1 Samuel 14:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine 's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion.

NIV: Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.

NASB: Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow Philistine, and there was very great confusion.

CSB: Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there the Philistines were, fighting against each other in great confusion!

NLT: Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.

First Samuel 14:1–23 describes Jonathan's bold attack on a massive Philistine encampment with only his armor-bearer. Without telling anyone, the pair cross over a ravine between the two armies and attack, believing that the Lord may work for them. They kill twenty men, and the Lord sparks a panic that spreads to all the Philistines. When the Israelites see the tumult taking place, they attack the Philistines and are joined by all those who had surrendered or hid themselves. The Israelites drive the Philistines out of the region.

God sparks panic among the Philistines after Jonathan boldly attacks and kills twenty of the enemy. When Saul sees the Philistines are scattering and killing each other, the Israelites pursue them out of the region. The Lord remains silent when Saul asks if they should attack the Philistines by night. Lots cast to reveal sin among them fall on Jonathan, who broke an oath of the king which he did not know about. The people refuse to allow Saul to execute Jonathan for this crime. Saul does not pursue the Philistines that night, but throughout his days as king he experiences success over them and other enemies such as the Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and Edomites.

Saul has been anointed and reaffirmed as king (1 Samuel 9—12). Recently, his army amassed to fight the Philistines (1 Samuel 13). After a secret sneak attack, the Lord sparks panic among the entire Philistine army. The resulting chaos makes the Philistines fight and kill each other. The Israelites pursue, driving the Philistines out of the region. The people refuse to allow Saul to execute Jonathan, the man God used to save them from the Philistines. Throughout his kingship, Saul experiences success over enemies on every side (1 Samuel 15). However, he will also fall short of his obligations to God and eventually be replaced (1 Samuel 16).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.