1 Samuel 14
14
1 Samuel 14
1¶ Now it came to pass upon a day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto the young man that bore his armour, Come and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side. But he did not tell his father.
2And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron, and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
3and Ahiah, the 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.
4And between the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over unto 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 was Bozez and the name of the other Seneh.
5The forefront of the one was situated northward over against Michmash and the other towards the Negev over against Gibeah.
6And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; peradventure the Lord will work for us, for it is not difficult for the Lord to save by many or by few.
7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart; go. Behold, I am with thee according to thy will.
8Then Jonathan said, Behold, we will go over unto these men, and we will show ourselves unto them.
9If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up unto them.
10But if they say thus, Come up unto us, then we will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this shall be a sign unto us.
11And both of them showed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. Then Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet and his armourbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armourbearer slew after him.
14And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made was about twenty men within as it were a half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
15And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people of the garrison; and those who had gone out to destroy the land, they also trembled, and the earth quaked, and there was fear of God.
16¶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
17Then Saul said unto the people that were with him, Number now and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
18And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel.
19And it came to pass while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased. Then Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand.
20And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle; and, behold, each man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
21Moreover, the Hebrews that had been with the Philistines before that time, who had gone up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
22Likewise all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23So the Lord saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
24¶ But the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening that I may be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
25And the army of all the land came to a wood, and there was honey upon the ground.
26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people with the oath, therefore, he put forth 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 eyes were enlightened.
28Then one of the people spoke and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eats any food this day. And the people were faint.
29Then Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. See, I pray you, how my eyes have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much more if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? Would there not have been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, but the people were very faint.
32Therefore, the people flew upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slew them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood.
33Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed; roll a great stone unto me this day.
34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people and tell each one to bring his ox and his sheep here unto me and slay them here and eat and do not sin against the Lord in eating with the blood. And of all the people, each one brought his ox with him that night and slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar unto the Lord; the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord.
36¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatever seems good unto thee. Then the priest said, Let us draw near unto God here.
37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.
38Then Saul said, Bring here all the chief of the people and know and see by whom this sin has been this day.
39For, as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40Then he said unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seems good unto thee.
41Therefore, Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Show who is without blemish. And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people went out free.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; must I die for this.
44And Saul answered, God do so and more also, for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45Then the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great saving health in Israel? No, in no wise: as the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has wrought with God this day. So the people rescued {Heb. ransomed} Jonathan that he did not die.
46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
47¶ So Saul took the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab and against the sons of Ammon and against Edom and against the kings of Zobah and against the Philistines; and wherever he turned himself, he troubled them.
48And he gathered a host and smote Amalek and delivered Israel out of the hands of those that spoiled them.
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishui and Melchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab and the name of the younger Michal.
50And 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.
51For Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
52And there was intense war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
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1 Samuel 14: JUB
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International
1 Kings 14
14
1Now 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 garrison of the Philistines, which is on the other side of yonder place. But he told not this to his father.
2And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gabaa under the pomegranate tree, which was in Magron: and the people with him were about six hundred men.
3And Achias the son of Achitob brother to Ichabod the son of Phinees, the son of Heli the priest of the Lord in Silo, wore the ephod. And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone.
4Now there were between the ascents, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the garrison of the Philistines, rocks standing up on both sides, and steep cliffs like teeth on the one side, and on the other. The name of the one was Boses, and the name of the other was Sene.
5One rock stood out towards the north over against Machmas; and the other to the south over against Gabaa.
6And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be the Lord will do for us, because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few.
7And his armourbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth thy mind. Go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a mind.
8And Jonathan said: Behold, we will go over to these men. And when we shall be seen by them,
9If they shall speak thus to us: Stay till we come to you; Let us stand still in our place, and not go up to them.
10But if they shall say: Come up to us; Let us go up, because the Lord hath delivered them into our hands. This shall be a sign unto us.
11So both of them discovered themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said: Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes wherein they were hid.
12And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan, and to his armourbearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armourbearer: Let us go up. Follow me; for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel.
13And Jonathan went up creeping on his hands and feet. And his armourbearer after him. And some fell before Jonathan, others his armourbearer slew as he followed him.
14And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made was of about twenty men, within half an acre of land, which a yoke of oxen is wont to plough in a day.
15And there was a miracle in the camp, through the fields: yea and all the people of their garrison, who had gone out to plunder, were amazed. And the earth trembled: and it happened as a miracle from God.
16And the watchmen of Saul, who were in Gabaa of Benjamin looked. And behold a multitude overthrown, and fleeing this way and that.
17And Saul said to the people that were with him: Look, and see who is gone from us. And when they had sought, it was found that Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
18And Saul said to Achias: Bring the ark of the Lord. (For the ark of God was there that day with the children of Israel.)
19And while Saul spoke to the priest, there arose a great uproar in the camp of the Philistines: and it increased by degrees, and was heard more clearly. And Saul said to the priest: Draw in thy hand.
20Then Saul and all the people that were with him, shouted together, and they came to the place of the fight. And behold every man's sword was turned upon his neighbour; and there was a very great slaughter.
21Moreover the Hebrews that had been with the Philistines yesterday and the day before, and went up with them into the camp, returned to be with the Israelites, who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22And all the Israelites that had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines fled, joined themselves with their countrymen in the fight. And there were with Saul about ten thousand men.
23And the Lord saved Israel that day. And the fight went on as far as Bethaven.
24And the men of Israel were joined together that day; and Saul adjured the people, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat food till evening, till I be revenged of my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
25And all the common people came into a forest, in which there was honey upon the ground.
26And when the people came into the forest, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth. For the people feared the oath.
27But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people: and he put forth the end of the rod, which he had in his hand, and dipt it in a honeycomb. And he carried his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28And one of the people answering said: Thy father hath bound the people with an oath, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat any food this day. (And the people were faint.)
29And Jonathan said: My father hath troubled the land. You have seen yourselves that my eyes are enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey:
30How much more if the people had eaten of the prey of their enemies, which they found? Had there not been made a greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31So they smote that day the Philistines from Machmas to Ailon. And the people were wearied exceedingly.
32And falling upon the spoils, they took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.
33And they told Saul that the people had sinned against the Lord, eating with the blood. And he said: You have transgressed. Roll here to me now a great stone.
34And Saul said: Disperse yourselves among the people; and tell them to bring me every man his ox and his ram, and slay them upon this stone, and eat. And you shall not sin against the Lord in eating with the blood. So all the people brought every man his ox with him till the night; and slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar to the Lord; and he then first began to build an altar to the Lord.
36And Saul said: Let us fall upon the Philistines by night, and destroy them till the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And the people said: Do all that seemeth good in thy eyes. And the priest said: Let us draw near hither unto God.
37And Saul consulted the Lord: Shall I pursue after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? And he answered him not that day.
38And Saul said: Bring hither all the corners of the people; and know, and see by whom this sin hath happened to-day.
39As the Lord liveth who is the saviour of Israel, if it was done by Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. In this none of the people gainsaid him.
40And he said to all Israel: Be you on one side, and I with Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people answered Saul: Do what seemeth good in thy eyes.
41And Saul said to the Lord: O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by which we may know, what the meaning is, that thou answerest not thy servant to-day. If this iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan, give a proof: or if this iniquity be in thy people, give holiness. And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.
42And Saul said: Cast lots between me, and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43And Saul said to Jonathan: Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said: I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod, which was in my hand; and behold, I must die.
44And Saul said: May God do so and so to me, and add still more: for dying thou shalt die, O Jonathan.
45And the people said to Saul: Shall Jonathan then die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? This must not be. As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground: for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that he should not die.
46And Saul went back, and did not pursue after the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own places.
47And Saul, having his kingdom established over Israel, fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and Edom, and the kings of Soba, and the Philistines; and whithersoever he turned himself, he overcame.
48And gathering together an army, he defeated Amalec, and delivered Israel from the hand of them that spoiled them.
49And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jessui, and Melchisua. And the names of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn was Merob, and the name of the younger Michol.
50And the name of Saul's wife was Achinoam the daughter of Achimaas. And the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, the cousin german of Saul.
51For Cis was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was son of Abiel.
52And there was a great war against the Philistines all the days of Saul. For whomsoever Saul saw to be a valiant man, and fit for war, he took him to himself.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.