1 Samuel 14

1One dayH1961H3117 JonathanH3129 sonH1121 of SaulH7586 saidH559 toH413 the young manH5288 bearingH5375 his armorH3627, “ComeH1980, let us cross overH5674 toH413 the PhilistineH6430 outpostH4673 on the other sideH5676H1975.” But Jonathan did notH3808 tellH5046 his fatherH1.

2Meanwhile, SaulH7586 was stayingH3427 underH8478 the pomegranate treeH74161 in MigronH4051 on the outskirtsH7097 of GibeahH1390. And the troopsH5971 whoH834 were with himH5973 numbered about sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376, 3including AhijahH281, who was wearingH5375 an ephodH646. He was the sonH1121 of Ichabod’sH350 brotherH251 AhitubH285 sonH1121 of PhinehasH6372, the sonH1121 of EliH5941 the priestH3548 of the LORDH3068 in ShilohH7887. But the troopsH5971 did notH3808 knowH3045 thatH3588 JonathanH3129 had leftH1980.

4Now there were cliffsH8127H5553 on both sidesH5676H2088H8127H5553 of the passH4569 thatH834 JonathanH3129 intendedH1245 to crossH5674 to reachH5921 the PhilistineH6430 outpostH4673. OneH259 was namedH8034 BozezH949H8034 and the otherH259 SenehH5573. 5OneH259 cliffH8127 stoodH4690 to the northH6828 towardH4136 MichmashH4363, and the otherH259 to the southH5045 towardH4136 GebaH1387.

6JonathanH3083 saidH559 toH413 the young manH5288 bearingH5375 his armorH3627, “ComeH1980, let us cross overH5674 toH413 the outpostH4673 of theseH428 uncircumcised menH6189. PerhapsH194 the LORDH3068 will workH6213 on our behalfH3588. NothingH369 can hinderH4622 the LORDH3068 from savingH3467, whether by manyH7227 orH176 by fewH4592.”

7His armor-bearerH5375H3627 repliedH559, “DoH6213 allH3605 that isH834 in your heartH3824. Go aheadH5186; I amH2005 with youH5973 heart and soulH3824.”

8“Very wellH2009,” saidH559 JonathanH3083, “we willH587 cross overH5674 towardH413 these menH582 and show ourselvesH1540 to themH413. 9IfH518H3541 they sayH559, ‘WaitH1826 untilH5704 we comeH5060 to youH413,’ then we will stayH5975 where we areH8478 and will notH3808 go upH5927 to themH413. 10But ifH518H3541 they sayH559, ‘Come on upH5927H5921,’ then we will go upH5927, becauseH3588 thisH2088 will be our signH226 that the LORDH3068 has delivered themH5414 into our handsH3027.”

11So the two of themH8147 showed themselvesH1540 toH413 the outpostH4673 of the PhilistinesH6430, who exclaimedH559, “LookH2009, the HebrewsH5680 are coming outH3318 ofH4480 the holesH2356 in whichH834 they were hidingH2244H8033!”

12So the menH582 of the outpostH4675 called outH6030 to JonathanH3129 and his armor-bearerH5375H3627, “Come on upH5927H413, and we will teachH3045 you a lessonH1697!”

“FollowH5927 meH310,” JonathanH3129H413 toldH559 his armor-bearerH5375H3627, “forH3588 the LORDH3068 has delivered themH5414 into the handH3027 of IsraelH3478.”

13So JonathanH3129H5921 climbed upH5927 on his handsH3027H5921 and feetH7272, with his armor-bearerH5375H3627 behind himH310. And the Philistines fellH5307 beforeH6440 JonathanH3129, and his armor-bearerH5375H3627 followedH310 and finished them offH4191. 14In that firstH7223 assaultH4347, JonathanH3129 and his armor-bearerH5375H3627 struck downH5221 about twentyH6242 menH376 in about halfH2677 an acreH4618H67762 of landH7704.

15Then panicH2731 struckH1961 the Philistines in the campH4264, in the fieldH7704, and among allH3605 the peopleH5971. Even those in the outpostsH4673 and raiding partiesH7843 trembledH2729. IndeedH1571H1992, the earthH776 quakedH7264, and panicH2731 spreadH1961 from GodH430.3

16Now when Saul’sH7586 watchmenH6822 at GibeahH1390 in BenjaminH1144 lookedH7200 and sawH2009 the troopsH1995 melting awayH4127 and scatteringH1980 in every directionH1988,4 17SaulH7586 saidH559 to the troopsH5971 whoH834 were with himH854, “Call the rollH6485H4994 and seeH7200 whoH4310 has leftH1980 usH5973.”

And when they had called the rollH6485, they sawH2009 that JonathanH3129 and his armor-bearerH5375H3627 were notH369 there.

18Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to AhijahH281, “BringH5066 the arkH727 of GodH430.” (ForH3588 at thatH1931 timeH3117 itH727H430 wasH1961 with the IsraelitesH1121H3478.)5 19WhileH5704 SaulH7586 was talkingH1696 toH413 the priestH3548, the commotionH1995 in the PhilistineH6430 campH4264 continued toH1980 increaseH7227. So SaulH7586 saidH559 toH413 the priestH3548, “WithdrawH622 your handH3027.”

20Then SaulH7586 and allH3605 his troopsH5971 assembledH2199 and marchedH935 toH5704 the battleH4421, and they foundH2009 the Philistines in totalH3966H1419 confusionH4103, with each manH376 wieldingH1961 the swordH2719 against his neighborH7453. 21And the HebrewsH5680 who hadH834 previouslyH865H8032 gone upH5927 into the surrounding campsH4264 to join the PhilistinesH6430 nowH1571 went over toH5439H1961H5973 the IsraelitesH3478 whoH834 were withH5973 SaulH7586 and JonathanH3129. 22When allH3605 the IsraelitesH3478 who had been hidingH2244 in the hill countryH2022 of EphraimH669 heardH8085 thatH3588 the PhilistinesH6430 were fleeingH5127, theyH1992 alsoH1571 joined the battleH4421 in close pursuitH1692H310.

23So the LORDH3068 savedH3467 IsraelH3478 thatH1931 dayH3117, and the battleH4421 moved onH5674 beyond Beth-avenH1007.

Jonathan Eats the Honey

24Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were in distressH5065 thatH1931 dayH3117, for SaulH7586 had placed the troopsH5971 under an oathH422, sayingH559, “Cursed isH779 the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 any foodH3899 beforeH5704 eveningH6153, before I have taken vengeanceH5358 on my enemiesH341.” So noneH3808H3605 of the troopsH5971 tastedH2938 any foodH3899.

25Then allH3605H776 the troops enteredH935 the forestH3293, and there wasH1961 honeyH1706 onH5921 the groundH6440H7704. 26And whenH5971 they enteredH935H413 the forestH3293 and sawH2009 the flowingH1982 honeyH1706, not one of themH369 putH5381 his handH3027 toH413 his mouthH6310, becauseH3588 they fearedH3372 the oathH7621.

27Jonathan, howeverH3129, had notH3808 heard thatH8085 his fatherH1 had bound the peopleH5971 with the oathH7650. So he reached outH7971 the endH7097 of the staffH4294 in his handH3027, dippedH2881 it into the honeycombH3295H1706, and putH7725 his handH3027 toH413 his mouthH6310, and his eyesH5869 brightenedH7200.6 28ThenH6030 oneH376 of the soldiersH5971 told himH559, “Your fatherH1 bound the troopsH5971H559 with a solemn oathH7650, sayingH7650, ‘Cursed isH779 the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 todayH3117.’ That is why the peopleH5971 are faintH5888.”

29“My fatherH1 has brought troubleH5916 to the landH776,” JonathanH3129 repliedH559. “Just lookH7200H4994 at howH3588 my eyesH5869 have brightenedH215 becauseH3588 I tastedH2938 a littleH4592 of thisH2088 honeyH1706. 30How much better it would have beenH637H3588 ifH3863 the troopsH5971 had eaten freelyH398 todayH3117 from the plunderH7998 they tookH4672H3588 from their enemiesH341! Would notH6258H3808 the slaughterH4347 of the PhilistinesH6430 have been much greaterH7235?”

31ThatH1931 dayH3117, after the Israelites had struck downH5221 the PhilistinesH6430 from MichmashH4363 to AijalonH357, the peopleH5971 were veryH3966 faintH5888. 32So they rushed greedilyH6213 toH413 the plunderH7998, takingH3947 sheepH6629, cattleH1241, and calvesH1121H1241. They slaughtered themH7819 on the groundH776 and ateH398H5971 meat withH5921 the blood still in itH1818.

33Then someone reportedH5046 to SaulH7586: “LookH2009, the troopsH5971 are sinningH2398 against the LORDH3068 by eatingH398 meat withH5921 the blood still in itH1818.”

“You have broken faithH898,” said SaulH559. “RollH1556 a largeH1419 stoneH68 over hereH413 at onceH3117.” 34Then heH7586 saidH559, “GoH6327 among the troopsH5971 and tellH559 them, ‘Each manH376 must bringH5066 meH413 his oxH7794H376 or his sheepH7716, slaughterH7819 them in thisH2088 place, and then eatH398. Do notH3808 sinH2398 against the LORDH3068 by eatingH398 meat withH413 the blood still in itH1818.’”

So that nightH3915 everyoneH3605H5971H376 broughtH5066 his oxH7794H3027 and slaughteredH7819 it thereH8033. 35Then SaulH7586 builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LORDH3068; it was the firstH2490 time he had builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LORDH3068.

36And SaulH7586 saidH559, “Let us go downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430 by nightH3915 and plunderH962 them untilH5704 dawnH216H1242, leavingH7604 noH3808 manH376 alive!”

“DoH6213 whatH3605 seems goodH2896 to youH5869,” the troops repliedH559.

But the priestH3548 saidH559, “We must consultH7126H413 GodH430 hereH1988.”

The People Save Jonathan

37So SaulH7586 inquiredH7592 of GodH430, “Shall I go downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430? Will You give themH5414 into the handH3027 of IsraelH3478?”

But God did notH3808 answer himH6030 thatH1931 dayH3117.

38Therefore SaulH7586 saidH559, “ComeH5066 hereH1988, allH3605 you leadersH6438 of the troopsH5971, and let us investigateH3045H7200 howH4100 thisH2063 sinH2403 has occurredH1961 todayH3117. 39As surely asH3588 the LORDH3068 who savesH3467 IsraelH3478 livesH2416, evenH3588 ifH518 it isH3426 my sonH1121H3588 JonathanH3129, he must dieH4191!”

But not oneH369 of the troopsH5971 saidH6030 a wordH3605.

40Then Saul saidH559 toH413 allH3605 IsraelH3478, “YouH859 standH1961 on oneH259 sideH5676, and IH589 and my sonH1121 JonathanH3129 will standH1961 on the otherH259 sideH5676.”

“DoH6213 what seems goodH2896 to youH5869,” the troopsH5971H413H7586 repliedH559.

41So SaulH7586 saidH559 toH413 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respondH3051 with ThummimH8549.”7 And JonathanH3129 and SaulH7586 were selectedH3920, but the peopleH5971 were cleared of the chargeH3318.

42Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “CastH5307 the lot between meH996 andH996 my sonH1121 JonathanH3129.” And JonathanH3129 was selectedH3920.

43“TellH5046 me whatH4100 you have doneH6213,” SaulH7586 commandedH559H413 himH3129.

So JonathanH3129H559 toldH5046 him, “I only tastedH2938 a littleH4592 honeyH1706 with the endH7097 of the staffH4294 thatH834 was in my handH3027. And nowH2005 I must dieH4191?”

44And SaulH7586 declaredH559, “May GodH430 punish meH3541H6213, and ever soH3541 severelyH3254, if you, JonathanH3129, do notH3588 surely dieH4191!”

45But the peopleH5971 saidH559 toH413 SaulH7586, “Must JonathanH3129 dieH4191—he whoH834 accomplishedH6213 suchH2063 a greatH1419 deliveranceH3444 for IsraelH3478? NeverH2486! As surely as the LORDH3068 livesH2416, notH518 a hairH8185 of his headH7218 will fallH5307 to the groundH776, forH3588 withH5973 God’s helpH430 he has accomplished thisH6213 todayH3117H2088.”

So the peopleH5971 rescuedH6299 JonathanH3129, and he did notH3808 dieH4191. 46Then SaulH7586 gave upH5927 his pursuitH310 of the PhilistinesH6430, and the PhilistinesH6430 returnedH1980 to their own landH4725.

Saul’s Victories

47After SaulH7586 had assumedH3920 the kingshipH4410 overH5921 IsraelH3478, he foughtH3898 against allH3605 his enemiesH341 on every sideH5439—the MoabitesH4124, the AmmonitesH1121H5983, the EdomitesH123, the kingsH44288 of ZobahH6678, and the PhilistinesH6430. WhereverH3605 he turnedH6437, he routed themH7561.9 48He foughtH6213 valiantlyH2428 and defeatedH5221 the AmalekitesH6002, deliveringH5337 IsraelH3478 from the handsH3027 of its plunderersH8154.

49Now the sonsH1121 of SaulH7586 wereH1961 JonathanH3129, IshviH3440, and MalchishuaH4444. His twoH8147 daughtersH1323 were namedH8034 MerabH4764 (his firstbornH1067H8034) and MichalH4324 (his younger daughterH6996). 50HisH7586 wife’sH802 nameH8034 was AhinoamH293 daughterH1323 of AhimaazH290. The nameH8034 of the commanderH8269 of his armyH6635 was AbnerH74, the sonH1121 of Saul’sH7586 uncleH1730 NerH5369. 51Saul’sH7586 fatherH1 KishH7027 and Abner’sH74 fatherH1 NerH5369 were sonsH1121 of AbielH22.

52And the warH4421 withH5921 the PhilistinesH6430 wasH1961 fierceH2389 for allH3605 the daysH3117 of SaulH7586. So wheneverH7586 he noticedH7200 anyH3605H376 strongH1368H3605 or braveH2428H413 manH1121, Saul would enlist himH622.