1 Samuel 14:2

But he did not tell his father the same thing. Jonathan concealed from his father and the people the crossing to the station of the Philistines, as he had planned; for just as it is always most fitting to use the counsel of the spiritual, so sometimes it is useful to hide from the carnal the meditated, or even initiated deeds of the greater virtues; lest either their trepidation frighten and break the tender, so to speak, desire of our mind, or they themselves, by emulating us, attempt what they are not yet capable of beginning, or surely the favor of imperfect praise corrupt the integrity of our spiritual purpose. For as Saul in this place and the people who were with him have not yet made progress in virtues, the following words reveal, when it is said:

Moreover, Saul was staying at the edge of Gibeah, etc. For indeed, it pertains to the indication of virtue that he dwelled in Gibeah, that is, the hill, under a pomegranate tree, and had six hundred companions. As we have already said above, the hill represents the height of virtues; the covering of the pomegranate tree represents the protection of the Lord's cross; the number six hundred of the soldiers signifies those perfect in hope and action. But that he sat at the edge of the hill, that the tree under whose shade he was covered was situated in Migron, that is, in the throat, are signs of a still imperfect mind, that is, one that has not yet fully attained the desired heights of virtues; one that holds the mystery of the Lord's Passion in speech, but cannot yet imitate it. If we read Magdon instead of Migron according to the ancient interpreters, which means "tempting," it refers to the same sense. Because there are those who, endowed with right faith and enkindled by desires of right action, do not cease to endure the harsh battles of tempting vices: and therefore certain secret matters of these perfect athletes of Christ, which wage wars against unclean spirits, they deliberately hide from such comrades-in-arms.

Gibeah, as we said, is interpreted as "hill"; Migron is said to mean "from the throat." Now holy preachers are very exalted, not only in works, but also in contemplation. The outer part of this loftiness, therefore, is that of works, while the inner part is that of contemplation. Through this outer part of their exaltedness, they are seen by us as an example; but through the inner part, they are joined to the Creator in great love. The prophet shows them to us as worthy of admiration through the outer part of their loftiness, when he says: "Who are these who fly like clouds, and like doves to their windows?" (Isaiah 60:8). They fly indeed like clouds: because they are light from the weight of sin, and swift in good works by the grace of the Holy Spirit. They are like doves at their windows, because through good works they extend themselves to us as an example, as if through openings, yet they are by no means caught by the desire for praise on account of the purity of life they have displayed. But the king also sits under the pomegranate tree; because the preacher has rest in the shadow of the Redeemer. He is indeed wearied by great labor, but he is refreshed by the consolation of the Lord's words. Hence the same tree is said to remain in that place which is called "from the throat." For what is more fittingly signified by "from the throat" in this place than the sweetness of the holy Gospel? For thus we can now remain in the shadow of the Redeemer, if namely we receive his words for consolation from the meditation of the Gospels. But preachers can rest more quietly in this, who the more deeply and closely they receive that word of the divine mouth, the more sweetly they are nourished. This is also the reason why King Saul is said not to stand, nor to sit, but to remain under the pomegranate tree in Migron; because the perfect teacher is teachable by God: and while he strives to feed others with food, he himself is satisfied with the sweetness of manifold spiritual delights. For while he gazes uniquely upon the delights of the Redeemer, he rises to a wondrous contemplation of virtues: and as if from one rind he gathers very many seeds, while through all those things which he recalls concerning the Redeemer, he gladly leads his mind into delight. In this delight of the Redeemer the bride glories that she has rested, she who says: "I sat under his shadow, whom…