1 N ow it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that 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 was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who 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 A hijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord ’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had 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 B etween the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was 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 front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.

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

6 T hen Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving 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 S o his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your 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 Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show 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, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and 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 B ut if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a 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 S o both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.”

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 T hen the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord 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 on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them.

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 T hat first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half 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 raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.

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 N ow the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there.

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

17 T hen Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer 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 the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was 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 N ow it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your 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 T hen Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was 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 M oreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined 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 L ikewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, 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 S o the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven. Saul’s Rash Oath

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

24 A nd the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my 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 N ow all the people of the land came to a forest; 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 when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one 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 his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened.

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 one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were 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 B ut Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened 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 better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not 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 N ow they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So 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 rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them 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 T hen they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.”

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 T hen Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it 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 T hen Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

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

36 N ow 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 whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”

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 S o 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.

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, “Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.

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

39 F or as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him.

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

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 T herefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot. ” So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but 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 lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken.

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

43 T hen Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now 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 S aul answered, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

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

45 B ut the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

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 T hen Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. Saul’s Continuing Wars

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

47 S o Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them.

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 gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.

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

49 T he sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: 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 T he name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army 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 K ish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

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

52 N ow there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for 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.