not spoken by way of doubting, saith Pellican, but of praying and exciting himself and his armour bearer to trust in God all-sufficient. for there is no restraint to the Lord.] He is magnus in magnis, nec parvus in minimis, and hath promised to help his people “with a little help,” (Daniel 11:34) that through weaker means they may see his greater strength. Magis orantis quam trepidantis affectu. August.
Ver. 7. Turn thee; behold, I am with thee.] Here we have an example of a faithful servant, who would thus stick to his master, and adventure with him. Doubtless he would have done as much for his master, if there had been occasion, as the Earl of Huntly’s servant did at Musselburgh field in Scotland, who, when the Earl, assaulted by the English, had lost his helmet, took off his own headpiece, and put it on the Earl’s head. The Earl was therewith taken prisoner, but the other, for want thereof, was presently struck down. Life of Edward VI
Ver. 8. Behold, we will pass over.] Though on all fours, and with much ado. Difficulty doth but whet on heroic spirits. Alexander never held anything to be unfeasible.
Ver. 9. If they say thus unto us.] This sign was Nec superstitiosum nec Dei tentativum, sed religiosum aeque ac animosum: it was given him in answer to his earnest prayer, saith Josephus, as was also that of Abraham’s servant. (Genesis 24:13,14) So was not that of the Pazones in Herodotus, who warring upon the Perinthians, had this answer from the oracle, If the Perinthians call you by your name, and challenge you, then set upon them: as if otherwise, not: They did accordingly, and had the better. Satan is God’s ape, as they say. Herod., lib. v. initio.
Ver. 10. But if they say thus, Come up unto us.] Come up if ye can; for they were confident upon the defence of the place: wherefore Jonathan doubted not but God would confute them, saith Josephus. See the like, Isaiah 22:16,18.
Ver. 11. Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes,] i.e., Out of their lurking places, (1 Samuel 14:22) or trenches.