Michmash

Michmash sat on the north side of a steep ravine facing Geba and Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. Early in Saul's reign the Philistines gathered there in great numbers, and Israel's army trembled and scattered. Jonathan, Saul's son, and his armourbearer climbed alone between two sharp rocks named Bozez and Seneh toward the Philistine garrison, trusting that 'there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.' God gave them victory, the earth quaked, and trembling spread through the Philistine host until all Israel joined the pursuit. Isaiah later pictured an invading army laying up its baggage at Michmash on its march toward Jerusalem, and men of Benjamin lived there again after the return from exile.

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Details

Region: Canaan
Modern Location: Mukhmas, northeast of Jerusalem, West Bank

Strongest connections in Scripture

1 Samuel 13 1 Samuel 14 Isaiah 10 Nehemiah 11

Journey Paths

Jonathan's Journey

Jerusalem → Gibeon → Michmash

Key Passages

The Philistines Camp at Michmash

1 Samuel 13:5

A vast Philistine army pitches at Michmash and Israel hides in caves and thickets.

A⁵nd the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

Jonathan Climbs to the Garrison

1 Samuel 14:4-14

Two men scale a rocky pass on faith, and God turns the battle.

A⁴nd between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

⁵ The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. ⁶ And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. ⁷ And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. ⁸ Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. ⁹ If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. ¹⁰ But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. ¹¹ And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. ¹² And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. ¹³ And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. ¹⁴ And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

Michmash in Isaiah's Vision

Isaiah 10:28

Isaiah traces an invader's march past Michmash toward Jerusalem.

H²⁸e is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:

Benjamin Resettles Michmash

Nehemiah 11:31

After the exile, the children of Benjamin dwell again at Michmash.

T³¹he children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,

Did You Know?

The two rocks Jonathan climbed between were named Bozez and Seneh.

Jonathan's first attack killed about twenty men within about half an acre of land.

The steep Wadi Suweinit between Michmash and Geba is still pointed out as the likely pass.

Key Chapters

1 Samuel 13 Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice 4 min read 1 Samuel 14 Jonathan's Brave Deed 9 min read Isaiah 10 Woe to Assyria 6 min read Nehemiah 11 Residents of Jerusalem 5 min read