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’s crossH5674 overH5674 to the Philistines’H6430 garrisonH4673 that is on the otherH1975 sideH5676.” But he did not tellH5046 his fatherH1. 2SaulH7586 was stayingH3427 on the outskirtsH7097 of 1GibeahH1390 underH8478 the pomegranateH7416 treeH7416 that is in 2MigronH4051. And the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him numbered 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. 4Now 9betweenH996 the gorgesH4569 by whichH834 JonathanH3083 soughtH1245 to crossH5674 overH5674 to the Philistines’H6430 garrisonH4673 there was a rockyH5553 cragH8127 on the oneH2088 sideH5676, and a rockyH5553 cragH8127 on the otherH2088 sideH5676; and the nameH8034 of the oneH259 was BozezH949, and the nameH8034 of the otherH259, SenehH5573. 5The oneH259 cragH8127 rose 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’s crossH5674 overH5674 to the garrisonH4673 of 10theseH428 uncircumcisedH6189 men; perhapsH194 the LordH3068 will workH6213 for us, becauseH3588 11the LordH3068 is not limitedH4622 to savingH3467 by manyH7227 orH176 by fewH4592!” 7His armorH3627 bearerH5375 saidH559 to him, “DoH6213 everythingH3605 that is in your heartH3824; turnH5186 yourself to it, and hereH2009 I am with you, as your heartH3824 desires.” 8Then JonathanH3083 saidH559, “12BeholdH2009, we are going to crossH5674 overH5674 to the menH376 and revealH1540 ourselves to them. 9IfH518 they 13sayH559 to us, ‘WaitH1826 untilH5704 we comeH5060 to you’; then we will standH5975 inH8478 our placeH8478 and not goH5927 upH5927 to them. 10But ifH518 they 14sayH559, ‘ComeH5927 upH5927 to us,’ then we will goH5927 upH5927, for the LordH3068 has handedH5414H3027 them overH5414 to us; and 15thisH2088 shall be the signH226 to us.” 11When the twoH8147 of them revealedH1540 themselves to the garrisonH4673 of the PhilistinesH6430, the PhilistinesH6430 saidH559, “BeholdH2009, 16HebrewsH5680 are comingH3318 outH3318 of the holesH2356 whereH834H8033 they have keptH2244 themselves hiddenH2244.” 12So the menH376 of the garrisonH4673 respondedH6030 to JonathanH3083 and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 and saidH559, “ComeH5927 upH5927 to us and 17we will informH3045 you of somethingH1697.” And JonathanH3083 saidH559 to his armorH3627 bearerH5375, “ComeH5927 upH5927 afterH310 me, for 18the LordH3068 has handedH5414H3027 them overH5414 to IsraelH3478.” 13Then JonathanH3083 climbedH5927 upH5927 on his handsH3027 and feetH7272, with his armorH3627 bearerH5375 behindH310 him; and the men fellH5307 beforeH6440 JonathanH3083, and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 putH4191 some toH4191 deathH4191 afterH310 him. 14Now that firstH7223 slaughterH4347 whichH834 JonathanH3083 and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 inflictedH5221 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 19the raidersH4889 trembledH2729, and 20the earthH776 quakedH7264 so 21that it becameH1961 a 22greatH430 tremblingH2731.

16Now Saul’sH7586 watchmenH6822 in GibeahH1390 of BenjaminH1144 lookedH7200, and beholdH2009, the multitudeH1995 dissolvedH4127; they wentH1980 hereH1988 and there. 17So SaulH7586 saidH559 to the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him, “LookH6485 carefullyH6485 nowH4994 and seeH7200 whoH4310 has leftH1980H4480 us.” And when they had lookedH6485, beholdH2009, JonathanH3083 and his armorH3627 bearerH5375 were not there. 18Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to AhijahH281, “23BringH5066 the arkH727 of GodH430 hereH5066.” For at that timeH3117 the arkH727 of GodH430 was with the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 1924WhileH5704 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, 25everyH376 man’s swordH2719 was against his fellowH7453 Philistine, and there was veryH3966 greatH1419 confusionH4103. 21Now the HebrewsH5680 who were with the PhilistinesH6430 previouslyH865H8032, whoH834 wentH5927 upH5927 with them allH5439 aroundH5439 in the campH4264, even 26they alsoH1571 returned to be with the IsraelitesH3478 whoH834 were with SaulH7586 and JonathanH3083. 22When allH3605 the 27menH376 of IsraelH3478 who had keptH2244 themselves hiddenH2244 in the hillH2022 countryH2022 of EphraimH669 heardH8085 that the PhilistinesH6430 had fledH5127, they alsoH1571 closelyH1692 pursuedH1692 them in the battleH4421. 23So 28the LordH3068 savedH3467 IsraelH3478 that dayH3117, and the battleH4421 29spreadH5674 beyondH5674 30Beth-avenH1007.

Saul’s Foolish Order

24Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were hard-pressedH5065 on that dayH3117, for SaulH7586 had 31putH422 the peopleH5971 underH422 oathH422, sayingH559, “CursedH779 be the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 32beforeH5704 eveningH6153, and before 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, 33there was honeyH1706 drippingH1982; but noH369 man putH5381 his handH3027 to his mouthH6310, becauseH3588 the peopleH5971 fearedH3372 the oathH7621. 27However, JonathanH3083 had not heardH8085 it when his fatherH1 putH7650 the peopleH5971 underH7650 oathH7650; so 34he putH7971 outH7971 the endH7097 of the staffH4294 that was in his handH3027 and dippedH2881 it in the honeycombH3295H1706, and putH7725 his handH3027 to his mouthH6310, and 35his eyesH5869 36brightenedH215. 28Then oneH376 of the peopleH5971 respondedH6030 and 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, “37My fatherH1 has troubledH5916 the landH776. SeeH7200 nowH4994 that my eyesH5869 have brightenedH215 becauseH3588 I tastedH2938 a littleH4592 of thisH2088 honeyH1706. 30HowH637 muchH637H3588 moreH637H3588, ifH3863 only the peopleH5971 had freelyH398 eatenH398 todayH3117 of the spoilsH7998 of their enemiesH340 whichH834 they foundH4672! For nowH6258 the defeatH4347 among the PhilistinesH6430 has not beenH7235 greatH7235.”

31They attackedH5221 the PhilistinesH6430 that dayH3117 from 38MichmashH4363 to 39AijalonH357. But the peopleH5971 were veryH3966 tiredH5888. 32So 40the peopleH5971 loudlyH5860 rushedH5860 upon the spoilsH7998, and tookH3947 sheepH6629, oxenH1241, and calvesH1121H1241, and slaughteredH7819 them on the groundH776; and the peopleH5971 ateH398 them 41with the bloodH1818. 33Then observers informedH5046 SaulH7586, sayingH559, “LookH2009, the peopleH5971 are 42sinningH2398 against the LordH3068 by eatingH398 meat with the bloodH1818.” And he saidH559, “You have actedH898 treacherouslyH898; rollH1556 a largeH1419 rockH68 to me todayH3117.” 34Then SaulH7586 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 it with the bloodH1818.’” So allH3605 the peopleH5971 broughtH5066 them that nightH3915, eachH376 oneH376 his oxH7794 43with him, and they slaughteredH7819 them thereH8033. 35And 44SaulH7586 builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LordH3068; it wasH2490 the firstH2490 altarH4196 that he builtH1129 to the LordH3068.

36Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “Let’s goH3381 downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430 by nightH3915 and takeH962 plunderH962 among them untilH5704 the morningH1242 lightH216, and let’s not leaveH7604 a manH376 among them aliveH7604.” And they saidH559, “DoH6213 whateverH3605 seems goodH2896 45to you.” So 46the priestH3548 saidH559, “Let’s approachH7126 GodH430 hereH1988.” 37So SaulH7586 47inquiredH7592 of GodH430: “Shall I goH3381 downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430? Will You handH5414H3027 them overH5414 to IsraelH3478?” But 48He did not answerH6030 him on that dayH3117. 38Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “4950ComeH5066 hereH1988, allH3605 you 51leadersH6438 of the peopleH5971, and investigateH3045 and seeH7200 howH4100 thisH2088 sinH2403 has happenedH1961 todayH3117. 39For 52as the LordH3068 livesH2416, who savesH3467 IsraelH3478, evenH3588 ifH518 it is in my sonH1121 JonathanH3083, he shall assuredlyH3588H4191 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 my sonH1121 JonathanH3083 will be on the otherH259 sideH5676.” And the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “DoH6213 whatH2896 seems goodH2896 53to you.” 41Therefore, SaulH7586 saidH559 to the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, “54GiveH3051 a 55perfectH8549 lot.” And JonathanH3083 and SaulH7586 were selectedH3920 byH3920 lotH3920, but the peopleH5971 56were exoneratedH3318. 42Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “CastH5307 lots betweenH996 me and my sonH1121 JonathanH3083.” And JonathanH3083 was selectedH3920 byH3920 lotH3920.

43So SaulH7586 saidH559 to JonathanH3083, “57TellH5046 me whatH4100 you have doneH6213.” And JonathanH3083 toldH5046 him, and saidH559, “58I did indeedH2938 tasteH2938 a littleH4592 honeyH1706 with the endH7097 of the staffH4294 that was in my handH3027. HereH2009 I am, I must dieH4191!” 44And SaulH7586 saidH559, “59May GodH430 doH6213 the sameH3541 to me and moreH3254 alsoH3541, for 60you shall certainlyH4191 dieH4191, JonathanH3083!” 45But the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “Must JonathanH3083 dieH4191, he whoH834 has 61broughtH6213 aboutH6213 thisH2088 greatH1419 62victoryH3444 in IsraelH3478? FarH2486 from it! As the LordH3068 livesH2416, 63not even a hairH8185 of his headH7218 shall fallH5307 to the groundH776, becauseH3588 64he has workedH6213 with GodH430 thisH2088 dayH3117.” So the peopleH5971 65rescuedH6299 JonathanH3083 and he did not dieH4191. 46Then SaulH7586 wentH5927 upH5927 from 66pursuingH310 the PhilistinesH6430, and the PhilistinesH6430 wentH1980 to their own placeH4725.

Constant Warfare

47Now when SaulH7586 had takenH3920 controlH3920 of the kingdomH4410 overH5921 IsraelH3478, he foughtH3898 against allH3605 his enemiesH340 on everyH5439 sideH5439, against MoabH4124, 67the sonsH1121 of AmmonH5983, EdomH112, 68the kingsH4428 of ZobahH6678, and 69the PhilistinesH6430; and whereverH3605H834 he turnedH6437, he 70inflictedH7561 punishmentH7561. 48And he actedH6213 valiantlyH2428 and 7172defeatedH5221 the AmalekitesH6002, and savedH5337 IsraelH3478 from the handsH3027 of 73those who plunderedH8154 them.

49Now 74the sonsH1121 of SaulH7586 were JonathanH3083, IshviH3440, and Malchi-shuaH4444; and the namesH8034 of his twoH8147 daughtersH1323 were these: the nameH8034 of the firstbornH1067 was 75MerabH4764, and the nameH8034 of the youngerH6996, 76MichalH4324. 50And the nameH8034 of Saul’sH7586 wifeH802 was AhinoamH293 the daughterH1323 of AhimaazH290. And 77the nameH8034 of the commanderH8269 of his armyH6635 was AbnerH74 the sonH1121 of NerH5369, Saul’sH7586 uncleH1730. 5178KishH7027 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 warriorH1368H376 or anyH3605 valiantH2428 manH1121, he 7980attachedH622 him to his staff.