1 Samuel 14:14
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
Original Language Analysis
וַתְּהִ֞י
H1961
וַתְּהִ֞י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַמַּכָּ֣ה
slaughter
H4347
הַמַּכָּ֣ה
slaughter
Strong's:
H4347
Word #:
2 of 14
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
הָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֗ה
And that first
H7223
הָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֗ה
And that first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
3 of 14
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִכָּ֧ה
made
H5221
הִכָּ֧ה
made
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
5 of 14
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
וְנֹשֵׂ֥א
and his armourbearer
H5375
וְנֹשֵׂ֥א
and his armourbearer
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
7 of 14
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
כֵלָ֖יו
H3627
כֵלָ֖יו
Strong's:
H3627
Word #:
8 of 14
something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
אִ֑ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֑ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 14
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Historical Context
The measurement 'half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow' used familiar agricultural terminology to describe the combat zone. This small area of intense fighting produced casualties that triggered panic throughout the Philistine camp.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God use small faithful actions to trigger larger movements of deliverance?
- What 'first slaughter' might God be asking you to initiate?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
The 'first slaughter' killed 'about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land.' This initial victory, achieved by two men against an entrenched garrison, triggers the larger divine intervention that follows. The specific measurement - half an acre, the amount one yoke of oxen could plow in a day - gives concrete dimension to the triumph. Twenty enemy soldiers fall in a furrow's length. God uses small beginnings to accomplish great deliverances; Jonathan's faith venture initiates national salvation.