1 Samuel 14
14
1-3and Saul was in Geba#14.1-3 Geba: Or “Gibeah.” In 13.16 and 14.4,5 the name “Geba” is used, while 14.1-3,16 have “Gibeah.” In ancient Hebrew writing there is only one letter different between the two words. with his 600 men. Saul's own tent was set up under a fruit tree#14.1-3 fruit tree: Hebrew “pomegranate tree.” A pomegranate is a bright red fruit that looks like an apple. by the threshing place#14.1-3 threshing place: Or “in Migron.” at the edge of town. Ahijah was serving as priest, and one of his jobs was to get answers from the Lord for Saul. Ahijah's father was Ahitub, and his father's brother was Ichabod. Ahijah's grandfather was Phinehas, and his great-grandfather Eli had been the Lord's priest at Shiloh.
One day, Jonathan told the soldier who carried his weapons that he wanted to attack the Philistine camp on the other side of the valley. So they slipped out of the Israelite camp without anyone knowing it. Jonathan didn't even tell his father he was leaving.
4-5Jonathan decided to get to the Philistine camp by going through the pass that led between Shiny Cliff and Michmash to the north and Thornbush Cliff#14.4,5 Shiny Cliff … Thornbush Cliff: Or “Bozez Cliff … Seneh Cliff.” and Geba to the south.
6Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons talked as they went toward the Philistine camp. “It's just the two of us against all those godless men,” Jonathan said. “But the Lord can help a few soldiers win a battle just as easily as he can help a whole army. Maybe the Lord will help us win this battle.”
7“Do whatever you want,” the soldier answered. “I'll be right there with you.”
8“This is what we will do,” Jonathan said. “We will go across and let them see us. 9If they agree to come down the hill and fight where we are, then we won't climb up to their camp. 10But we will go if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean the Lord is going to help us win.”
11-12Jonathan and the soldier stood at the bottom of the hill where the Philistines could see them. The Philistines said, “Look! Those worthless Israelites have crawled out of the holes where they've been hiding.” Then they yelled down to Jonathan and the soldier, “Come up here, and we will teach you a thing or two!”
Jonathan turned to the soldier and said, “Follow me! The Lord is going to let us win.”
13Jonathan crawled up the hillside with the soldier right behind him. When they got to the top, Jonathan killed the Philistines who attacked from the front, and the soldier killed those who attacked from behind.#14.13 Jonathan killed … from behind: Or “Jonathan attacked the Philistines with his sword, and the soldier killed those who fell to the ground wounded.” 14Before they had gone 30 meters,#14.14 30 meters: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. they had killed about 20 Philistines.
15The whole Philistine army panicked—those in camp, those on guard duty, those in the fields, and those on raiding patrols. All of them were afraid and confused. Then God sent an earthquake, and the ground began to tremble.#14.15 Then … tremble: Or “Then the ground began to tremble, and everyone was in a terrible panic.” Or “Then the ground began to tremble, and God made them all panic.”
Israel Defeats the Philistines
16Saul's lookouts at Geba#14.16 Geba: See the note at 14.1-3. saw that the Philistine army was running in every direction, like melted wax. 17Saul told his officers, “Call the roll and find out who left our camp.” When they had finished, they found out that Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons were missing.
18At that time, Ahijah was serving as priest for the army of Israel, and Saul told him, “Come over here! Let's ask God what we should do.”#14.18 At that time … should do: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Saul told Ahijah, ‘Bring the sacred chest,’ because at that time it was with the army of Israel.” 19Just as Saul finished saying this, he could see that the Philistine army camp was getting more and more confused, and he said, “Ahijah, never mind!”
20Saul quickly called his army together, then led them to the Philistine camp. By this time the Philistines were so confused that they were killing each other.
21There were also some hired soldiers#14.21 hired soldiers: See the note at 13.7. in the Philistine camp, who now switched to Israel's side and fought for Saul and Jonathan.
22Many Israelites had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim. And when they heard that the Philistines were running away, they came out of hiding and joined in chasing the Philistines.
23-24So the Lord helped Israel win the battle that day.
Saul's Curse on Anyone Who Eats
Saul had earlier told his soldiers, “I want to get even with those Philistines by sunset. If any of you eat before then, you will be under a curse!” So he made them swear not to eat.
By the time the fighting moved past Beth-Aven,#14.23,24 Beth-Aven: See the note at 13.5. the Israelite troops were weak from hunger. 25-26The army and the people who lived nearby had gone into a forest, and they came to a place where honey was dripping on the ground.#14.25,26 The army … ground: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. But no one ate any of it, because they were afraid of being put under the curse.
27Jonathan did not know about Saul's warning to the soldiers. So he dipped the end of his walking stick in the honey and ate some with his fingers. He felt stronger and more alert. 28Then a soldier told him, “Your father swore that anyone who ate food today would be put under a curse, and we agreed not to eat. That's why we're so weak.”
29Jonathan said, “My father has caused you a lot of trouble. Look at me! I ate only a little of this honey, but already I feel strong and alert. 30I wish you had eaten some of the food the Philistines left behind. We would have been able to kill a lot more of them.”
31By evening the Israelite army was exhausted from killing Philistines all the way from Michmash to Aijalon.#14.31 Aijalon: About 30 kilometers west of Michmash. 32They grabbed the food they had captured from the Philistines and started eating. They even killed sheep and cows and calves right on the spot and ate the meat without draining the blood.#14.32 blood: The Israelites were supposed to drain the blood from a butchered animal before the meat was cooked and eaten (see Genesis 9.4; Leviticus 17.11; Deuteronomy 12.23). 33#Gn 9.4; Lv 7.26,27; 17.10-14; 19.26; Dt 12.5-19,23,24; 15.23. Someone told Saul, “Look! The army is disobeying the Lord by eating meat before the blood drains out.”
“You're right,” Saul answered. “They are being unfaithful to the Lord! Hurry! Roll a big rock over here.#14.33 over here: One ancient translation; Hebrew “today.” 34Then tell everyone in camp to bring their cattle and lambs to me. They can kill the animals on this rock,#14.34 kill … rock: That is, up off the ground so the blood could drain out. then eat the meat. That way no one will disobey the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.”
That night the soldiers brought their cattle over to the big rock and killed them there. 35It was the first altar Saul had built for offering sacrifices to the Lord.#14.35 offering sacrifices to the Lord: Even when animals were killed for food, it was often done as a sacrifice to the Lord.
The Army Rescues Jonathan
36Saul said, “Let's attack the Philistines again while it's still dark. We can fight them all night. Let's kill them and take everything they own!”
The people answered, “We will do whatever you want.”
“Wait!” Ahijah the priest said. “Let's ask God what we should do.”
37Saul asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win?”
This time God did not answer. 38Saul called his army officers together and said, “We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering. 39I swear by the living Lord that whoever sinned must die, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan.”
No one said a word.
40Saul told his army, “You stand on that side of the priest, and Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.”
Everyone agreed.
41 #
Ex 28.30; Nu 27.21; 1 S 28.6. Then Saul prayed, “Our Lord, God of Israel, why haven't you answered me today? Please show us who sinned. Was it my son Jonathan and I, or was it your people Israel?”#14.41 why … Israel: One ancient translation; Hebrew “give me an answer.”
The answer came back that Jonathan or Saul had sinned, not the army. 42Saul told Ahijah, “Now ask the Lord to decide between Jonathan and me.”
The answer came back that Jonathan had sinned. 43“Jonathan,” Saul exclaimed, “tell me what you did!”
“I dipped the end of my walking stick in some honey and ate a little. Now you say I have to die!”
44“Yes, Jonathan. I swear to God that you must die.”
45“No!” the soldiers shouted. “God helped Jonathan win the battle for us. We won't let you kill him. We swear to the Lord that we won't let you kill him or even lay a hand on him!” So the army kept Saul from killing Jonathan.
46Saul stopped hunting down the Philistines, and they went home.
Saul Fights His Enemies
47-48When Saul became king, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, the Philistines, and the Amalekites had all been robbing the Israelites. Saul fought back against these enemies and stopped them from robbing Israel. He was a brave commander and always won his battles.#14.47,48 won his battles: One ancient translation; Hebrew “hurt them.”
Saul's Family
49-51Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. They had three sons: Jonathan, Ishvi,#14.49-51 Ishvi: Also known as Eshbaal (see 1 Chronicles 8.33; 9.39) and Ishbosheth (see 2 Samuel 2.8-13; 3.8-15; 4.5-12). and Malchishua. They also had two daughters: The older one was Merab, and the younger one was Michal.
Abner, Saul's cousin, was the commander of the army. Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
War with the Philistines
52Saul was at war with the Philistines for as long as he lived. Whenever he found a good warrior or a brave man, Saul made him join his army.
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1 Samuel 14: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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