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a furrow, or more probably half the width that would be occupied in ploughing a
furrow.
All this time it would be impossible, from the nature of the terrain, to know how
many assailants were supporting Jonathan and his armor-bearer. This difficulty
would be still more felt in the camp and by those at a little farther distance, since it
would be manifestly impossible for them to examine the steep sides of Bozez, or the
neighboring woods. The terror, probably communicated by fugitives, who would
naturally magnify the danger, perhaps into a general assault, soon became a panic,
or, as the text expresses it, a "terror of Elohim." Presently the host became an armed
rabble, melting away before their imaginary enemy, and each man's sword in the
confusion turned against his neighbor. At the same time the Hebrew auxiliaries,
whom cowardice or force had brought into the camp of the Philistines, turned
against them, and the noise and confusion became indescribable.
From the topmost height of Gibeah the outlook, which Saul had there posted,
descried the growing confusion in the Philistine camp. Only one cause could suggest
itself for this. When Saul mustered his small army, he found that only Jonathan and
his armor-bearer were missing. But the king sufficiently knew the spirit of his son
not to regard as impossible any undertaking on his part, however seemingly
desperate. What was he to do? One thing alone suggested itself to him. He would
take counsel of the Lord by the well-known means of the Urim and Thummim.^135
But while preparations were making for it, the necessity of its employment had
evidently ceased. It was not a sudden commotion, but an increasing panic among the
Philistines that was observed. Presently Saul and his men, as they came to battle,
found that the enemy himself had been doing their work. And now it became a rout.
The Hebrews from the Philistine camp had joined the pursuers, and, as the well-
known notes of the trumpet wakened the echoes of Mount Ephraim, the men who
were in hiding crept out of their concealment and followed in the chase. And so the
tide of battle rolled as far as Beth-aven.
But, though the battle was chiefly pursuit of the fleeing foe, already "the men of
Israel were distressed," or rather "pressed," by weariness and faintness. For quite
early in the day, and in the absence of Jonathan, Saul had yielded to one of his
characteristic impulses. When he ascertained the real state of matters as regarded the
Philistines, he put the people under a vow - to which, either by an "Amen," or else
by their silence they gave assent - not to taste food until the evening, till he had
avenged himself of his enemies. It need scarcely be said, that in this Saul acted
without Divine direction. More than that, it is difficult to discern in it any religious
motive, unless it were, that the enemies on whom Saul wished personally to be
avenged were also the hereditary foes of Israel. And yet in the mind of Saul there
(^)