Bede : Jonathan, however, climbed up, crawling on his hands and feet, etc. It is clear indeed that greater obstacles of temptations must be overcome with greater exertion of virtues; which is duly accomplished when, armed against the enemy, a humble spiritual listener follows all the examples of the teacher. But about the situation of this place, so it may become clearer to the reader, let us see the words of Josephus (Antiq. VI, 7). "The enemy's camps," he says, "were situated on a rock with a most subtle length, protruding in three very sharp peaks, with rocks going around, and as though ramparts preventing the assaults of the fighters. Hence it happened that the guards had less solitude of the camps; because by nature that place seemed fortified to all, and very difficult to capture, because not only did it seem difficult to ascend there, but even to approach. When therefore Jonathan had come to the camps, he encouraged his armor-bearer." And a little later: "Thus approaching the enemy's army, with day already appearing, the Philistines saw them." Again, after a few things, when he had narrated the words of the taunting Philistines, he added: "Saul's son, gladly receiving that voice as one designating victory for him, then indeed from that place, in which the enemies had been seen, withdrew; and changing place came to the rock, which, because of the fortifications of the places, was deserted by the guards, and from there, as though crawling and dragging themselves with much effort, they overcame the nature of the place, so that they descended to the enemies' camp; attacking them while sleeping, they indeed killed about twenty." However, having mentioned these places for the sake of clarity, let us return to investigating the mysteries of Sacred Scripture. — Commentary on Samuel Bede : And the first blow was struck, with which Jonathan and his armor-bearer smote, etc. The number ten, as is certain, often signifies the perfection of good works or merit. But on the contrary, the number twenty, in which Jacob served Laban the Syrian, and sent gifts to his brother Esau, whom God hated, demonstrates the duplicity of depraved doctrines, which strive to take away the devotion or certainty of heavenly reward from the simple and members of the Church. The half acre of plowing is the Church, which, still conversing among the reprobate on earth, rejoices to be exercised by the correction of preachers in generating the fruits of life. A pair of oxen plowing in the day is the concord of teachers, of the discipline of law and Gospel under the same yoke of faith agreeing, chastising the hearts of subjects in the light of prescribed knowledge and cultivating them to bear fruit to God by the Spirit, of which Solomon says: "But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest" (Prov. XIV). Therefore, the first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck, was upon twenty men, in the middle of half an acre; and from there the Philistines, troubled and fleeing here and there, slaughtered each other with a very great massacre. First, the Church, which travels away from the Lord, shows the enemies of its faithful or actions to be sons of death, restraining them from besieging and disturbing its own through spiritual masters and obedient disciples; then they themselves of varying errors, as if with a contrary blade, pierce each other, so that, with the Church triumphing, it can openly be understood of them what is said: "For the sword of each one turned against his neighbor." — Commentary on Samuel Gregory the Dialogist : What is crawling on the hands, if not to curve the whole body, to leave nothing lofty in oneself, to bend the upper limbs to perform the duties of the lower? And what is suggested to us by this action, if not that the conversion of sinners requires great compassion from preachers? For what else did our Redeemer appear to do but crawl on his hands, when he became a friend of tax collectors, and received sinners, and ate with them? Indeed, he was crawling on his hands when he said: "The healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are sick" (Matt. 9:12). Hence he says again: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." This bending down of crawling is also designated in sacred Scripture by the term "camel." For the Savior willed to humble himself down to our lowest condition, so that he might raise us up to the heights of his divinity. Paul, indicating that he followed this one who crawled on his hands, says: "I became all things to all people, that I might save all" (1 Cor. 9:22). But also, because hands usually signify works, the pastor crawls on his hands when he sets forth to sinners the way that the converted ought to follow, not by the wisdom of speech, but by the example of his manner of life. Indeed, the Lord was teaching his preachers to crawl on their hands when he said: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). And fittingly, the one crawling is said to climb up to the outpost of the Philistines, because that teacher can arrive at the destruction of the vices of sinners who soothes the sinners themselves by a great display of humility and a great affection of charity. For while he extends the agreeableness of grace outwardly, he inwardly sends in the hand to cut away the sickness of the mind. The face of Jonathan is seen when those who hear the word of the preacher recognize also the charity of his mind; when, namely, they hear him both preaching heavenly things and loving with wonderful charity those to whom he opens those heavenly things. And they are rightly said to fall before his face, because while they recognize the good things that are in the mind of the preacher, they abandon the state of wickedness. But also, while many come to the remedy of penance, some take refuge in the examples of the great, others in those of the lesser. Fittingly therefore it was said: "His armor-bearer was killing others." To be deprived of a reprobate life is indeed to be slain; and whoever abandons evil by someone's example or admonitions falls before his feet as if slain. For James, setting forth the victories of individuals in a general statement, says: "He who causes a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:20). — Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 4