Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 14:9

If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

Verse 9. If they say thus unto us] Jonathan had no doubt asked this as a sign from God; exactly as Eliezer the servant of Abraham did, Ge 24:12.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

9, 10. if they say, Come up unto us;then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into ourhandWhen Jonathan appears here to prescribe a sign or token ofGod’s will, we may infer that the same spirit which inspired thisenterprise suggested the means of its execution, and put into hisheart what to ask of God. (See on Ge24:12).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

If they say thus unto us,…. By this and what follows he gives his man a sign by which both might know how they should conduct themselves in this expedition, and what would be the issue, whether they should succeed or not: should they say,

tarry until we come to you; this, as it would express boldness in the men of the garrison, and show that they were ready to come out and fight, would portend evil, and then what they had to do was to be upon the defensive:

then we will stand still in our place; wait till they came to them, and make the best defence of themselves as they could, showing as little fear as possible, and not attempting to retreat and flee:

and will not go up unto them; neither go backwards nor forwards; not backward, which would show fear; nor forward, to expose themselves to too much danger from the garrison, they appearing to be bold and intrepid.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

9. Then we will stand still For if they come to us they will discover our hostile intentions.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1Sa 14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

Ver. 9. If they say thus unto us. ] This sign was Nec superstitiosum nec Dei tentativum, sed religiosum aeque ac animosum: it was given him in answer to his earnest prayer, saith Josephus, as was also that of Abraham’s servant. Gen 24:13-14 So was not that of the Pazones in Herodotus, who warring upon the Perinthians, had this answer from the oracle, If the Perinthians call you by your name, and challenge you, then set upon them: as if otherwise, not: They did accordingly, and had the better. a Satan is God’s ape, as they say.

a Herod., lib. v. initio.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)