1 O ne day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, “Come, let us go over to the place where the Philistine soldiers are 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 S aul was staying beside Gibeah under the pomegranate tree in Migron. There were about 600 men with him,

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

3 a nd Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the religious leader of the Lord at Shiloh, wearing the linen vest. And the people did not know 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 where Jonathan went to cross over to the Philistine soldiers, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side. The name of one was Bozez. The name of the other was 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 O ne rock stood on the north in front of Michmash. The other stood on the south in front of Geba.

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

6 J onathan said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, “Come, let us go over to the place where the soldiers are who have not gone through the religious act of the Jews. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is nothing to keep 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 T he young man who was carrying his battle-clothes said to him, “Do all that is in your mind. I am with you in whatever you think to do.”

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

8 J onathan said, “We will cross over to the men and 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 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, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has given them into our hands. This will be the special thing for us to see.”

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 Philistine soldiers. The Philistines said, “See, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden 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 T he soldiers of that place said to Jonathan and the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” Jonathan said to the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, “Come up after me. For the Lord has given them into the hands 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 T hen Jonathan went up the hill on his hands and feet, with the one who was carrying his battle-clothes behind him. The soldiers fell in front of Jonathan. The young man, who was carrying his battle-clothes after him, 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 I n that first killing done by Jonathan and the man who carried his battle-clothes, about twenty men fell dead within a small piece 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 T here was fear among the Philistines, in the field, and among all the people. Even the soldiers shook with fear. And the earth shook, so there was much fear.

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 S aul’s men who were watching in Gibeah of Benjamin looked and saw the people running away. 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 S aul said to the people who were with him, “Number them, and see who has left us.” When they numbered, they found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his battle-clothes 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 S aul said to Ahijah, “Bring the special box of God here.” For the special box of God was with the people of Israel at that time.

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 W hile Saul talked to the religious leader, the noise of the Philistines became louder. So Saul said to the religious leader, “Take your hand away.”

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 with him gathered together and went into the battle. Every man’s sword was against the man next to him. It was as if no one knew what to do.

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 T he Hebrews, who had been with the Philistines and had gone up with them among the tents returned. They returned 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 W hen all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had run away, they ran 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 spread farther than Beth-aven.

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

24 N ow the men of Israel were troubled that day. For Saul made a promise and said to the people, “Cursed will be the man who eats food before evening and before I have punished those who fight against me.” So none of the people tasted any 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 the people came among the trees, 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 T he people went among the trees and saw honey flowing, but no man tasted it. For the people were afraid of Saul’s promise.

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 make the promise to the people. So he put the stick that was in his hand into the honeycomb. Then he put it 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 O ne of the men told him, “Your father put the people under a promise, saying, ‘Cursed will be the man who eats food today.’” The people were tired and weak.

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 J onathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become 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 better it would be if the men had been free to eat today of the food that had belonged to those who fought against them! For not many Philistines have been killed.”

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 T hey killed the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very tired and weak.

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

32 T he people rushed upon the things that had belonged to the Philistines. They took sheep and cattle and calves, and killed 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 Saul was told, “See, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.” And Saul said, “You have not been faithful. Roll a big stone to me here.”

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 he said, “Divide yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his bull or his sheep, and kill it here and eat. Do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his bull with him that night, and killed 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 A nd Saul built an altar to the Lord. It 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 T hen Saul said, “Let us go down to the Philistines during the night and take until morning what belongs to them. Let us not leave a man of them alive.” They said, “Do whatever you think is best.” So the religious leader said, “Let us ask of 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 God, “Should I go down to the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God 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 S aul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people. Look and see how this sin has happened 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, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will die for sure.” But not one of 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 Saul said to all Israel, “You will be on one side and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what you think is best.”

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 S o Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “May the right name be drawn.” And the names of Saul and Jonathan were drawn, and the people went free.

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 T hen Saul said, “Draw names between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan’s name was drawn.

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

43 S aul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the stick that was in my hand. Here I am. 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 said, “May God do this to me and more also, for you will die for sure, Jonathan.”

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

45 B ut the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has saved all these people of Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. For he has worked with God this day.” So the people saved 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 stopped going after the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. Saul’s Family

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

47 W hen Saul had become king over Israel, he fought against all those around him who hated him. He fought against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. He punished them in every way he turned.

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 H e acted with strength of heart and destroyed the Amalekites. He saved Israel from those who came to rob them.

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

49 N ow the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua. And he had two daughters. The name of the first-born was Merab, and the name of the younger one was 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. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, the brother of Saul’s father.

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 Abner’s father Ner was the son of Abiel.

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

52 T here was fighting against the Philistines all of Saul’s life. When Saul saw any strong man, or any man with strength of heart, he would have the man join him.

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.