1 Samuel 14

Jonathan’s Victory

1Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2Saul was staying in the outskirts of 1Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in 2Migron. And the people who were with him were 3about six hundred men, 3and Ahijah, the 4son of Ahitub, 5Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord at 6Shiloh, 7was 8wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 49Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

6Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of 10these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for 11the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your 12desire.” 8Then Jonathan said, “13Behold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9If they 14say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10But if they 15say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands; and 16this shall be the sign to us.” 11When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, 17Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12So the men of the garrison 18hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and 19we will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for 20the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. 15And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and 21the raiders trembled, and 22the earth quaked so 23that it became a 24great trembling.

16Now Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17Saul said to the people who were with him, “25Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had 26numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “27Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 1928While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, 29every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even 30they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22When all the 31men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. 23So 32the Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle 33spread beyond 34Beth-aven.

Saul’s Foolish Order

24Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had 35put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food 36before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26When the people entered the forest, behold, 37there was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath; therefore, 38he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and 39his eyes brightened. 28Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29Then Jonathan said, “40My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

31They struck among the Philistines that day from 41Michmash to 42Aijalon. And the people were very weary. 3243The people 44rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them 45with the blood. 33Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are 46sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.” 34Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So all the people that night brought each one his ox 47with him and slaughtered it there. 35And 48Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36Then 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 of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good 49to you.” So 50the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37Saul 51inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But 52He did not answer him on that day. 38Saul said, “53Draw near here, all you 54chiefs of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. 39For 55as the Lord lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. 40Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good 56to you.” 41Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “57Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “58Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “59I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44Saul said, “60May God do 61this to me and more also, for 62you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has 63brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, 64not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for 65he has worked with God this day.” So the people 66rescued Jonathan and he did not die. 46Then Saul went up from 67pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Constant Warfare

47Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, 68the sons of Ammon, Edom, 69the kings of Zobah, and 70the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he 71inflicted punishment. 48He acted valiantly and 7273defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of 74those who plundered them.

49Now 75the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn 76Merab and the name of the younger 77Michal. 50The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And 78the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 5179Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he 8081attached him to 82his staff.