Jonathan said, "Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands." – 1 Samuel 14:8-10

Today's Scripture Reading (May 24, 2025): 1 Samuel 14

There is a scene in an old M*A*S*H episode where the guys are having a locker room moment, and their conversation becomes a little sexually explicit, with Father Mulcahey standing among the group. One of the men notices that the Father is standing in the group, and he apologizes to the priest for the discussion content. I love Father Mulcahey's response. The good Catholic Priest replies, "Oh, that's okay. I just translate that kind of talk into Latin, and it sounds better."

It is the same idea that I want to use in this post. It sounds better to say that Jonathan was a "Kciyl" (which is Hebrew and not Latin) than to say what I want to say, which is that Jonathan was a fool. But that is the reality. Here is the definition of a Kciyl; a fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one. I want to be clear; this passage does not use the word Kciyl. It is just me that is using it. The Bible uses the word Kciyl, but it is not used here.

So why do I insist on insulting a good young boy like Jonathan? Here's why. His battle plan makes no sense. First, he anticipates going to battle against a well-armed opponent with no weapons. But that is only the tip of the stupidity in this passage. Not only are the Philistines better armed, but they have the high ground, and as any battle tactician will probably tell you, in a battle, you want the high ground. The high ground gives you the advantage. 

So, Jonathan's enemy has the weapons and the position. Next, Jonathan's strategy makes no sense. He tells his armorbearer that if they come down, we will wait for them. I'm really not sure why. If they come down, my advice would be to run as if your life depends on it because it does. Not only that, Jonathan says, but if they invite them up, then they will know that God has given them into their hands. Okay, let me try to explain this. Jonathan and his armorbearer have only one sword between them. The Philistines are well-armed. And the Philistines are standing at the top of the cliff while Jonathan and his friend are at the bottom. Have you ever tried to climb a cliff? I have. It usually involves foot holds and grabbing onto whatever you can with your hands as you climb. So, if you need your hands free to climb, where is the one sword? The reality is that it is probably stuck in a holder either on his waist or on his back, but either way, when they arrive at the top of the cliff, out of breath from the climb, the one sword that Jonathan and his friend have will be useless. 

Jonathan's plan is not built on a sound military strategy. If the Philistines chose to come down off of the cliff, maybe that would allow Jonathan and his armorbearer to at least be ready, and the Philistines would be the ones who would have to get prepared as they reached the bottom. But the idea that climbing the cliff to get to the top is "God is giving the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan and his armorbearer" is ridiculous.

Ah, but that is also often the way it is when we walk with God and trust in him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 15