1 N ow it came to pass one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison which is on the other side. But he did not tell his father.

One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor-bearer, Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side. But he did not tell his father.

2 A nd Saul abode at the extreme end of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which in Migron; and the people that were with him were about six hundred men.

Saul was remaining in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron; and with him were about 600 men,

3 ( And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, Jehovah's priest in Shiloh, wore the ephod.) And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

And Ahijah son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing the ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

4 N ow between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to 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 Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; one was named Bozez, and the other Seneh.

5 T he one crag a pillar on the north opposite to Michmash, and the other on the south opposite to Geba.

The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 A nd Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: perhaps Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.

And Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the Lord from saving by many or by few.

7 A nd his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that is in thy heart; turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

And his armor-bearer said to him, Do all that is in your mind; I am with you in whatever you think.

8 T hen said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will shew ourselves to them.

Jonathan said, We will pass over to these men and we will let them see us.

9 I f they say thus to us, Stand still until we come to you, then we will stay in our place, and will not go up to them.

If they say to us, Wait until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.

10 A nd if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up; for Jehovah has given them into our hand; and this shall be the sign to us.

But if they say, Come up to us, we will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this will be our sign.

11 A nd both of them shewed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

So both of them let the Philistine garrison see them. And the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.

12 A nd the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you something. And Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.

The garrison men said to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, Come up to us and we will show you a thing. Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into Israel’s hand.

13 A nd Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after him.

Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, his armor-bearer after him; and the enemy fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him.

14 A nd that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer wrought was about twenty men, as it were on the half-furrow of an acre of land.

And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made was about twenty men within about a half acre of land.

15 A nd there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the ravagers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked; for it was a trembling God.

And there was trembling and panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the men; the garrison, and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked, and it became a terror from God.

16 A nd the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on slaying one another.

Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away and went hither and thither.

17 T hen said Saul to the people that were with him, Muster now, and see who is gone from us. And they mustered, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.

Then Saul said to the men with him, Number and see who is gone from us. When they numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing.

18 A nd Saul said to Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

Saul said to Ahijah, Bring here the ark of God—for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel.

19 A nd it came to pass while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hand.

While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp kept increasing. Then Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand.

20 A nd Saul and all the people that were with him were called together, and they came to the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, a very great confusion.

Then Saul and all the people with him rallied and went into the battle, and behold, every sword was against his fellow in wild confusion.

21 A nd there were Hebrews with the Philistines before that time, who had gone up with them into the camp round about; and they also to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

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

22 A nd all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in mount Ephraim heard that the Philistines fled, and they also followed hard after them in the battle.

Likewise, all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also went after them in hot pursuit in the battle.

23 A nd Jehovah saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over beyond Beth-Aven.

So the Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.

24 B ut the men of Israel were distressed that day. Now Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food until evening, and I am avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.

But the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had caused them to take an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food before evening and until I have taken vengeance on my enemies. So none of the men tasted any food.

25 A nd all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey on the ground.

And all the people of the land came to a wood, and there was honey on the ground.

26 A nd the people had come into the wood, and behold, the honey flowed; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

When the men entered the wood, behold, the honey was dripping, but no man tasted it, for the men feared the oath.

27 B ut Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people; and he put forth the end of his staff which was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.

But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people with the oath. So he dipped the end of the rod in his hand into a honeycomb and put it to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28 T hen answered one of the people and said, Thy father strictly adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day; and the people are faint.

Then one of the men told him, Your father strictly charged the men with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food today. And the people were exhausted and faint.

29 A nd Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land: see, I pray you, that mine eyes are bright, because I tasted a little of this honey.

Then Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

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

How much better if the men had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter of the Philistines has not been great.

31 A nd they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Ajalon; and the people were very faint.

They smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint.

32 A nd the people fell on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate with the blood.

the men flew upon the spoil. They took sheep, oxen, and calves, slew them on the ground, and ate them with the blood.

33 A nd they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have acted perversely: roll me now a great stone.

Then Saul was told, Behold, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood. And he said, You have transgressed; roll a great stone to me here.

34 A nd Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Bring near to me every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slaughter them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slaughtered there.

Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people and tell them, Bring me every man his ox or his sheep, and butcher them here and eat; and sin not against the Lord by eating the blood. So all the men brought each one his ox that night and butchered it there.

35 A nd Saul built an altar to Jehovah: this was the first altar he built to Jehovah.

And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar he built to the Lord.

36 A nd Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever is good in thy sight. Then said the priest, Let us come near hither to God.

Then Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and seize and plunder them until daylight, and let us not leave a man of them. They said, Do whatever seems good to you. Then the priest said, Let us draw near here to God.

37 A nd Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.

And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He did not answer him that day.

38 A nd Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the heads of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day.

Then Saul said, Draw near, all the chiefs of the people, and let us see how this sin arose today.

39 F or, Jehovah liveth, who has saved Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall certainly die. And no one answered him among all the people.

For as the Lord lives, Who delivers Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But not a man among all the people answered him.

40 T hen said he to all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what is good in thy sight.

Then he said to all Israel, You be on one side; and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. The people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you.

41 A nd Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, Give a perfect! And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.

Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, Give a perfect lot and show the right. And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the other men went free.

42 A nd Saul said, Cast between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

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

43 A nd Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him and said, With the end of the staff which is in my hand I tasted a little honey, behold, I must die!

Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jonathan said, I tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. And behold, I must die.

44 A nd Saul said, God do so and more also; thou shalt certainly die, Jonathan.

Saul answered, May God do so, and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.

45 A nd the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! Jehovah liveth, there shall not a hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not.

But the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan, who has wrought this great deliverance to Israel, die? God forbid! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head perish, for he has wrought this great deliverance with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46 A nd Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

Then Saul ceased pursuing the Philistines, and they went to their own place.

47 A nd Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and 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 himself, he discomfited.

When Saul took over the kingdom of Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he made it worse for them.

48 A nd he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of their spoilers.

He did valiantly and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 A nd the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.

Now Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were, of the firstborn, Merab; and of the younger, Michal.

50 A nd 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.

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

51 A nd Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner were sons of Abiel.

Kish the father of Saul and Ner the father of Abner were sons of Abiel.

52 A nd there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to himself.

There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and whenever Saul saw any mighty or courageous man, he attached him to himself.