1 Samuel 14
1 One day, Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree at Migron. The people with him numbered about six hundred men.
3 Ahijah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod and son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD at Shiloh, was carrying the ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
4 Between the passes Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost stood a rocky crag on either side. One was called Bozez, and the other Seneh.
5 One crag stood to the north, facing Michmash, and the other to the south, facing Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s cross over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 His armor-bearer replied, “Do everything you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you, whatever you decide.”
8 Jonathan said, “Look, we’ll cross over to those men and let them see us.
9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ then we’ll stay where we are and not climb up to them.
10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we’ll climb up, because the LORD has handed them over to us. That will be our sign.”
11 The two of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding.”
12 The men at the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us, and we’ll show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me, for the LORD has handed them over to Israel.”
13 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer following behind. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed them.
14 In this first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men over roughly half an acre of land.
15 Panic broke out in the camp, in the open country, and among all the people. The outpost and the raiding party also trembled. The earth shook, and it became a panic sent by God.
16 Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin watched as the crowd scattered, rushing here and there.
17 Saul said to the people with him, “Take a count and see who has left us.” They counted, and Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing.
18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” For the ark of God was with the Israelites that day.
19 While Saul was speaking with the priest, the uproar in the Philistine camp kept growing. Then Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
20 Saul and all the people with him assembled and went to the battle. There they found each man’s sword turned against his companion. It was utter confusion.
21 Some Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp from all around now joined 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 too joined the pursuit and fought after them.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle carried on beyond Beth-aven.
24 The men of Israel were distressed that day, because Saul had made the people take an oath: “Cursed is anyone who eats food before evening, before I have taken revenge on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
25 All the people entered the forest, where honey lay on the ground.
26 When the people entered the forest, they saw honey flowing, but no one put a hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.
27 Jonathan had not heard that his father had made the people take the oath. He reached out the tip of the staff in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. Then he raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28 One of the people said, “Your father made the people take a solemn oath: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’ That is why the people are exhausted.”
29 Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble on the land. Look how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much better it would have been if the people had freely eaten today from the plunder they found among their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been even greater.”
31 That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were utterly exhausted.
32 Then the people rushed upon the plunder. They took sheep, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate the meat with the blood.
33 Someone told Saul, “Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood.” He said, “You have acted faithlessly. Roll a large stone over here for me now.”
34 Saul also said, “Go among the people and tell them, ‘Each of you, bring your ox or sheep to me. Slaughter it here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood.’” That night, everyone brought his ox by hand and slaughtered it there.
35 Saul built an altar to the LORD. It was the first altar he built to the LORD.
36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until dawn. Let’s leave none of them alive.” They replied, “Do whatever seems right to you.” But the priest said, “Let us approach God here.”
37 Saul inquired of God, “Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.
38 Saul said, “Come here, all the leaders of the people. Find out and see what this sin today was.
39 For as surely as the LORD lives, the one who saves Israel, even if it is Jonathan my son, he must die.” But no one among all the people answered him.
40 He said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and Jonathan my son and I will stand on the other.” The people replied to Saul, “Do what seems right to you.”
41 Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a clear answer.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the people were cleared.
42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.
43 Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I did taste a little honey with the tip of the staff in my hand. Here I am; I will die.”
44 Saul said, “May God do so to me, and more besides, if you do not surely die, Jonathan!”
45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, the one who brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for today he acted with God.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
46 Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their own place.
47 Saul took the kingship over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he defeated them.
48 He acted bravely, struck down Amalek, and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger.
50 Saul’s wife was named Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was named Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51 Kish was Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, was the son of Abiel.
52 The war against the Philistines was fierce throughout Saul’s lifetime. Whenever Saul saw a mighty warrior or a brave man, he brought him into his service.
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