Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 14:6

1 Samuel 14:6

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour,.... A second time, as Abarbinel thinks; the young man giving no answer to him the first time, perhaps through fear, he repeats it, and enlarges upon it for his encouragement:come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; as these Philistines were, whereas several of the other nations, though Heathen, were circumcised; as the Edomites, Arabians, and others; and this Jonathan observes to the young man, in hope that they being such the Lord would deliver them into their hand:it may be that the Lord will work for us; a sign, as the Targum, a miracle, as indeed he did; and of which Jonathan was persuaded in his own mind, though he did not choose to express himself in a confident way; not knowing in what manner, and whether at this time the Lord would appear, and work salvation and deliverance; and yet had a strong impulse upon his mind it would be wrought, and therefore was encouraged to try this expedient:for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few; he is not limited to numbers, and can easily work salvation by a few as by many.

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1 Samuel 14 — Overview1 Samuel 14 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe left the host of Israel in a very ill posture, in the close of the foregoing chapter; we saw in them no wisdom, nor strength, nor goodness, to give us ground to expect any other than that they should all be…1 Samuel 14 — Overview1 Samuel 14 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 Samuel 14:1, Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine’s garrison; 1 Samuel 14:15, A divine terror makes them beat themselves; 1 Samuel 14:17, Saul, not staying the priest’s answer, sets on them; 1 Samuel…1 Samuel 14 — Overview1 Samuel 14 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter gives an account of an adventure of Jonathan and his armourbearer smiting a garrison of the Philistines, 1Sa 14:1, which with other circumstances struck terror into the whole army; which being observed by…1 Samuel 14:1-151 Samuel 14:1-15 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe must here take notice, I. Of the goodness of God in restraining the Philistines, who had a vast army of valiant men in the field, from falling upon that little handful of timorous trembling people that Saul…1 Samuel 14:1-521 Samuel 14:1-52 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINE GAR-BISON (1 Samuel 14:1-15). 1 Samuel 14:1 Now it came to pass upon a day. Literally, "And there was a day, and Jonathan," etc.; or, as we should say, And it happened one…1 Samuel 14:1-521 Samuel 14:1-52 · The Pulpit CommentaryIII. IN MANIFESTING HIS FAITHFULNESS TO HIS PEOPLE GOD PERMITS THE IMPERFECT TO SHARE IN THE BLESSINGS PROCURED BY THE MORE PERFECT. Primarily, it was God's compassion for Israel and his covenant with Abraham that must…