1 samuel 14:8 - Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.
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What does "1 samuel 14:8" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 14:8, is part of a pivotal moment in the story of Jonathan and his armor-bearer. To understand its meaning, let's break it down within the context:
Context: Jonathan, the son of King Saul, is incredibly frustrated by the Philistine presence in the land and feels confident that the Lord will deliver Israel. He wants to take action against the Philistine garrison, but he can't do so openly without his father's permission (which he doesn't have or believe he'll get). He decides to take a daring gamble with his armor-bearer.
"Then Jonathan said, 'Behold, we will pass over to the men...'": Jonathan is proposing a secret mission to sneak up on the Philistine garrison. "Pass over" implies a clandestine movement, crossing the valley or difficult terrain separating them from the enemy.
"...and we will reveal ourselves to them.'": This is the crucial part. "Reveal ourselves" means they are going to make themselves visible to the Philistine soldiers. This isn't just about being seen by accident. It's a deliberate decision to expose themselves.
Why is this significant? The plan hinges on how the Philistines react to being revealed:
Jonathan sets up a test. He makes a pact with his armor-bearer (the subsequent verses explain this):
If the Philistines say, "Wait there until we come to you," then Jonathan and his armor-bearer will stay put. This would be a sign that the Lord is not with them.
However, if the Philistines say, "Come up to us," then Jonathan and his armor-bearer will go up. This would be a sign that the Lord is with them and will grant them victory.
In essence, the verse means:
Jonathan is proposing a risky plan to approach the Philistine garrison and deliberately show themselves, using the Philistines' reaction ("Come up to us") as a signal from God that they should attack. He is seeking divine confirmation through a pre-arranged sign. He believes that if the Philistines challenge them to a fight, it means God is giving them the go-ahead. It's an act of faith and courage, relying on God's intervention.
1 samuel 14:8 - Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.
What does "1 samuel 14:8" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 14:8, is part of a pivotal moment in the story of Jonathan and his armor-bearer. To understand its meaning, let's break it down within the context:
Context: Jonathan, the son of King Saul, is incredibly frustrated by the Philistine presence in the land and feels confident that the Lord will deliver Israel. He wants to take action against the Philistine garrison, but he can't do so openly without his father's permission (which he doesn't have or believe he'll get). He decides to take a daring gamble with his armor-bearer.
"Then Jonathan said, 'Behold, we will pass over to the men...'": Jonathan is proposing a secret mission to sneak up on the Philistine garrison. "Pass over" implies a clandestine movement, crossing the valley or difficult terrain separating them from the enemy.
"...and we will reveal ourselves to them.'": This is the crucial part. "Reveal ourselves" means they are going to make themselves visible to the Philistine soldiers. This isn't just about being seen by accident. It's a deliberate decision to expose themselves.
Why is this significant? The plan hinges on how the Philistines react to being revealed:
Jonathan sets up a test. He makes a pact with his armor-bearer (the subsequent verses explain this):
If the Philistines say, "Wait there until we come to you," then Jonathan and his armor-bearer will stay put. This would be a sign that the Lord is not with them.
However, if the Philistines say, "Come up to us," then Jonathan and his armor-bearer will go up. This would be a sign that the Lord is with them and will grant them victory.
In essence, the verse means:
Jonathan is proposing a risky plan to approach the Philistine garrison and deliberately show themselves, using the Philistines' reaction ("Come up to us") as a signal from God that they should attack. He is seeking divine confirmation through a pre-arranged sign. He believes that if the Philistines challenge them to a fight, it means God is giving them the go-ahead. It's an act of faith and courage, relying on God's intervention.