Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 14
This is a description of Saul’s camp immediately before his son, Jonathan, began the battle against his enemies, the Philistines (in other words, Philistia’s army).
The camp was at Migron. Migron was about 4 miles (6 kilometres) from Saul’s home at Gibeon. Saul had 600 men in that camp. That was all the men who were willing to fight with him (13:15).
Ahijah, the chief priest, was also there. You can read about Ahijah’s father Ichabod in 1 Samuel 4:17-22. Ahijah was wearing the ephod, which was a special long shirt for the chief priest. Exodus 28:6-30 describes it. In the ephod were the sacred objects called the URIM and THUMMIM. The chief priest used those objects when he inquired of God on behalf of the people (see 1 Samuel 14:36-42).
Migron was next to Michmash, where there was a passage between the cliffs. The passage went below two opposite cliffs, called Bozez and Seneh. Bozez means the ‘shining’ cliff. Perhaps its rocks were bare, and they shone brightly in the sun. Seneh means the ‘thorny’ cliff. Thorns are bushes that have sharp points on their leaves or branches. Perhaps thorns covered this cliff.
Saul’s army had camped on the hill above one of these cliffs. Part of Philistia’s vast army had camped on the hill above the opposite cliff. From his camp, Saul could watch his enemies (14:19).
However, Saul did not see what his son Jonathan was doing. Jonathan had secretly left Saul’s camp in order to begin an attack against the enemy. Only one young man was with Jonathan. They were trusting God to give them success in the battle.
Next part: Jonathan’s faith (1 Samuel 14:6)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.