FIRST SAMUEL

 

1 Samuel Chapter 14

1 ¶ That same day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he did not tell his father.

2 Now Saul remained in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is at Migron: and there were about six hundred men with him;

3 And also Ahiah who was wearing an ephod, and was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, who was the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh,. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

4 Now there were rocky crags on both sides of the pass, through which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison: one was named Bozez, and the other Seneh.

5 One stood to the north in front of Michmash, and the other to the south in front of Gibeah.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, Come, 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 many by few.

7 And his armor-bearer said to him, Do what is in your heart: you chose; behold, I am with you whatever you decide.

8 Then Jonathan said, Look, we will cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.

9 If they say to us, Wait until we come to you; then we will remain where we are, and will not go up to them.

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

11 And both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Look, the Hebrews have come out of the holes where they were hiding.

12 And the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, Come up to us, and we will teach you a lesson. And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, Follow me: for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.

13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer followed him: and the enemy fell before Jonathan; and his armor-bearer killed them.

14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was of about twenty men, in a half acre field.

15 And there was panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the men: the garrison, and the raiding parties, were terrified, and the earth shook: and a great terror spread.

16 ¶ When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; they saw the panicking troops scattering, and beating one another down.

17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Number the men, and see who has left us. And when they made inspection, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

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

19 And while Saul talked to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp continued and increased: then Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand.

20 And Saul and all the troops that were with him assembled and marched to the battle: and there, every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was great confusion.

21 Furthermore the Hebrews from the area who had been with the Philistines before then, and had gone up with them into the camp, joined with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Likewise, upon hearing that the Philistines were fleeing, all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So on that day the LORD delivered Israel: and the battle extended beyond Bethaven.

24 ¶ But the men of Israel were worn out that day: because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, and I am avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

25 And when they all entered a forest; there was honey on the ground.

26 And when the troops entered the forest, they saw the honey dripping; but no man tasted it: because the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people with the oath: therefore he dipped the end of the rod that was in his hand in a honeycomb, and put it to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.

28 Then one of the men said, Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats any food this day. And the people were faint.

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

30 How much better, if the men had eaten freely today of the plunder that they found? for the slaughter of the Philistines has not been great?

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

32 And that night the people rushed to the plunder, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people ate them with the blood.

33 Then Saul was told, Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD, by eating meat with the blood. And he said, You have transgressed: roll a great stone to me here.

34 And Saul said, Go among the troops, and say to them, Let every man bring his ox or sheep here to me, and kill them here, and eat; without sinning against the LORD by eating it with the blood. So each of the men brought his ox with him that night, and butchered them there.

35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD: it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

36 ¶ Then Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until morning, and not leave any of them alive. And they said, Do whatever seems good to you. But the priest said, Let us consult God.

37 So Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? will you deliver them into the hand of Israel? But God did not answer him that day.

38 Then Saul said, Let the leaders of the people draw near: let us find out how this sin occurred today.

39 For, as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is because of Jonathan my son, he will surely die. But not one man among all the troops answered him.

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

41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, Give us the answer by lot. And Saul and Jonathan were selected: and the people cleared.

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

43 Then 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, now, I must die.

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

45 But the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has brought about this great salvation in Israel? May God forbid it: as the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will perish; for he has worked with God today. Thus the people rescued Jonathan, so that he did not die.

46 Then Saul ceased pursuing the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 ¶ When Saul assumed the role of king over Israel, he fought against all its enemies on every side, against Moab, against the children of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and wherever he turned, he vexed them.

48 And he gathered an army, and defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua: and of his two daughters; the firstborn was named Merab, and the younger was named Michal:

50 And the 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.

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

52 And there was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he drafted him.