1 Samuel 14 in the early church
[LXX: 1 Kingdoms; Vulgate: 1 Kings]
17 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 Samuel 14, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 3 · 6 · 13 · 24 · 27 · 43 · 44 · 45
1 Samuel 14:3
including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:3 | Question 46, section 7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:6 | Part 2, chapter 18 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 445-450 |
1 Samuel 14:13
So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:13 | On the Duties of the Clergy 1.40 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
1 Samuel 14:24
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:24 | On Fasting 10 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 Sam 14:24 | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 120 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| 1 Sam 14:24–45 | Against Jovinianus 2.15 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
1 Samuel 14:27
Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:27 | On Fasting 10 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 Sam 14:27 | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 120 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| 1 Sam 14:27 | Letter 78.41 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 Sam 14:27 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 136–138 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
1 Samuel 14:43
“Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him. So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:43 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.65 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
1 Samuel 14:44
And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:44–45 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 136–138 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
1 Samuel 14:45
But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:45 | Against Marcion 2.17 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| 1 Sam 14:45 | Against Marcion 4.10 · Tertullian | allusion, medium confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| 1 Sam 14:45 | On Fasting 10 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 Sam 14:45 | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 120 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| 1 Sam 14:45 | Letter 78.41 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |