Question 1

What does Jonathan mean by “there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few”?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan is saying that God is not limited by numbers, strength, or human resources. Whether there is a large army or just two men, God can still give victory if He chooses. Jonathan and his armor-bearer are facing a much stronger enemy, yet Jonathan believes God can use even their small effort. This shows real trust in God’s power, not in human ability. It encourages us to remember that God is able to work in situations where, from a human point of view, we seem too weak or too few.

Question 2

Why did Jonathan go against the Philistines without telling Saul?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan saw the need and believed God could act, so he stepped out in faith with his armor-bearer. The passage hints that if Saul had known, he likely would have held Jonathan back, since Saul is pictured sitting, waiting, and surrounded by fear. Jonathan is not rebelling against God but moving forward because he trusts the Lord’s power and cares about Israel’s danger. His quiet move shows the difference between a heart that hesitates in fear and a heart that is ready to act in faith when God may be opening a door.

Question 3

What is the sign Jonathan asked for from the Philistines’ garrison?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan planned to show himself and his armor-bearer to the Philistine outpost. If the men called down, “Wait there, we’ll come to you,” Jonathan would take that as a warning not to advance. But if they shouted, “Come up to us,” Jonathan would see that as a sign that the Lord had given them into Israel’s hand. This was not superstition but a simple way Jonathan used to seek God’s guidance in a dangerous moment. When the Philistines called them up, Jonathan moved forward, trusting that God was with them.

Question 4

How did God save Israel in this battle against the Philistines?

Accepted Answer

God used Jonathan’s small attack to start something much larger. Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men in a tight space, and then a great fear spread through the Philistine camp. The text speaks of a trembling, even an earthquake, and the enemy began to panic and strike one another. Hebrew men who had been with the Philistines switched sides, and those hiding in the hills came out to join the fight. All these pieces show that it was the Lord who saved Israel that day, not human strength alone.

Question 5

Why did Saul make the people take an oath not to eat until evening?

Accepted Answer

Saul put the people under a curse, saying no one should eat until evening so that he could be “avenged” on his enemies. This shows more focus on his own victory and honor than on the people’s strength and well-being. The result was that the soldiers became weak and faint in the middle of battle. Jonathan later said his father had “troubled the land,” because if the people had been allowed to eat, they could have fought better and defeated even more of the Philistines. The oath looked strict and religious, but it harmed the people.

Question 6

What happened when Jonathan ate the honey, and why was it a problem?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan had not heard Saul’s oath, so when he found honey in the forest, he dipped the end of his staff in it and ate. The honey refreshed him, and his eyes “were enlightened,” meaning he regained strength and alertness. When the people told him about the curse, Jonathan realized how unwise the oath was. Later, lots were cast, and Jonathan was found to be the one who had broken Saul’s command. Saul wanted to put him to death, but the people stepped in and rescued Jonathan, recognizing that God had used him to bring salvation that day.

Question 7

Why did the people eat meat with the blood, and what does Saul do about it?

Accepted Answer

Because of Saul’s oath, the people had fought all day without food and were extremely hungry by the end of the battle. When they took animals from the spoil, they killed them on the ground and began to eat quickly, without properly draining the blood as God’s law required. When this was reported to Saul, he called it sin and told them to roll a large stone to him. He then ordered everyone to bring their animals and kill them there so the blood could be handled rightly. This shows how harsh rules can push people into other sins.

Question 8

Why did God not answer Saul when he asked about continuing the attack at night?

Accepted Answer

After the victory, Saul wanted to chase the Philistines through the night and destroy them completely, so he asked God whether to go on. The passage says that God did not answer him that day. Saul then assumed there must be sin in the camp and started seeking out the guilty person. The story draws a contrast: earlier, Jonathan had trusted and moved forward in faith, and God clearly worked. Now Saul is trying to push ahead after making a rash oath, and God gives no reply. It suggests that empty zeal and harsh commands are not the same as walking closely with God.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about faith and leadership through Jonathan and Saul?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan shows faith that acts. He believes God can save by many or by few, seeks a simple sign, and risks his life with his armor-bearer. His courage, rooted in trust in God, becomes the spark God uses to save Israel. Saul, on the other hand, mostly sits, hesitates, and then covers his fear with religious show and harsh rules, like the rash oath and the lot that nearly kills Jonathan. Together, they show two ways to lead: one by humble trust in God and one by anxious control. The passage invites us to value faith-filled obedience over empty, heavy-handed commands.

1 Samuel 14:1

Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

Jonathan Eats the Honey

The People Save Jonathan

Saul’s Victories

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

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1 Samuel 14:1

Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

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Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

Jonathan Eats the Honey

The People Save Jonathan

Saul’s Victories

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

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