1 Samuel 14

1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.

2 Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men,

3 including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

4 Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.

5 One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7 His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

8 “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them.

9 If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them.

10 But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.”

11 So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”

12 So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

13 So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.

14 In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre of land.

15 Then panic struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God.

16 Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,

17 Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

20 Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.

21 And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit.

23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.

24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

25 Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.

26 And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.

27 Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”

29 “My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much better it would have been if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been much greater?”

31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were very faint.

32 So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it.

33 Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”

34 Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.

35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.

36 And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”

37 So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

38 Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.

39 As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!” But not one of the troops said a word.

40 Then Saul said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied.

41 So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “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, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him. So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”

44 And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”

45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46 Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

47 After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.

48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter).

50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.

51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.

52 And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that [is] on the other side. But he told not his father.

2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which [is] in Migron: and the people that [were] with him [were] about six hundred men;

3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, [there was] a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one [was] Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 The forefront of the one [was] situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to thy heart.

8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto [these] men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this [shall be] a sign unto us.

11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].

15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

16 ¶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].

17 Then said Saul unto the people that [were] with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer [were] not [there].

18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

20 And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.

21 Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Israelites that [were] with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, [when] they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

24 ¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted [any] food.

25 And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that [was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the people were faint.

29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew [them] on the ground: and the people did eat [them] with the blood.

33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay [them] here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew [them] there.

35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

36 ¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.

37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

39 For, [as] the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But [there was] not a man among all the people [that] answered him.

40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect [lot]. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

42 And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and], lo, I must die.

44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: [as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 ¶ So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].

48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters [were these]; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

50 And the name of Saul's wife [was] Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host [was] Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

51 And Kish [was] the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner [was] the son of Abiel.

52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

1 And it came to pass one day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto his lad that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the camp of the Philistines which is yonder. He did not tell his father.

2 And Saul abode in Gibeah at the end of a grenadier tree that was in the suburbs: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men.

3 And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ikabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, and wore the ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

4 And by the way, where Jonathan sought to pass over unto the camp of the Philistines, were two sharp rocks, the one on this side, and the other on that side; the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Senne.

5 And one looked from northward toward Michmash, and the other from southward toward Gaba.

6 And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come, and let us go over unto the camp of these uncircumcised: peradventure the LORD will do something by us: for it is not hard for the LORD to help by much or by little.

7 And his armourbearer answered him, Do according to all that is in thine heart: go thy way, behold, I am with thee, as thine heart desireth.

8 And Jonathan said, Well, if we come over unto the people, and come in their faces,

9 Then shall they say, Stand still, till we come unto you; and we will stand still in our place, and not go up unto them.

10 But if they shall say, Come up unto us, and we will go up unto them, the LORD hath given them into our dogs. And this shall be a sign unto us.

11 And it came to pass, when they were come both to the face of the Philistines' camp, that the Philistines said, Behold, the Ebrams are gone out of the holes wherein they were hid.

12 And the men of the camp answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said: Come up hither unto us, and we will teach you well. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

13 And Jonathan went up with his hands and with his feet, and his armourbearer after him. And they fell down before Jonathan, and his armourbearer choked him continually,

14 So that the first battle which Jonathan and his armourbearer did was about twenty men, almost half a hoof of ground, which is a yoke.

15 And there was a terror in the camp in the field, and in all the people of the camp; and the bands that went about were afraid; so that the land trembled: for it was a terror from God.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah-benjamin saw that the multitude was broken up, and that they went astray, and were broken up.

17 And Saul said unto the people that were with him, Count and see which of us are departed. And when they counted, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

18 And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God: for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

19 And while Saul yet spake unto the priest, the tumult and the running of the Philistines' camp increased. And Saul said unto the priest, Remove thy hand.

20 And Saul called, and all the people that were with him, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword went against every man's, and there was a very great tumult.

21 And the Ebramites also, which were before with the Philistines, and went up with them in the camp round about, joined themselves to Israel, which were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 And all the men of Israel, which were hid in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, went after them in battle.

23 So the LORD helped Israel in those days. And the battle continued unto Bethaven.

24 And when the men of Israel were faint that day, Saul charged the people, saying, Cursed be every man that eateth any thing until even, that I may avenge myself on mine enemies. So all the people ate nothing.

25 And all the land came into the forest. And there was honey in the field.

26 And when the people were come into the forest, behold, honey flowed. But no man put it into his mouth with his hand: for the people feared the oath.

27 And Jonathan had not heard that his father had bidden the people: and he stretched out his staff which he had in his hand, and dipped the point thereof in the honeycomb, and turned his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were open.

28 And one of the people answered and said, Thy father hath charged the people, saying, Cursed be every one that eateth this day. And the people were dim.

29 And Jonathan said, My father hath wandered in the land: behold, how mine eyes are waxed open, that I have tasted a little of this honey.

30 And because the people did not eat this day of the spoil of their enemies, which they found, the battle was not increased against the Philistines.

31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash even unto Ajalon. And the people were very faint.

32 And the people dressed the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground, and ate them so bloody.

33 And they told Saul, Behold, the people have sinned against the LORD, in that they eat blood. And he said: Ye have done wickedly: roll now unto me a great stone.

34 And Saul said again, Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, Bring every man his ox and his sheep unto me, and slay them all there, that ye may eat them, and not sin against the LORD by eating the blood. So all the people brought every man his ox with his hand by night, and slew it there.

35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD. This is the first altar which he built unto the LORD.

36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them, until the morning light; that we leave none of them. And they answered: Do all that pleaseth thee. And the priest said, Let us come near hither unto God.

37 And Saul said unto GOD, Shall I go down after the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not at that time.

38 And Saul said, Let all the multitudes of the people come near, and know and see in whom is the sin at this time;

39 For as the LORD liveth, the Saviour of Israel, though it be in my son Jonathan, he shall die. And no man answered him of all the people.

40 And he said unto all Israel, Be ye on that side; and I and Jonathan my son will be on this side. And the people said unto Saul, Do as it pleaseth thee.

41 And Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Execute judgment. And Jonathan and Saul were smitten: but the people went out free.

42 And Saul said, Cast upon me and upon Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was smitten.

43 And Saul said unto Jonathan, Tell me, what hast thou done? Jonathan told him, and said: I have tasted a little honey with the rod that was in my hand: and, behold, I die for it.

44 And Saul said, God do this unto me, and that unto me, Jonathan: thou must surely die.

45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought such great salvation in Israel? Far be it from him. As the LORD liveth, there shall not an hair of his head fall to the ground: for God hath done it by him this day. So the people redeemed Jonathan, that he died not.

46 And Saul went up from the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their place.

47 And when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned he punished.

48 And he made an army, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hand of all that oppressed them.

49 And Saul had sons; Jonathan, and Ishwi, and Malchishua. And his two daughters' names were Merob the firstborn, and Michal the youngest.

50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, a daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of his captain of the host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's cousin.

51 And Kish was Saul's father: and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 And there was a sore battle against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw a strong man, and a valiant man, he took him.