Josephus thinks that it was at break of day that Jonathan and his armor-bearer approached the Philistine outpost, and reached it when most of the men were yet asleep (Antiquities vi. 6. 2). The narrative of ch. 14 confirms the idea that it was early morning (see vs. 15, 16, 20, 23, 24-28, 30, 31, 45). Whether the two Israelites waited till night to make the ascent or whether it took them but a few minutes to climb the precipice is not stated. They evidently took the fortress completely by surprise, for the utmost confusion reigned in the Philistine garrison.