1Sa 14:2 | KingComments | STEP | While Jonathan proceeds to act, Saul is staying under a tree. He prefers to take a wait-and-see attitude rather than take the initiative to fight. What should he do with his six hundred men against a numerous enemy? Where faith is lacking, there is no strength for battle. Saul was not only surrounded by an army of six hundred men, but he also had the priest with the ephod in his company. It is a priest from the rejected priestly family of Eli who was set aside by God in 1 Samuel 2-3 ( ). Because the setting aside did not take place immediately, we find here a rejected priest with a rejected king. Military and religious, everything is at Saul’s disposal. The great absent One is God. Therefore, all external displays have no effect whatsoever. Appearance does not give any strength and it does not give any insight into how the battle should be fought. Saul does not know that Jonathan left, nor does the people of Saul. The fight of faith is outside Saul and outside those who are connected to Saul.

‏ 1 Samuel 14:2

Saul and Those Who Are With Him

While Jonathan proceeds to act, Saul is staying under a tree. He prefers to take a wait-and-see attitude rather than take the initiative to fight. What should he do with his six hundred men against a numerous enemy? Where faith is lacking, there is no strength for battle.

Saul was not only surrounded by an army of six hundred men, but he also had the priest with the ephod in his company. It is a priest from the rejected priestly family of Eli who was set aside by God in 1 Samuel 2-3 (1Sam 2:27-30 ; 1Sam 3:11-14). Because the setting aside did not take place immediately, we find here a rejected priest with a rejected king. Military and religious, everything is at Saul’s disposal. The great absent One is God. Therefore, all external displays have no effect whatsoever. Appearance does not give any strength and it does not give any insight into how the battle should be fought.

Saul does not know that Jonathan left, nor does the people of Saul. The fight of faith is outside Saul and outside those who are connected to Saul.