Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 14:6

"And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few." — 1 Samuel 14:6 (ASV)

And Jonathan said. — This companion in arms corresponded to the esquire of the knight of the Middle Ages. Gideon, Joab, David, and other famous Israelite warriors were constantly accompanied in a similar manner by an armour-bearer.

Come, and let us go over. — Although in this history of the great deed of Jonathan there is no mention of the “Spirit of the Lord” having come upon him, as in the case of Gideon (Judges 6:34), Othniel (Judges 3:10), Samson, and others—who, in order to enable them to accomplish a particular act, were temporarily endowed with superhuman strength, courage, and wisdom—there is no shadow of a doubt that in this case the “Spirit of the Lord” descended on the heroic son of Saul. All the circumstances connected with this event, which had so marked an influence on the fortunes of Israel, are evidently supernatural.

The brave though desperate thought that suggested the attack, the courage and strength necessary to carry it out, the strange panic that seized the Philistine garrison, and the utter dismay that spread over the whole of the Philistine forces, causing them to flee in utter confusion before the small bands of Israelites—all these belong to the same class of incidents so common in earlier Hebrew story. In such instances, it is clear that the Glorious Arm of the Eternal helped them in a way it helped no other peoples.

The term “uncircumcised” is commonly applied to the Philistines and to other enemies of Israel. It is used as a special term of reproach. The enmity between Philistia and Israel lasted over a long period and was very bitter.

It may be that the Lord will work for us. — These words explain the apparent recklessness of Jonathan’s attempt. It was Another who would fight the armed garrison on those tall peaks opposite and bring him safely back to his people again.

For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. — “O Divine power of faith, which makes a man more than men. The question is not what Jonathan can do, but what God can do, whose power is not in the means, but in Himself. There is no restraint in the Lord to save by many or by few. O admirable faith in Jonathan, whom neither the steepness of the rocks nor the multitude of enemies can dissuade from such an assault.” — Bishop Hall.