The Church Fathers on this verse

1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 14:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan, and to his armourbearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armourbearer: Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel.

Douay-Rheims

וַיַּעֲנוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמַּצָּבָ֜ה אֶת־יוֹנָתָ֣ן ׀ וְאֶת־נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ עֲל֣וּ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְנוֹדִ֥יעָה אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָ֑ר וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־נֹשֵׂ֤א כֵלָיו֙ עֲלֵ֣ה אַחֲרַ֔י כִּֽי־נְתָנָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Sulpicius Severus

5th centuryChurch Father

With a courageous strategy and accompanied by just one comrade, Jonathan ventured into the enemy's camp, defeating approximately twenty foes and instilling fear throughout the entire army. The enemy, under God's influence, panicked and abandoned their orders, scattering in disarray as they sought to save themselves by fleeing. Witnessing this chaos, Saul rallied his troops and, by pursuing the retreating foes, achieved victory.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.