10. But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us — that will be our sign.”
11. They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding! ”
12. The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson! ” they said.“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”
13. Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.
14. In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about 20 men in a half-acre field.
15. Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The earth shook, and terror spread from God.
16. When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction.
17. So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.
18. Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites at that time.
19. While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”
20. Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there, the Philistines were fighting against each other in great confusion!
21. There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.