Jonathan at Michmash

Illustration of Jonathan at Michmash

In the biblical account from 1 Samuel 14, during a time when the Philistines held military superiority over Israel under King Saul, Jonathan, the king's son, initiated a daring assault on an enemy garrison at Michmash with only his armor-bearer. Trusting that God could save by many or by few, the pair climbed the rocky pass, killed around twenty Philistines, and sparked widespread panic and confusion among the larger force, aided by a divinely sent earthquake. Saul's army then joined the fray, turning the skirmish into a decisive rout that drove the Philistines from Israelite territory. This episode illustrates themes of faith-driven initiative and divine deliverance in Scripture, contrasting Jonathan's boldness with Saul's later hesitancy.

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Details

Era
United Kingdom
Category
United Kingdom
Participants
Jonathan vs. Philistine Garrison
Outcome
Philistine garrison routed by two men
Divine Intervention
Yes

Key Passages

The Battle

1 Samuel 14:6-15

A6nd Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. 11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

Related

Characters

Timeline Events

Did You Know?

1

Jonathan and his armor-bearer attacked an entire garrison. Just 2 men against 20.

2

They climbed a cliff on hands and knees to reach the Philistine outpost.

3

An earthquake struck during the attack, causing the Philistines to panic and fight each other.