1 Samuel 14
14
Jonathan’s Daring Plan
1One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.
2Meanwhile, Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree#14:2 Or around the rock of Rimmon; compare Judg 20:45, 47; 21:13. at Migron. 3Among Saul’s men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord who had served at Shiloh.
No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
7“Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”
8“All right, then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. 9If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”
11When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” 12Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!”
“Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!”
13So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. 14They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.#14:14 Hebrew half a yoke; a “yoke” was the amount of land plowed by a pair of yoked oxen in one day.
15Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
Israel Defeats the Philistines
16Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction.#14:16 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads they went and there. 17“Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.
18Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.#14:18 As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew reads “Bring the Ark of God.” For at that time the Ark of God was with the Israelites. 19But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Never mind; let’s get going!”#14:19 Hebrew Withdraw your hand.
20Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere. 21Even the Hebrews who had previously gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites. 22Likewise, the men of Israel who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away. 23So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even beyond Beth-aven.
Saul’s Foolish Oath
24Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, 25even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
27But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.#14:27 Or his eyes brightened; similarly in 14:29. 28But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
29“My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”
31They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.”
“That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”
So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.
36Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.”
His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.”
But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
37So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.
38Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
40Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there.”
And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”
41Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.#14:41 Greek version adds If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.
42Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.
43“Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan.
“I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?”
44“Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”
45But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
Saul’s Military Successes
47Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.#14:47 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads he acted wickedly. 48He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth,#14:49 Hebrew Ishvi, a variant name for Ishbosheth; also known as Esh-baal. and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
52The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
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1 Samuel 14: NLT
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1 Samuel 14
14
Jonathan Defeats the Philistines
1A day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, and let us cross over to the Philistine garrison which is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2Now Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people that were with him were about six hundred men. # 1Sa 13:15–16 3And Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s # 1Sa 4:21 brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, was wearing the ephod. # 1Sa 2:28 But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
4Between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, # 1Sa 13:23 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 crag of the one rose north opposite Mikmash, and the other faced southward opposite Geba.
6Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. # 1Sa 17:26, 36 Perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not limited to save by many or by few.”
7His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Turn yourself, and behold, I will be with you according to your heart.”
8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to these men, and we will reveal ourselves to them. # Jdg 7:9–14 9If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10But 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 a sign to us.” # Ge 24:14
11So the two of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the caves where they have hidden themselves.” # 1Sa 13:6; 14:22 12The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, # 1Sa 17:43–44 and we will teach you something.”
So Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” # 2Sa 5:24
13Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet with his armor bearer behind him. And they fell before Jonathan. And his armor bearer was dealing death blows after him. 14That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men within about a half-acre field.
15There was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders # 1Sa 13:17 also trembled, and the ground quaked. It was the fear of God. # Ge 35:5
16The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went even here and there. 17Then Saul said to the people that were with him, “Call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, behold, neither Jonathan nor his armor bearer were there.
18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring here the ark of God.” For the ark of God was at that time with the Israelites. 19While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, # Nu 27:21 “Withdraw your hand.”
20Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle. And behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, # Jdg 7:22; 2Ch 20:23 so that there was very great confusion. 21Even the Hebrews who were with the Philistines the days before, who went up with them # 1Sa 29:4 into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 22Also all of Israel’s fighting men, who had hidden themselves in mountains of Ephraim, # 1Sa 13:6 heard that the Philistines fled, and even they followed hard after them in the battle. 23So the Lord saved Israel that day, # Ex 14:30 and the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. # 1Sa 13:5
Saul’s Rash Oath
24Now Israel’s fighting men were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under a curse, # Jos 6:26 saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before it is evening, and I have been avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted any food.
25All the people of the land came to the forest, and behold, there was honey on the ground. 26When the people came into the forest, behold, there was flowing honey. But no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard when his father made the people swear. Therefore he put forward the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb. Then he put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were brightened. # 1Sa 14:43; 30:12 28Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father surely made the people swear, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats any food this day.’ ” And the people were weary.
29Then said Jonathan, “My father has troubled the land. # 1Ki 18:18 See how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if the people had surely eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? But now the defeat of the Philistines has not been great.”
31And they struck the Philistines that day from Mikmash to Aijalon, # Jos 10:12 and the people were very weary. 32The people rushed upon the spoil; they took sheep, oxen, and calves and slew them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. # Lev 3:17; 1Sa 15:19 33Then they reported to Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating the blood.”
And he said, “You have dealt faithlessly. Roll a great stone to me this day.” 34Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring to me here every man his ox or sheep. And slaughter them here, and eat. But you shall not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’ ”
And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35And Saul built an altar to the Lord. # 1Sa 7:17 It was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36Saul 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 here to God.”
37Saul asked 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. # 1Sa 28:6
38Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and observe and see how this sin has come about this day. # 1Sa 10:19–20 39For, as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will surely die.” # 1Sa 14:44; 2Sa 12:5 But there was not one who answered him from among all the people.
40Then he said to all Israel, “You will 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.”
41Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” # Ac 1:24 And Saul and Jonathan were taken, # Jos 7:16–18 but the people escaped. 42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” # Jos 7:19
And Jonathan told him, and said, “I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. # 1Sa 14:27 Here I am. I must die.”
44Saul said, “May God do so to me and more also, # Ru 1:17 for you will surely die, Jonathan.” # 1Sa 14:39
45The people said to Saul, “Will Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? God forbid. As the Lord lives, there will not one hair of his head fall to the ground. # 2Sa 14:11; 1Ki 1:52 For he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
47So Saul took the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the Ammonites, # 2Sa 10:6 against Edom and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Whatever place he turned himself, he defeated them. 48He gathered an army, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hand of its plunderers.
Saul’s Family
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. # 1Sa 31:2; 1Ch 8:33 And the names of his two daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the youngest. 50And the name of the wife of Saul was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, # 2Sa 2:8 the uncle of Saul. 51Kish was the father of Saul, # 1Sa 9:1, 21 and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52There was strong war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him into his service. # 1Sa 8:11
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