1 Samuel 14

Jonathan’s Victory

1Now the dayH3117 cameH1961 that JonathanH3083, the sonH1121 of SaulH7586, saidH559 to the youngH5288 manH5288 who was carryingH5375 his armorH3627, “ComeH1980 and let us crossH5674 overH5674 to the Philistines’H6430 garrisonH4673 that is on the otherH5676 sideH5676.” But he did not tellH5046 his fatherH1. 2SaulH7586 was stayingH3427 in the outskirtsH7097 of 1GibeahH1390 underH8478 the pomegranateH7416 treeH7416 whichH834 is in 2MigronH4051. And the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him were 3about sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376, 3and AhijahH281, the 4sonH1121 of AhitubH285, 5Ichabod’sH350 brotherH251, the sonH1121 of PhinehasH6372, the sonH1121 of EliH5941, the priestH3548 of the LordH3068 at 6ShilohH7887, 7was 8wearingH5375 an ephodH646. And the peopleH5971 did not knowH3045 that JonathanH3083 had goneH1980. 49BetweenH996 the passesH4569 by whichH834 JonathanH3083 soughtH1245 to crossH5674 overH5674 to the Philistines’H6430 garrisonH4673, there was a sharpH8127 cragH5553 on the oneH2088 sideH5676 and a sharpH8127 cragH5553 on the otherH2088 sideH5676, and the nameH8034 of the oneH259 was BozezH949, and the nameH8034 of the otherH259 SenehH5573. 5The oneH259 cragH8127 roseH4690 on the northH6828 oppositeH4136 MichmashH4363, and the otherH259 on the southH5045 oppositeH4136 GebaH1387.

6Then JonathanH3083 saidH559 to the youngH5288 manH5288 who was carryingH5375 his armorH3627, “ComeH1980 and let us crossH5674 overH5674 to the garrisonH4673 of 10theseH428 uncircumcisedH6189; perhapsH194 the LordH3068 will workH6213 for us, for 11the LordH3068 is not restrainedH4622 to saveH3467 by manyH7227 orH176 by fewH4592.” 7His armorH3627 bearerH5375 saidH559 to him, “DoH6213 allH3605 that is in your heartH3824; turnH5186 yourself, and hereH2009 I am with you according to your 12desireH3824.” 8Then JonathanH3083 saidH559, “13BeholdH2009, we will crossH5674 overH5674 to the menH376 and revealH1540 ourselves to them. 9IfH518 they 14sayH559 to us, ‘WaitH1826 untilH5704 we comeH5060 to you’; then we will standH5975 in our placeH8478 and not goH5927 up to them. 10But ifH518 they 15sayH559, ‘ComeH5927 up to us,’ then we will goH5927 up, for the LordH3068 has givenH5414 them into our handsH3027; and 16thisH2088 shall be the signH226 to us.” 11When bothH8147 of them revealedH1540 themselves to the garrisonH4673 of the PhilistinesH6430, the PhilistinesH6430 saidH559, “BeholdH2009, 17HebrewsH5680 are comingH3318 out of the holesH2356 whereH834H8033 they have hiddenH2244 themselves.” 12So the menH376 of the garrisonH4673 18hailedH6030 JonathanH3083 and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 and saidH559, “ComeH5927 up to us and 19we will tellH3045 you somethingH1697.” And JonathanH3083 saidH559 to his armorH3627 bearerH5375, “ComeH5927 up afterH310 me, for 20the LordH3068 has givenH5414 them into the handsH3027 of IsraelH3478.” 13Then JonathanH3083 climbedH5927 up on his handsH3027 and feetH7272, with his armorH3627 bearerH5375 behindH310 him; and they fellH5307 beforeH6440 JonathanH3083, and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 putH4191 some to deathH4191 afterH310 him. 14That firstH7223 slaughterH4347 whichH834 JonathanH3083 and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 madeH5221 was about twentyH6242 menH376 within about halfH2677 a furrowH4618 in an acreH6776 of landH7704. 15And there was a tremblingH2731 in the campH4264, in the fieldH7704, and among allH3605 the peopleH5971. EvenH1571 the garrisonH4673 and 21the raidersH7843 trembledH2729, and 22the earthH776 quakedH7264 so 23that it becameH1961 a 24greatH430 tremblingH2731.

16Now Saul’sH7586 watchmenH6822 in GibeahH1390 of BenjaminH1144 lookedH7200, and beholdH2009, the multitudeH1995 meltedH4127 awayH4127; and they wentH1980 hereH1988 and there. 17SaulH7586 saidH559 to the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him, “25NumberH6485 nowH4994 and seeH7200 whoH4310 has goneH1980 from us.” And when they had 26numberedH6485, beholdH2009, JonathanH3083 and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 were not there. 18Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to AhijahH281, “27BringH5066 the arkH727 of GodH430 hereH5066.” For the arkH727 of GodH430 was at that timeH3117 with the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 1928WhileH5704 SaulH7586 talkedH1696 to the priestH3548, the commotionH1995 in the campH4264 of the PhilistinesH6430 continuedH1980 and increasedH7227; so SaulH7586 saidH559 to the priestH3548, “WithdrawH622 your handH3027.” 20Then SaulH7586 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him ralliedH2199 and cameH935 to the battleH4421; and beholdH2009, 29everyH376 man’sH376 swordH2719 was against his fellowH7453, and there was veryH3966 greatH1419 confusionH4103. 21Now the HebrewsH5680 who were with the PhilistinesH6430 previouslyH865H8032, whoH834 wentH5927 up with them allH5439 aroundH5439 in the campH4264, evenH1571 30they alsoH1571 turned to be with the IsraelitesH3478 whoH834 were with SaulH7586 and JonathanH3083. 22When allH3605 the 31menH376 of IsraelH3478 who had hiddenH2244 themselves in the hillH2022 countryH2022 of EphraimH669 heardH8085 that the PhilistinesH6430 had fledH5127, evenH1571 they alsoH1571 pursuedH1692 them closelyH1692 in the battleH4421. 23So 32the LordH3068 deliveredH3467 IsraelH3478 that dayH3117, and the battleH4421 33spreadH5674 beyondH5674 34Beth-avenH1007.

Saul’s Foolish Order

24Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were hard-pressedH5065 on that dayH3117, for SaulH7586 had 35putH422 the peopleH5971 underH422 oathH422, sayingH559, “CursedH779 be the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 36beforeH5704 eveningH6153, and untilH5704 I have avengedH5358 myself on my enemiesH340.” So noneH3808H3605 of the peopleH5971 tastedH2938 foodH3899. 25AllH3605 the people of the landH776 enteredH935 the forestH3293, and there was honeyH1706 on the groundH6440H7704. 26When the peopleH5971 enteredH935 the forestH3293, beholdH2009, 37there was a flowH1982 of honeyH1706; but noH369 man putH5381 his handH3027 to his mouthH6310, for the peopleH5971 fearedH3372 the oathH7621. 27But JonathanH3083 had not heardH8085 when his fatherH1 putH7650 the peopleH5971 underH7650 oathH7650; therefore, 38he putH7971 out the endH7097 of the staffH4294 that was in his handH3027 and dippedH2881 it in the honeycombH3295H1706, and putH7725 his handH3027 to his mouthH6310, and 39his eyesH5869 brightenedH215. 28Then oneH376 of the peopleH5971 saidH559, “Your fatherH1 strictlyH7650 putH7650 the peopleH5971 underH7650 oathH7650, sayingH559, ‘CursedH779 be the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 todayH3117.’” And the peopleH5971 were wearyH5888. 29Then JonathanH3083 saidH559, “40My fatherH1 has troubledH5916 the landH776. SeeH7200 nowH4994, howH3588 my eyesH5869 have brightenedH215 becauseH3588 I tastedH2938 a littleH4592 of thisH2088 honeyH1706. 30HowH637 muchH637H3588 moreH637H3588, ifH3863 only the peopleH5971 had eatenH398 freelyH398 todayH3117 of the spoilH7998 of their enemiesH340 whichH834 they foundH4672! For nowH6258 the slaughterH4347 among the PhilistinesH6430 has not been greatH7235.”

31They struckH5221 among the PhilistinesH6430 that dayH3117 from 41MichmashH4363 to 42AijalonH357. And the peopleH5971 were veryH3966 wearyH5888. 3243The peopleH5971 44rushedH5860 greedilyH6213 upon the spoilH7998, and tookH3947 sheepH6629 and oxenH1241 and calvesH1121H1241, and slewH7819 them on the groundH776; and the peopleH5971 ateH398 them 45with the bloodH1818. 33Then they toldH5046 SaulH7586, sayingH559, “BeholdH2009, the peopleH5971 are 46sinningH2398 against the LordH3068 by eatingH398 with the bloodH1818.” And he saidH559, “You have actedH898 treacherouslyH898; rollH1556 a greatH1419 stoneH68 to me todayH3117.” 34SaulH7586 saidH559, “DisperseH6327 yourselvesH6327 among the peopleH5971 and sayH559 to them, ‘EachH376 oneH376 of you bringH5066 me his oxH7794 or his sheepH7716, and slaughterH7819 it hereH2088 and eatH398; and do not sinH2398 against the LordH3068 by eatingH398 with the bloodH1818.’” So allH3605 the peopleH5971 that nightH3915 broughtH5066 eachH376 oneH376 his oxH7794 47with him and slaughteredH7819 it thereH8033. 35And 48SaulH7586 builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LordH3068; it was the firstH2490 altarH4196 that he builtH1129 to the LordH3068.

36Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “Let us goH3381 downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430 by nightH3915 and takeH962 spoilH962 among them untilH5704 the morningH1242 lightH216, and let us not leaveH7604 a manH376 of them.” And they saidH559, “DoH6213 whateverH3605 seems goodH2896 49to you.” So 50the priestH3548 saidH559, “Let us drawH7126 nearH7126 to GodH430 hereH1988.” 37SaulH7586 51inquiredH7592 of GodH430, “Shall I goH3381 downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430? Will You giveH5414 them into the handH3027 of IsraelH3478?” But 52He did not answerH6030 him on that dayH3117. 38SaulH7586 saidH559, “53DrawH5066 nearH5066 hereH1988, allH3605 you 54chiefsH6438 of the peopleH5971, and investigateH3045 and seeH7200 howH4100 thisH2088 sinH2403 has happenedH1961 todayH3117. 39For 55as the LordH3068 livesH2416, who deliversH3467 IsraelH3478, thoughH3588H518 it is in JonathanH3083 my sonH1121, he shall surelyH3588H4191 dieH4191.” But not oneH369 of allH3605 the peopleH5971 answeredH6030 him. 40Then he saidH559 to allH3605 IsraelH3478, “You shall be on oneH259 sideH5676 and I and JonathanH3083 my sonH1121 will be on the otherH259 sideH5676.” And the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “DoH6213 whatH2896 seems goodH2896 56to you.” 41Therefore, SaulH7586 saidH559 to the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, “57GiveH3051 a perfectH8549 lot.” And JonathanH3083 and SaulH7586 were takenH3920, but the peopleH5971 escapedH3318. 42SaulH7586 saidH559, “CastH5307 lots betweenH996 me and JonathanH3083 my sonH1121.” And JonathanH3083 was takenH3920.

43Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to JonathanH3083, “58TellH5046 me whatH4100 you have doneH6213.” So JonathanH3083 toldH5046 him and saidH559, “59I indeedH2938 tastedH2938 a littleH4592 honeyH1706 with the endH7097 of the staffH4294 that was in my handH3027. HereH2009 I am, I must dieH4191!” 44SaulH7586 saidH559, “60May GodH430 doH6213 61thisH3541 to me and moreH3254 alsoH3541, for 62you shall surelyH4191 dieH4191, JonathanH3083.” 45But the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “Must JonathanH3083 dieH4191, whoH834 has 63broughtH6213 aboutH6213 thisH2088 greatH1419 deliveranceH3444 in IsraelH3478? FarH2486 from it! As the LordH3068 livesH2416, 64not one hairH8185 of his headH7218 shall fallH5307 to the groundH776, for 65he has workedH6213 with GodH430 thisH2088 dayH3117.” So the peopleH5971 66rescuedH6299 JonathanH3083 and he did not dieH4191. 46Then SaulH7586 wentH5927 up from 67pursuingH310 the PhilistinesH6430, and the PhilistinesH6430 wentH1980 to their own placeH4725.

Constant Warfare

47Now when SaulH7586 had takenH3920 the kingdomH4410 overH5921 IsraelH3478, he foughtH3898 against allH3605 his enemiesH340 on everyH5439 sideH5439, against MoabH4124, 68the sonsH1121 of AmmonH5983, EdomH112, 69the kingsH4428 of ZobahH6678, and 70the PhilistinesH6430; and whereverH3605H834 he turnedH6437, he 71inflictedH7561 punishmentH7561. 48He actedH6213 valiantlyH2428 and 7273defeatedH5221 the AmalekitesH6002, and deliveredH5337 IsraelH3478 from the handsH3027 of 74those who plunderedH8154 them.

49Now 75the sonsH1121 of SaulH7586 were JonathanH3083 and IshviH3440 and Malchi-shuaH4444; and the namesH8034 of his twoH8147 daughtersH1323 were these: the nameH8034 of the firstbornH1067 76MerabH4764 and the nameH8034 of the youngerH6996 77MichalH4324. 50The nameH8034 of Saul’sH7586 wifeH802 was AhinoamH293 the daughterH1323 of AhimaazH290. And 78the nameH8034 of the captainH8269 of his armyH6635 was AbnerH74 the sonH1121 of NerH5369, Saul’sH7586 uncleH1730. 5179KishH7027 was the fatherH1 of SaulH7586, and NerH5369 the fatherH1 of AbnerH74 was the sonH1121 of AbielH22.

52Now the warH4421 againstH5921 the PhilistinesH6430 was severeH2389 allH3605 the daysH3117 of SaulH7586; and when SaulH7586 sawH7200 anyH3605 mightyH1368 manH376 or anyH3605 valiantH2428 manH1121, he 8081attachedH622 him to 82his staff.