1 Samuel 14
Brenton's English Septuagint
1And when a certain day arrived, Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to Messab of the Philistines that is on the other side yonder; but he told not his father.
2And Saul sat on the top of the hill under the pomegranate tree that is in Magdon, and there were with him about six hundred men.
3And Achia son of Achitob, the brother of Jochabed the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, was the priest of God in Selom wearing an ephod: and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4And in the midst of the passage whereby Jonathan sought to pass over to the encampment of the Philistines, there was both a Gr. tooth of a rock sharp rock on this side, and a sharp rock on the other side: the name of the one was Bases, and the name of the other Senna.
5The one way was northward to one coming to Machmas, and the other way was southward to one coming to Gabae.
6And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, let us go over to Heb. bum «garrison’ Messab of these uncircumcised, if peradventure the Lord may do something for us; for the Lord is not straitened to save by many or by few.
7And his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that thine heart inclines toward: behold, I am with thee, my heart is as thy heart.
8And Jonathan said, Behold, we Gr. do go over will go over to the men, and Gr. will be rolled down suddenly, etc. will come down suddenly upon them.
9If they should say thus to us, Stand aloof there until we shall send you word; then we will stand still by ourselves, and will not go up against them.
10But if they should say thus to us, Come up to us; then will we go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hands; this shall be a sign to us.
11And they both went in to Messab of the Philistines; and the Philistines Gr. say said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of their Caves, where they had hidden themselves.
12And the men of Messab answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and Gr. say said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing: and Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.
13And Jonathan went up on his hands and feet, and his armour-bearer with him; and they looked on the face of Jonathan, and he smote them, and his armour-bearer did smite them after him.
14And the first Gr. stroke slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer effected was twenty men, with darts and Gr. casters of stones slings, and pebbles of the field.
15And there was dismay in the camp, and in the field; and all the people in Messab, and the spoilers were amazed; and they would not act, and the land was terror-struck, and there was dismay from the lord.
16And the watchmen of Saul beheld in Gabaa of Benjamin, and, behold, the army was thrown into confusion on every side.
17And Saul said to the people with him, Number yourselves now, and see who has gone out from you: and they numbered themselves, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not found.
18And Saul said to Achia, Bring the ephod; for he wore the ephod in that day before Israel.
19And it came to pass while Saul Gr. is speaking was speaking to the priest, that the sound in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase greatly; and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hands.
20And Saul went up and all the people that were with him, and they come to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his neighbour, a very great confusion.
21And the servants who had been Gr. yesterday and the third day before with the Philistines, who had gone up to the army, turned themselves also to be with Gr. Israel the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22And all the Israelites who were hidden in mount Ephraim heard also that the Philistines fled; and they also gather themselves after them to battle: and the Lord saved Israel in that day; and the war passed through Bamoth; and all the people with Saul were about ten thousand men.
23And Or, the war was dispersed the battle extended itself to every city in the mount Ephraim.
24And Saul committed a great trespass of ignorance in that day, and he lays a curse on the people, saying, Cursed is the man who shall eat bread before the evening; so I will avenge myself on my enemy: and none of the people tasted bread, The true reading seems to be onk hrista; Tertullian quotes «et tota terra non prandebat’ though all the land was dining.
25And Jaal was a wood Gr. of a swarm, etc. abounding in swarms of bees on the face of the ground.
26And the people went into the place of the bees, and, behold, Heb. vdb Klh «the honey ran’ they continued speaking; and, behold, there was none that put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath of the Lord.
27And Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people; and he reached forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, an dipped it into the honeycomb, and returned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes recovered their sight.
28And one of the people answered and said, Thy father solemnly adjured the people, saying, Cursed is the man who shall eat bread to-day. And the people were very faint,
29and Jonathan knew it, and said, My father has E medio sustulit; rke probably read as rbe destroyed the land: see how my eyes have received sight now that I have tasted a little of this honey.
30Surely if the people had this day eaten freely of the spoils of their enemies which they found, the slaughter among the Philistines would have been greater.
31And on that day he smote some of the Philistines in Machmas; and the people were very weary.
32And the people turned to the spoil; and the people took flocks, and herds, and calves, and slew them on the ground, and the people ate with the blood.
33And it was reported to Saul, saying, The people have sinned against the Lord, eating with the blood: and Saul said, Out of Getthaim roll a great stone to me hither.
34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them to bring hither every one his calf, and every one his sheep: and let them slay it on this stone and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood: and the people brought each one that which was in his hand, and they slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar there to the Lord: this was the first altar that Saul built to the Lord.
36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines this night, and let us plunder among them till the day break, and let us not leave a man among them. And they said, Do all that is good in thy sight: and the priest said, let us draw nigh hither to God.
37And Saul enquired of God, If I go down after the Philistines, wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? And he answered him not in that day.
38And Saul said, Bring hither all the Gr. corners; See Zec 10:4 chiefs of Israel, and know and see by whom this sin has been committed this day.
39For as the Lord lives who has saved Israel, Gr. if he should answer or give sentence if answer should be against my son Jonathan, he shall surely die. And there was no one that answered out of all the people.
40And he said to all the men of Israel, Ye shall be under subjection, and I and Jonathan my son will be Gr. become slaves, if proved guilty; but the LXX might easily read rbel as if dbel under subjection: and the people said to Saul, Do that which is good in thy sight.
41And Saul said, O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? is the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? Lord God of Israel, give Heb. Mymt scil, «that I or Jonathan are guilty, then let the people be considered guiltless’ clear manifestations; and if the lot should declare this, give, I pray thee, to thy people of Israel, give, I pray, holiness. And Jonathan and Saul are taken, and the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan: whomsoever the Lord shall cause to be taken by lot, let him die: and the people said to Saul, This thing is not to be done: and Saul prevailed against the people, and they cast lots between him and Jonathan his son, and Jonathan is taken by lot.
43And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done: and Jonathan told him, and said, I did indeed taste a little honey, with the end of my staff that was in my hand, and, lo! I am to die.
44And Saul said to him, God do so to me, and more also, thou shalt surely die to-day.
45And the people said to Saul, Shall he that has wrought this great salvation in Israel be put to death this day? As the Lord lives, there shall not fall to the ground one of the hairs of his head; for the people of God have wrought successfully this day. And the people prayed for Jonathan in that day, and he died not.
46And Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines departed to their place.
47And Saul received the kingdom, by lot he inherits the office of ruling over Israel: and he fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against the children of Edom, and against Baethaeor, and against the king of Suba, and against the Philistines: whithersoever he turned, he was victorious.
48And he wrought valiantly, and smote Amalec, and rescued Israel out of the hand of them that trampled on him.
49And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jessiu, and Melchisa: and these were the names of his two daughters, the name of the first-born Merob, and the name of the second Melchol.
50And the name of his wife was Achinoom, the daughter of Achimaa: and the name of his captain of the host was Abenner, the son of Ner, son of a kinsman of Saul.
51And Kis was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abenezer, was son of Jamin, son of Abiel.
52And the war was vehement against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, and any valiant man, then he took them to himself.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y UN día aconteció, que Jonathán hijo de Saúl dijo á su criado que le traía las armas: Ven, y pasemos á la guarnición de los Filisteos, que está á aquel lado. Y no lo hizo saber á su padre.
2Y Saúl estaba en el término de Gabaa, debajo de un granado que hay en Migrón, y el pueblo que estaba con él era como seiscientos hombres.
3Y Achîas hijo de Achîtob, hermano de Ichâbod, hijo de Phinees, hijo de Eli, sacerdote de Jehová en Silo, llevaba el ephod; y no sabía el pueblo que Jonathán se hubiese ido.
4Y entre los pasos por donde Jonathán procuraba pasar á la guarnición de los Filisteos, había un peñasco agudo de la una parte, y otro de la otra parte; el uno se llamaba Boses y el otro Sene:
5El un peñasco situado al norte hacia Michmas, y el otro al mediodía hacia Gabaa.
6Dijo pues Jonathán á su criado que le traía las armas: Ven, pasemos á la guarnición de estos incircuncisos: quizá hará Jehová por nosotros; que no es difícil á Jehová salvar con multitud ó con poco número.
7Y su paje de armas le respondió: Haz todo lo que tienes en tu corazón: ve, que aquí estoy contigo á tu voluntad.
8Y Jonathán dijo: He aquí, nosotros pasaremos á los hombres, y nos mostraremos á ellos.
9Si nos dijeren así: Esperad hasta que lleguemos á vosotros; entonces nos estaremos en nuestro lugar, y no subiremos á ellos.
10Mas si nos dijeren así: Subid á nosotros: entonces subiremos, porque Jehová los ha entregado en nuestras manos: y esto nos será por señal.
11Mostráronse pues ambos á la guarnición de los Filisteos, y los Filisteos dijeron: He aquí los Hebreos, que salen de las cavernas en que se habían escondido.
12Y los hombres de la guarnición respondieron á Jonathán y á su paje de armas, y dijeron: Subid á nosotros, y os haremos saber una cosa. Entonces Jonathán dijo á su paje de armas: Sube tras mí, que Jehová los ha entregado en la mano de Israel.
13Y subió Jonathán trepando con sus manos y sus pies, y tras él su paje de armas; y los que caían delante de Jonathán, su paje de armas que iba tras él, los mataba.
14Esta fué la primera rota, en la cual Jonathán con su paje de armas, mataron como unos veinte hombres en el espacio de una media yugada.
15Y hubo temblor en el real y por el campo, y entre toda la gente de la guarnición; y los que habían ido á hacer correrías, también ellos temblaron, y alborotóse la tierra: hubo pues gran consternación.
16Y las centinelas de Saúl vieron desde Gabaa de Benjamín cómo la multitud estaba turbada, é iba de una parte á otra, y era deshecha.
17Entonces Saúl dijo al pueblo que tenía consigo: Reconoced luego, y mirad quién haya ido de los nuestros. Y reconocido que hubieron, hallaron que faltaban Jonathán y su paje de armas.
18Y Saúl dijo á Achîas: Trae el arca de Dios. Porque el arca de Dios estaba entonces con los hijos de Israel.
19Y aconteció que estando aún hablando Saúl con el sacerdote, el alboroto que había en el campo de los Filisteos se aumentaba, é iba creciendo en gran manera. Entonces dijo Saúl al sacerdote: Detén tu mano.
20Y juntando Saúl todo el pueblo que con él estaba, vinieron hasta el lugar de la batalla: y he aquí que la espada de cada uno era vuelta contra su compañero, y la mortandad era grande.
21Y los Hebreos que habían estado con los Filisteos de tiempo antes, y habían venido con ellos de los alrededores al campo, también éstos se volvieron para ser con los Israelitas que estaban con Saúl y con Jonathán.
22Asimismo todos los Israelitas que se habían escondido en el monte de Ephraim, oyendo que los Filisteos huían, ellos también los persiguieron en aquella batalla.
23Así salvó Jehová á Israel aquel día. Y llegó el alcance hasta Beth-aven.
24Pero los hombres de Israel fueron puestos en apuro aquel día; porque Saúl había conjurado al pueblo, diciendo: Cualquiera que comiere pan hasta la tarde, hasta que haya tomado venganza de mis enemigos, sea maldito. Y todo el pueblo no había gustado pan.
25Y todo el pueblo del país llegó á un bosque donde había miel en la superficie del campo.
26Entró pues el pueblo en el bosque, y he aquí que la miel corría; mas ninguno hubo que llegase la mano á su boca: porque el pueblo temía el juramento.
27Empero Jonathán no había oído cuando su padre conjuró al pueblo, y alargó la punta de una vara que traía en su mano, y mojóla en un panal de miel, y llegó su mano á su boca; y sus ojos fueron aclarados.
28Entonces habló uno del pueblo, diciendo: Tu padre ha conjurado expresamente al pueblo, diciendo: Maldito sea el hombre que comiere hoy manjar. Y el pueblo desfallecía.
29Y respondió Jonathán: Mi padre ha turbado el país. Ved ahora cómo han sido aclarados mis ojos, por haber gustado un poco de esta miel:
30¿Cuánto más si el pueblo hubiera hoy comido del despojo de sus enemigos que halló? ¿no se habría hecho ahora mayor estrago en los Filisteos?
31E hirieron aquel día á los Filisteos desde Michmas hasta Ajalón: mas el pueblo se cansó mucho.
32Tornóse por tanto el pueblo al despojo, y tomaron ovejas y vacas y becerros, y matáronlos en tierra, y el pueblo comió con sangre.
33Y dándole de ello aviso á Saúl, dijéronle: El pueblo peca contra Jehová comiendo con sangre. Y él dijo: Vosotros habéis prevaricado; rodadme ahora acá una grande piedra.
34Y Saúl tornó á decir: Esparcíos por el pueblo, y decidles que me traigan cada uno su vaca, y cada cual su oveja, y degolladlos aquí, y comed; y no pecaréis contra Jehová comiendo con sangre. Y trajo todo el pueblo cada cual por su mano su vaca aquella noche, y degollaron allí.
35Y edificó Saúl altar á Jehová, el cual altar fué el primero que edificó á Jehová.
36Y dijo Saúl: Descendamos de noche contra los Filisteos, y los saquearemos hasta la mañana, y no dejaremos de ellos ninguno. Y ellos dijeron: Haz lo que bien te pareciere. Dijo luego el sacerdote: Lleguémonos aquí á Dios.
37Y Saúl consultó á Dios: ¿Descenderé tras los Filisteos? ¿los entregarás en mano de Israel? Mas Jehová no le dió respuesta aquel día.
38Entonces dijo Saúl: Llegaos acá todos los principales del pueblo; y sabed y mirad por quién ha sido hoy este pecado;
39Porque vive Jehová, que salva á Israel, que si fuere en mi hijo Jonathán, el morirá de cierto. Y no hubo en todo el pueblo quien le respondiese.
40Dijo luego á todo Israel: Vosotros estaréis á un lado, y yo y Jonathán mi hijo estaremos á otro lado. Y el pueblo respondió á Saúl: Haz lo que bien te pareciere.
41Entonces dijo Saúl á Jehová Dios de Israel: Da perfección. Y fueron tomados Jonathán y Saúl, y el pueblo salió libre.
42Y Saúl dijo: Echad suerte entre mí y Jonathán mi hijo. Y fué tomado Jonathán.
43Entonces Saúl dijo á Jonathán: Declárame qué has hecho. Y Jonathán se lo declaró, y dijo: Cierto que gusté con la punta de la vara que traía en mi mano, un poco de miel: ¿y he aquí he de morir?
44Y Saúl respondió: Así me haga Dios y así me añada, que sin duda morirás, Jonathán.
45Mas el pueblo dijo á Saúl: ¿Ha pues de morir Jonathán, el que ha hecho esta salud grande en Israel? No será así. Vive Jehová, que no ha de caer un cabello de su cabeza en tierra, pues que ha obrado hoy con Dios. Así libró el pueblo á Jonathán, para que no muriese.
46Y Saúl dejó de seguir á los Filisteos; y los Filisteos se fueron á su lugar.
47Y ocupando Saúl el reino sobre Israel, hizo guerra á todos sus enemigos alrededor: contra Moab, contra los hijos de Ammón, contra Edom, contra los reyes de Soba, y contra los Filisteos: y á donde quiera que se tornaba era vencedor.
48Y reunió un ejército, é hirió á Amalec, y libró á Israel de mano de los que le robaban.
49Y los hijos de Saúl fueron Jonathán, Isui, y Melchi-sua. Y los nombres de sus dos hijas eran, el nombre de la mayor, Merab, y el de la menor, Michâl.
50Y el nombre de la mujer de Saúl era Ahinoam, hija de Aimaas. Y el nombre del general de su ejército era Abner, hijo de Ner tío de Saúl.
51Porque Cis padre de Saúl, y Ner padre de Abner, fueron hijos de Abiel.
52Y la guerra fué fuerte contra los Filisteos todo el tiempo de Saúl; y á cualquiera que Saúl veía hombre valiente y hombre de esfuerzo, juntábale consigo.
King James Version
1Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.
2And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
3And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
8Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
9If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
10But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
11And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
15And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
17Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
18And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
19And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
20And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
21Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
22Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.
24And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
25And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
27But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
29Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
32And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
33Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
48And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
50And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
World English Bible
1Now it happened on a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father.
2Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron; and the people who were with him were about six hundred men,
3including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.
4Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
6Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for there is no restraint on the LORD to save by many or by few.”
7His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go, and behold, I am with you according to your heart.”
8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.
9If they say this to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.
10But if they say this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up, for the LORD has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us.”
11Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!”
12The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
13Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.
14That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.
15There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling.
16The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered.
17Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.
19While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”
20Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion.
21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23So the LORD saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.
24The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
25All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.
26When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.
28Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” So the people were faint.
29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.”
31They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;
32and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
33Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!”
34Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against the LORD in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.
35Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD.
36Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light. Let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.”
37Saul asked counsel of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.
38Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today.
39For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
40Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41Therefore Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.”
44Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
45The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, so he didn’t die.
46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
47Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them.
48He did valiantly and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he took him into his service.