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

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.

Why did Jonathan go against the Philistines without telling Saul?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

1Sam.14.1

1 Samuel 14:1

KJV

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

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.

2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

4 ¶ And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

6 And 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.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

19 ¶ And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

21 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.

Jonathan Eats the Honey

24 ¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.

29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

33 ¶ Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

35 And Saul built an altar unto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord.

36 ¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.

The People Save Jonathan

37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

39 For, as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

41 Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.

44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul’s Victories

47 ¶ So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

Cross References

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