Saul and Jonathan in Chiasms – Part 2 of 3

There are many chiasms within 1 Samuel 13-14 with varying sizes. This blog looks at the second of three larger ones.

Plows, Not Swords Chiasm

The chiasm shown in Table 6.1 focuses on an encounter between the Israelites and the Philistines, and the fighting implements available to Israel. The primary setting of this chiasm, identified in element A, is Saul at Gibeah and “the people” with him, about six hundred men. In a chiasm it is quite common for the setting to include people, rather than just a time and/or location. It is worth noting that the most common term used in these chapters to refer to Saul’s army is simply “the people,” ordinary men prepared to defend their country, Israel.

Element B names their leaders: Saul and his son Jonathan. Element C describes the situation they are in: the Philistines are nearby, either coming or going from Michmash, an Israelite town. Israel’s predicament comes into increasing focus in element D, they have no swords or spears. At the center of the chiasm in E is a list of the weapons they do have: sharpened plowshares, mattocks, axes, and other farm tools.

Table 6.1: Plows, Not Swords Chiasm

	Element Specifications	Text: 1 Sam 13:15 – 14:2
Aᵅ	Saul, Gibeah, ‘the people … with him … about six hundred men’	And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. (13:15)
Bᵅ	Jonathan, son, Saul	And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, (13:16)
Cᵅ	Philistines, Michmash, go out	but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. (13:16-17)
Dᵅ	sword, spear, [not] found, [Israel]	Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” (13:19)
Eᵅ	sharpen, plowshare, mattock, axe, [farm tool]	But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, (13:20)
Eᵝ	sharpen, plowshare, mattock, axe, [farm tool]	and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. (13:21)
Dᵝ	sword, spear, [not] found, [Israel]	So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. (13:22)
Cᵝ	Philistines, Michmash, go out	And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. (13:23)
Bᵝ	Jonathan, son, Saul	One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, (14:1)
Aᵝ	Saul, Gibeah, ‘the people … with him … about six hundred men’	Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, (14:2)

If one ignores the chiasm while reading vv. 19-21, the description of Israel having to go and pay the Philistines to get their tools sharpened may seem to be an unnecessary interruption in the story line—just an interesting cultural tidbit. But since it appears as the middle of a chiasm, it suggests that the author is using these verses to make a thematic statement. This is similar to the situation in Ruth 4:7-8 where the narrator says, “Now this was the custom in former times in Israel.” At first glance this also appears to be just an interesting cultural tidbit, but it too occurs in the middle of a chiasm. (See Makhashabah: Patterns in Ruth, pp. 68-69.)

Israel battling without swords and spears is a recurring theme in 1 Samuel. When they put their trust in God rather than their own power, inferior weaponry doesn’t matter. In 1 Sam. 7, the Philistines mount a surprise attack against the Israelites, who had gathered peacefully to fast and pray, but God gives Israel victory. In chapter 14, God gives them victory again when Jonathan acts in faith. In chapter 17, David defeats a heavily armed Goliath with only a sling and his faith, and the Philistine army flees.