9. If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them.
10. But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”
11. When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!”
12. Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!”“Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the lord will help us defeat them!”
13. So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them.
14. They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.
15. Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
16. Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction.
17. “Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.
18. Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.