"He Told Not His Father”

There was no real wish to hide anything, but men who have no faith themselves are apt to discourage and hinder those who have. David certainly never would have gone down into the Valley of Elah had he paid heed to Saul (1 Sam. 17:33). It was better to have the cooperation of a lowly soul such as the unnamed armor-bearer if possessed of like faith, than the sanction and support of a monarch who had no faith at all. Saul had the forms of religion about him. Jehovah's priest was there wearing an ephod, and the ark was not far away. But what is the value of forms if power is lacking? The past and present history of Christendom is a sufficient answer.
Let it be noted that both Jonathan and his armor-bearer were young men.