Jonathan: The Philistine Slayer

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on The Chosen People. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: The Lord has favored us, brothers. They outnumber us two to one. Good odds for God's chosen people. 00:00:11 Speaker 1: The men chuckled. Jonathan was not their king, but they followed him as if he were. Not out of duty or fear, but out of trust. 00:00:22 Speaker 3: Every hour that passes without Samuel's arrival, is another hour the men spend whispering in fear. 00:00:31 Speaker 1: And with every whisper, Saul felt control slipping from his grasp. They're going to leave me. They're losing hope in God. They're losing hope in me. Saul needed the men to see him as holy. The sacrifice burned and the smoke rose high into the sky. 00:00:54 Speaker 3: You have disregarded the command. 00:00:56 Speaker 1: Of the Lord your God. Had you obeyed, your kingdom would have been established forever. But now, now your kingdom shall not continue. He may have lost God's favor, but he would not lose his throne. Jonathan awoke before dawn. the sky still dark and cool. He moved with quiet purpose, careful not to wake the others as he slipped from the camp. The cold mountain air kissed his skin as he climbed, his fingers gripping the rock, his legs burning as he pushed himself higher. He wanted to reach the summit before the sun. The wind carried the scent of dry earth and morning dew as he reached the peak. Below, the valley stretched out before him, bathed in soft shadows. The Philistine encampment lay in the distance. The light from their torches was muffled by the morning mist. Jonathan knelt on the stone, bowing his head, his breath steady. 00:02:07 Speaker 3: Lord, you have not abandoned us. Even when we are faithless, you are faithful. If there is to be a battle, let it be fought. 00:02:20 Speaker 1: In your name. The sun broke over the horizon, washing the land in hues of gold and orange. Jonathan opened his eyes and exhaled slowly. From this height he could see it clearly, a narrow path winding through the rocks leading up to the Philistine camp. Jagged stones flanked the trail, sharp as knives. A bottleneck, a perfect place for a small force to fight a larger one. Jonathan traced the path in the dirt with his finger. He knew in his heart what had to be done. He stood, brushing the dust from his knees, and descended back into camp. Most of the men were still asleep when Jonathan returned. He moved swiftly between the tents, stopping before his young armour-bearer, Cobus. The boy was barely older than a squire, his face still round with youth. though his hands were calloused from years of labor. He was a strong, sturdy lad. Jonathan crouched, placing a hand over his mouth in silent command. 00:03:28 Speaker 3: Quick, Cobus, put on your armor and gather your weapons. 00:03:33 Speaker 2: Are we marching? You and I are going to take the Philistine garrison on the other side of the mountain. 00:03:40 Speaker 3: Oh, yes. 00:03:42 Speaker 4: Yes, yes. 00:03:43 Speaker 3: Just the two of us against an entire garrison of Philistines. 00:03:47 Speaker 4: Great plan. 00:03:49 Speaker 3: Wait, you're serious, aren't you? 00:03:53 Speaker 4: Just us? 00:03:54 Speaker 1: Jonathan nodded. Cobus let out a short laugh and grabbed his hammer. 00:03:59 Speaker 3: You're a madman, son of Saul. But here I am, ready to follow you. Who wants to make me? A madman of the Lord, dear Cubus. 00:04:08 Speaker 1: Now let's go. The two moved quickly, scaling the mountain before the others even stirred. At the top, Jonathan pointed out the path he had seen, the way the rocks formed a natural arch shielding them from sight as they approached the garrison. It was a perfect route for an ambush. They hid beneath the stones, watching as the Philistine watchmen patrolled. Their defenses were stronger than before. They had learned from Jonathan's past victory in Geba. No side of camp was left unwatched. Jonathan smirked. Good. 00:04:43 Speaker 3: Let them be afraid. 00:04:44 Speaker 1: Cobus shifted his weight, unsure of Jonathan's plan. I'm not so sure. 00:04:49 Speaker 3: About this, Jonathan. If a she in numbers. 00:04:52 Speaker 1: Ought to have already, look at that beauty for the rabbits. Jonathan did not answer immediately. His eyes remained locked on the Philistine banners, rippling in the wind. Then he turned to Cobus, his expression firm. 00:05:07 Speaker 3: Tell me, does anything restrain God? 00:05:10 Speaker 1: Cobus hesitated, then shook his head. Jonathan nodded toward the camp. 00:05:16 Speaker 2: I say we go over there to the Philistines head on. The Lord may work for us. And if he is with us, it doesn't matter if we are two or two thousand. We'll reveal ourselves to them. If they invite us into their camp, we'll take it as a sign that the Lord has given us favor. 00:05:31 Speaker 3: Our history together tells me to not doubt you, but my churning stomach and clenched bottom are telling me to get the heck out of here. Do us in your heart, my lord. I and my hammer are with you. 00:05:45 Speaker 1: Jonathan grinned, clapping him on the back. 00:05:47 Speaker 3: That's the spirit. Follow me. 00:05:50 Speaker 1: They moved swiftly, stepping from the shadows of the stone. Jonathan's armor was simple, sturdy leather reinforced with bronze, nothing like the gold-plated breastplate of his father. He carried himself not as a prince, but as a soldier of the Lord. Cobus walked a pace behind, his armor lighter, worn at the edges. Since the blacksmiths had been taken from them, his weapons were crude. A hammer strapped to his side, three daggers tucked into his belt. They looked like deserters, and that was exactly what the Philistines thought. The watchman at the garrison laughed when he spotted them. He nudged his companion, pointing. Ah, look at them. Poor Israelite pups crawling away from their masters. Ha ha ha ha ha. 00:06:40 Speaker 4: Have you come to seek refuge, Hebrews? Come here and we'll show you our camp. We'll wrap you in a blanket and serve you some warm milk. 00:06:53 Speaker 1: Jonathan turned to Cobus, his expression calm. 00:06:57 Speaker 3: There's our sign. The Lord has given us favor. Are you ready? 00:07:01 Speaker 1: Of course I'm not ready. 00:07:03 Speaker 3: But I'm here. Let's move. 00:07:06 Speaker 1: They climbed the rocky incline on all fours, dust kicking up around them. The Philistines stood lazily, arms crossed, waiting. One of them stepped forward, sneering. Jonathan stood face to face with him, head low. I suppose you wanted to desert that desert king of yours, eh? Ah, smart lad, come over here and I'll show you. Jonathan's blade flashed. The man's head hit the dirt before his body. The laughter from the others died. Jonathan didn't wait. He surged forward, sword cutting through flesh and bone. The Philistines stumbled back, unprepared for the sudden attack. Cobus followed close behind, swinging his hammer with brutal force. The first guard fell, then the second, then the third. Jonathan moved like a shadow, his blade striking faster than the eye could follow. A Philistine lunged with an axe. Jonathan pivoted, driving the hilt of his sword into the man's ribs. The soldier gasped, stumbling forward, right into the downswing of Cobus's hammer. They fought as one, Jonathan's speed, Cobus's strength. The Philistines tried to regroup, but the two warriors lured them into the bottleneck of the rocky path. Only three could attack at a time. They came, wave after wave, and each time they fell. One soldier managed to press the shaft of his spear against Cobus's throat. Cobus choked, his vision darkening. Then he drew a knife from his belt and drove it into the man's ribs. Jonathan ducked a sword swing, severed an arm, kicked another man into the dirt. Twenty dead. The camp heard the screams. Panic spread. The Philistines, unable to see the battle clearly, imagined a greater force. Jonathan parried a blow, locked eyes with Cobus, and grinned. Then the ground trembled. It started as a whisper beneath their feet, a shifting of the earth, barely noticeable at first, then a roar. Rocks cracked. The ground beneath them groaned, splitting. The Philistines screamed. A great quake shook the land, knocking men from their feet. Tents collapsed, the garrison fell into chaos, soldiers tripping over one another as they scrambled for their weapons. The Lord had joined the battle. Jonathan steadied himself against the trembling earth. He looked up, watching as the Philistines turned on each other in confusion. A smile flickered across his lips. 00:09:47 Speaker 2: The Lord has given them into our hands. 00:09:50 Speaker 3: Forward! 00:09:56 Speaker 1: Tarvi stood with the watchman at Gibeah and peered down at the Philistine camp. His eyes narrowed against the glare of the afternoon sun. What they saw puzzled them. The enemy garrison was in chaos. Shadows flickered between the tents, blades flashed, and men cried out in terror. The ground trembled, a low, rumbling groan that carried through the valley. The watchmen could not make sense of it. There was no battle, no sign of an attacking force. And yet, the Philistines were retreating. He sprinted down from the watchtower, breathless as he reached Saul's tent. A force has engaged the Philistines, my king. 00:10:38 Speaker 2: They're breaking the ranks. 00:10:40 Speaker 3: What? 00:10:41 Speaker 4: Who has attacked them without my command? 00:10:44 Speaker 3: Who do you suppose, my lord? What would possibly be foolish enough to attack them head on? 00:10:49 Speaker 4: Oh, Jonathan, that insolent boy. 00:10:53 Speaker 1: Saul clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists. His son had forced his hand. If Jonathan had started this battle, then Saul would be left with no choice but to act. 00:11:06 Speaker 4: Someone retrieve High Priest Ahijah. Tell him to bring the Ark of God. Pray to the Lord. Cast the lots. We must know if we are to march. 00:11:16 Speaker 1: Ahijah began to pray, lifting his hands over the sacred relic, murmuring the words of old. But even as the ritual began, the noise from the valley grew deafening. The screams of the Philistines, the clash of steel, the roar of the earthquake, it was as if the heavens themselves were already waging war. 00:11:38 Speaker 4: Blast it! 00:11:38 Speaker 1: There's no time to wait for an answer. Seems as though he's already spoken. With a mighty cry, Saul drew his sword, the sun catching the golden filigree on his breastplate. His men gathered behind him, their battle-worn weapons raised high. Saul rode at the head of the charge, his white horse kicking up dust as they surged forward. The Israelites crashed into the disoriented Philistines like a wave upon crumbling stone. Hebrew slaves who had been bound in Philistine chains turned on their captors, striking them down with stolen swords. The battle stretched across the valley to Beth-Avon, a glorious slaughter where the enemy's own fear became their undoing. The Philistines outnumbered them still, but they were no match for the God of Israel. Victory was within their grasp, but it was not enough for Saul. Saul should have rejoiced, but his hunger for vengeance burned hotter than the battle itself. His mind still lingered on Gilgal, on Samuel's rejection, on the shame of being told his kingdom would not endure. I have to prove myself. And so, As the battle raged, Saul raised his voice above the fray and called out to his men. 00:13:07 Speaker 4: Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have had my vengeance upon the Philistines. 00:13:17 Speaker 1: It was a foolish command. Saul, for lack of true loyalty and trust in his men, always looked for threats and incentives. He couldn't rally the men on his own. so he relied on cheap tools of coercion and motivation. The soldiers wearily obeyed. They fought on, their stomachs empty, their strength waning. They pressed deeper into enemy territory, pushing their bodies past their limits, driven by their king's command. Jonathan, however, had not heard his father's words. He was too far ahead of the battle to hear such nonsense. He had been fighting since morning, Cutting down retreating Philistines through the dense forest, his armour stained with blood and dust. His limbs ached, his breath became ragged. And then he saw it. Golden honey, thick and glistening, dripping from the trees. Jonathan dipped the tip of his staff into the honeycomb and brought it to his lips. The moment the sweetness touched his tongue, strength flooded back into his body. His vision sharpened and his exhaustion melted away. One of the soldiers nearby gasped. My prince, what are you doing with that? Your father has commanded us not to eat. Jonathan wiped his mouth, unconcerned. 00:14:39 Speaker 3: My father has burdened you all. Look at me. I've eaten and now I am strong again. If I had let them eat from the spoils of war, I would have won this battle already. 00:14:49 Speaker 1: He did not linger on the matter. He pressed forward. Victory was near. By nightfall, Saul's soldiers could endure no longer. Hunger had driven them to the brink of madness. When the day's battle was done, they fell upon the spoils like starving wolves. They took sheep, oxen and calves from the enemy camps and slaughtered them on the ground, ripping the meat apart with their hands, devouring it raw. Blood ran down their chins. It was a ghastly sight. They had become like animals. Saul watched in horror. This was a grievous sin. The law of Moses forbade the eating of blood. Saul's foolish threat had led his people to starvation, causing them to break the commands that actually mattered. But Saul did not repent. Instead, he rebuked them. 00:15:44 Speaker 4: You treacherous people! Compose yourselves! Bring the meat to the altar and slaughter it properly before the Lord! 00:15:53 Speaker 1: So they built an altar, sacrificed the animals, and ate the meat in accordance with the law. But the damage had already been done. The stain of Saul's rash oath would not wash away so easily. That night, as the fires burned low, Saul sat in his tent brooding. The Philistines were retreating, but the war was not yet won. Saul's heart was restless. He could not bear to let them escape. 00:16:22 Speaker 4: Let's pursue them now. before they have a chance to escape back to Gath. 00:16:27 Speaker 1: His elders were too terrified of Saul to oppose him. Priest Ahijah suggested they inquire of the Lord first. Saul, not wanting to come across as unholy, agreed. The priest inquired of the Lord, but there was no answer. Saul's face darkened. The silence of God was louder than thunder. Saul refused to acknowledge that it was his own sin that had created the distance between them and the Lord. Instead, he turned the blame outward at his men. 00:17:00 Speaker 3: Someone here in this camp has sinned. 00:17:03 Speaker 4: That must be why the Lord does not answer us. 00:17:08 Speaker 1: He rose abruptly and stormed out of the tent, his eyes wild, his mind racing. 00:17:14 Speaker 4: Which one of you treacherous dogs has broken my oath? I told you not to eat during the battle. Surely one of you ate, or else the Lord would grant us favor. It's the only explanation. 00:17:36 Speaker 1: The elders of Israel flinched as he drew his sword. 00:17:40 Speaker 3: Who dares defy their king? 00:17:43 Speaker 4: Who has cursed this battle? I will slaughter the guilty man where he stands, even if it is my own son. 00:17:55 Speaker 1: No one spoke, but they all knew. And yet, not one of them stepped forward. Jonathan had won their hearts. They would sooner die than betray him. Saul had the priest cast lots. The stones fell. It was Jonathan. The soldiers stepped back. The young prince stood alone. Saul's nostrils flared. He marched forward, gripping his sword. He towered over his son, his chest heaving. What have you done? Jonathan did not flinch. 00:18:33 Speaker 2: I ate honey so I can continue battling our enemies. If that means I must die, then so be it. 00:18:40 Speaker 1: Kill me where I stand, father. 00:18:42 Speaker 3: Make an example of me. 00:18:44 Speaker 1: Jonathan's demeanor was calm, steady. He composed himself in stark contrast to his father's frenetic and trembling rage. Saul lifted his sword to his son's throat. Very well. 00:19:05 Speaker 3: It shall be done. 00:19:08 Speaker 1: Saul drew back his arm, blade cocked and ready to drive into Jonathan's throat. But the men surged forward. Each man rallied to Jonathan's side, eventually surrounding their king, ready to pounce. Saul faltered. His men stood between him and his son, their faces set with resolve. They would defy their king to protect their prince. Saul's grip slackened. The sword fell from his hand. Without a word, he turned and strode back into his tent, alone. That night, As the fires burned low, Jonathan remained with his men. and Saul, in his solitude, felt the weight of God's absence heavier than ever before. This Pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Schellebarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradok, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.