I Samuel 14:1-23 Jonathan’s Faith And Saul’s Religiosity.

What the previous incident reveals is that Saul was ill prepared for war, either spiritually or militarily. As time went on there was a priest appointed – “Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest at Shiloh, was wearing the ephod (14:3).” However, the house of Eli had been rejected in favour of Samuel, and no one knew that Jonathan had set out to do battle with the Philistines at Michmash (vv. 4-5). Jonathan was convinced that the LORD would give them the victory saying, “nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few” (v. 6). He came up with his own sign to indicate that the LORD was with them – if the Philistines invited them up (vv. 7-10). Twenty of the enemy fell to Jonathan and his armorbearer (vv. 11-14). The Philistines were afraid, while Saul and those with him discovered that Jonathan and his armor bearer had left them. Saul did not wait for Ahijah to finish his priestly duties, and he and his men joined the battle. They were also joined by others who were in hiding (vv. 15-23). It was ultimately a battle and victory led by Jonathan whose faith was in the LORD his God.