(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
1 Samuel 14:16–23, “And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.”
When the Philistine soldiers heard the noise of the battle they panicked and began to fight against each other as well. Saul’s soldiers looked across the valley and saw that the Philistine army was starting to melt away as some panicked and killed each other while others ran away. Saul counted his men and found that Jonathan and his armour bearer had gone. Saul told the priest to bring the ark. He still thought of the ark as some kind of talisman that should be taken into battle like the other nations would take their gods to battle with them. He was very much like the kings of the neighbouring nations. They realised that Israel was winning the battle so they joined the battle. There were some Israelis who had already surrendered to the Philistines but when they saw that the battle was going their way they began to fight as well. The people who had hidden away came as well andIsrael convincingly won the battle. This happened while the men in the Israeli army had no weapons of war.
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