14:1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
14:2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,
14:3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
14:4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh.
14:5 One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
14:7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
14:8 Jonathan said, “Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us.
14:9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.
14:10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands.”
14:11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.”
14:12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”
14:13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.
14:14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
14:15 Then panic struck the whole army–those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties–and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
14:16 Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.
14:17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
14:18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)
14:19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
14:20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.
14:21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
14:22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.
14:23 So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
14:25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.
14:26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out, yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.
14:27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
14:28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be any man who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”
14:29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.
14:30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
14:31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted.
14:32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.
14:33 Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that has blood in it.” “You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”
14:34 Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with blood still in it.’” So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.
14:35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this.
14:36 Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.” “Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”
14:37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.
14:38 Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today.
14:39 As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of the men said a word.
14:40 Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.” “Do what seems best to you,” the men replied.
14:41 Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give me the right answer.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.
14:42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him, “I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now must I die?”
14:44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”
14:45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die–he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
14:46 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
14:47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.
14:48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
14:49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.
14:50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.
14:51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
14:52 All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
14:1 Now one day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, Come and let us cross over to the garrison of the Philistines that is on the other side; but he did not tell his father.
14:2 And Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is in Migron; and the people with him were about six hundred men,
14:3 Including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod; and the people did not know that Jonathan went.
14:4 And in the pass by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the garrison of the Philistines, there was a rocky crag on one side, and another rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh.
14:5 The one crag rose up on the north before Michmash; and the other, on the south before Geba.
14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. Perhaps Jehovah will act on our behalf, for there is no constraint on Jehovah to save by many or by few.
14:7 And his armor bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Go to it; I am here with you according to your heart.
14:8 And Jonathan said, Now we will cross over to the men and disclose ourselves to them.
14:9 If they say this to us, Wait until we come to you; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.
14:10 But if they say this, Come up to us; then we will go up, for Jehovah will have delivered them into our hand, and this will be the sign of it to us.
14:11 And both of them disclosed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, The Hebrews are now coming out of the holes that they hid themselves in.
14:12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, Come up to us, and we will show you something. Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, Come up after me, for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
14:13 And Jonathan went up on his hands and feet with his armor bearer behind him; and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer went behind him killing them.
14:14 And that first slaughter that Jonathan and his armor bearer made was of about twenty men in half a furrow of an acre of land.
14:15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; even the garrison and the raiders were in a panic; and the earth quaked. And there came to be a very great panic.
14:16 And Saul s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and the multitude was just then melting away, and they were going here and there.
14:17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Call a muster, and see who has gone from us. And they called a muster, and Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
14:18 And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring the Ark of God here; for the Ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
14:19 And while Saul spoke to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase. Then Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand.
14:20 And Saul and all the people who were with him gathered together and went into the battle. And each man s sword was against his companion; the tumult was very great.
14:21 And the Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and who had gone up with them into the camp all around, they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
14:22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they followed them closely in the battle.
14:23 Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day, and the battle crossed over beyond Beth-aven.
14:24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food before the evening, when I am avenged of my enemies. So none of the people even tasted food.
14:25 And all those from the land came upon a honeycomb, and there was honey on the surface of the ground.
14:26 And when the people came to the honeycomb, there was honey flowing; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people were afraid of the oath.
14:27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; and he put forth the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and he put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
14:28 Then someone from among the people responded and said, Your father sternly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food today; and so the people are faint.
14:29 Then Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. Look how my eyes lit up because I tasted a bit of this honey.
14:30 How much more if today the people had eaten up the spoil from their enemies, which they found, for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.
14:31 Now they had struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint.
14:32 And the people flew upon the spoil; and they took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
14:33 And it was reported to Saul, saying, The people are now sinning against Jehovah by eating the spoil with the blood. And he said, You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today.
14:34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Let each man bring his ox here to me, and each his sheep; and slay them here and eat; and do not sin against Jehovah by eating these things with the blood. And all the people brought their oxen with them there that night and slew them there.
14:35 And Saul built an altar to Jehovah; it was the first altar that he built to Jehovah.
14:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man among them. And they said, Do all that is good in your sight. But the priest said, Let us draw near to God here.
14:37 And Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He did not answer him that day.
14:38 Then Saul said, Come here, all you chiefs of the people; and find out how this sin has happened today.
14:39 For as Jehovah lives, who saves Israel, even if it is with Jonathan my son, he shall surely be put to death. But there was no one among all the people who answered him.
14:40 And he said to all Israel, You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son shall be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what is good in your sight.
14:41 Then Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, Show perfectly. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, but the people escaped.
14:42 And Saul said, Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jonathan told him and said, I did indeed taste a bit of honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die.
14:44 And Saul said, God do so to me and more so, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.
14:45 Then the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has executed this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Jehovah lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan so that he did not die.
14:46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
14:47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies all around, against Moab and against the children of Ammon and against Edom and against the kings of Zobah and against the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he did them harm.
14:48 And he performed valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hand of those who had plundered them.
14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: The name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger was Michal.
14:50 And the name of Saul s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul s uncle.
14:51 And Kish was Saul s father; and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
14:52 And there 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 for himself.