The armor-bearer, who also was a man of faith and prayer, encouragement the design, and together they withdrew from the camp, secretly, lest their purpose should be opposed. With earnest prayer to the Guide of their fathers, they agreed upon a sign by which they might determine how to proceed. Then passing down into the gorge separating the two armies, they silently threaded their way, under the shadow of the cliff, and partially concealed by the mounds and ridges of the valley. Approaching the Philistine fortress, they were revealed to the view of their enemies, who said, tauntingly, "Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves," then challenged them, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing," meaning that they would punish the two Israelites for their daring. This challenge was the token that Jonathan and his companion had agreed to accept as evidence that the Lord would prosper their undertaking. Passing now from the sight of the Philistines, and choosing a secret and difficult path, the warriors made their way to the summit of a cliff that had been deemed inaccessible, and was not very strongly guarded. Thus they penetrated the enemy's camp and slew the sentinels, who, overcome with surprise and fear, offered no resistance.

Våbendrageren, der også var en troens og bønnens mand, gik ind på planen, og de forlod nu lejren i al hemmelighed, for at man ikke skulle forhindre dem i deres forehavende. Da de havde bedt en alvorlig bøn til ham, der havde været deres fædres anfører, enedes de om at lade et bestemt tegn være afgørende for deres taktik. Derpå gik de ned i den slugt, der skilte de to hære, og listede lydløst fremad i skyggen af klippen og delvis skjult af de højereliggende partier i slugten. Da de kom i nærheden af filisternes fæstning, opdagede fjenderne dem og råbte hånende: "Se, der kommer nogle hebræere krybende ud af de jordhuller, de har skjult sig i!" De udfordrede dem nu med ordene: "Kom op til os, så skal vi lære jer!" Dermed mente de, at de ville straffe de to israelitter for deres dristighed. Det var netop denne udfordring, Jonatan og hans våbendrager var blevet enige om at betragte som tegnet på, at Herren ville lade deres forehavende lykkes. De to krigere benyttede nu en hemmelig og vanskelig sti, hvor de var skjult for filisterne, og klatrede op til toppen af den klippe, som var blevet anset for at være ubestigelig og derfor var næsten ubevogtet. På den måde trængte de ind i fjendens lejr og dræbte vagtposterne, der blev så overvældede af forbavselse og frygt, at de ikke gjorde modstand.