The Bible: 1 Samuel Chapter 14

In 1 Samuel Chapter 14 recounts Jonathan and Israel’s victory at Michmash. This was the scene of a similar WWI victory in 1918 with the General Allenby’s British troops copying Jonathan’s example. A soldier who knew his Bible pointed it out, leading to the soldiers scaling the cliffs for an assault on Ottoman troops. Allenby decided to attack with just one troop instead of the whole company and the Ottomans were unsuspecting and fled, just as the Philistines did. Source: Gilbert, Major Vivian., The Romance of the Last Crusade with Allenby to Jerusalem, Appleton and Company. Once Saul knows they are winning, he tells Ahijah the priest to stop inquiring of the Lord, so they can get into the attack. Circumstances being what they were, must have convinced him he already knew what God wanted and decided to save time. This is the Lesson, don’t assume that circumstances prove God’s voice. Can you think of a time this wasn’t true? Once Jonathan attacked the Philistines panicked, fled, and even started fighting themselves. Previously a number of Hebrews had aligned themselves with the Philistines. Everyone wants to be on the winning side, and when it was evident God was delivering the Philistines up, they switched back. This also helps explain why the “Philistines” were fighting against themselves.