Inquiry:
What was the first slaughter of Jonathan? Was it the Philistine garrison in Geba (1 Samuel 13:3) or after Geba (1 Samuel 14:14)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
As we read 1 Samuel, it is evident that the slaughter at Geba took place prior to the events mentioned in chapter 14. So, which happened first?
The questioner’s focus on the word “first” in 1 Samuel 14:14 is part of the problem with this supposed contradiction. Is 1 Samuel 14:14 saying that Jonathan hadn’t had a successful battle before this time? 1 Samuel 13:3 reveals that he had defeated the Philistines on a previous occasion.
What did the writer mean when he spoke of the
…first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made...
Rather than it being the first ever (which the writer does not say), could it not be the first slaughter that Jonathan and his armorbearer made on that day? As a result of this first slaughter,
…there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people … there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there… (v 15-16)
They did not just kill 20 Philistines that day, but pursued them and caused terror among the Philistine people. It was the first of many slaughters on that day for Jonathan and his armorbearer.
There is no contradiction.
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