< 撒母耳記上 14 >

1 有一天,撒烏耳的兒子約納堂對他執戟的侍衛說:「來,我們到對面,到培肋舍特人的前哨那裏去。」但他沒有通知他父親。
One day, Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Come with me; we will go over to where the Philistia soldiers have put up their tents.” [So they went], but Jonathan did not tell his father [what they were going to do].
2 當時撒烏耳正在革巴邊界,坐在禾場旁的石榴樹下,隨從他的部隊約有六百人。
On that day, Saul and the 600 soldiers who were with him were sitting around a pomegranate tree at a place where the people threshed grain, near Gibeah.
3 阿希突的兒子阿希雅帶著「厄弗得。」──阿希突布是丕乃哈斯的兒子,依加波得的兄弟,丕乃哈斯是在史羅作上主司祭的厄里的兒子。──人都不知道約納堂走了。
Ahijah the priest was also there. He was wearing the sacred vest. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, who was a brother of Ichabod. Ichabod and Ahitub were the sons of Phinehas, who was the son of Eli, who had been Yahweh’s priest at Shiloh. No one knew that Jonathan had left [the Israeli camp].
4 約納堂打算由隘口過到培肋舍特人的前哨那裏去,在隘口兩面各有一座石峰:一名叫波責茲,一名叫色乃;
Jonathan planned that he and the young man would go through a narrow (pass/place between two cliffs) to get to where the Philistia army was. The cliff on one side of the pass was named Bozez, and the other cliff was named Seneh.
5 一座朝北,與米革瑪斯相對,一座朝南,與革巴相對。
One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
6 約納堂於是對他執戟的侍衛說:「來,我們往這些未受割損者的前哨去,也許上主會幫助我們;上主要叫人得勝,並不在手人數多少。
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Come with me. We will go to where those (pagans/people who do not believe in Yahweh) [MTY] have set up their tents. Perhaps Yahweh will help us. It does not matter whether we are only two men or many people; nothing can hinder Yahweh from enabling us to defeat them.”
7 那給他執戟的人答說:「你儘可隨意行事,我只跟著你,隨你心意而行。」
The young man who was carrying Jonathan’s weapons said, “Do what you think is the best thing for us to do. I will help you.”
8 約納堂說:「來,我們到那裏去,讓他們看見我們。
Then Jonathan said, “Okay, come with me. We will cross the valley to where the Philistia army is, and allow them to see us.
9 假使他們對我們說:住下! 等我們到你們那裏去。我們就站在我們所在的地方,不再上他們那裏去;
If they then say to us, ‘You two stay there until we come down to you,’ we will stay there and not go up to them.
10 如果他們說:你們上我們這裏來罷! 我們就上去,因為上主已把他們交在我們手中了:這為我們是個先兆。」
But if they say to us, ‘Come up here [and fight against] us,’ that will show us that Yahweh will enable us to defeat them. Then we will go up and fight them.”
11 兩人就突然出現在培肋舍特人的前哨處,培肋舍特人說:「看,這些希伯來人從他們隱藏的山洞中出來了。」
When the two of them crossed the valley, the Philistia soldiers saw them coming. They said, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes in which they have been hiding!”
12 前哨的哨兵就對約納堂和給他執戟的人說:「你們上到我們這裏來罷! 我們有事要告訴你們。」約納堂就對給他執戟的人說:「你跟我上來,因為上主已將他們交在以色列人手中了。」
Then the Philistia soldiers who were closest to Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons said, “Come up here, and we will teach you something [about how to fight] [IDM]!” Jonathan said to the young man who was with him, “Come behind me and climb up, because Yahweh is going to help us to defeat them!”
13 約納堂遂用手用腳往上爬,給他執戟的跟在他後面。培肋舍特人忽在約納堂前轉身要走,他就向前擊殺他們,他的執戟者也隨著擊殺。
So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and his feet [because it was very steep]. The young man climbed up following him. As Jonathan climbed, he struck and killed many Philistia soldiers, and the young man who was with him killed many more as he followed behind Jonathan.
14 約納堂和他的執戟者第一次殺死了約有二十人,陳屍於半畝田間。
In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
15 當時在營中和陣地上都起了恐慌,全軍──前哨與突擊隊都大為震驚;地也起了震動,到處籠罩著無限的恐怖。
Then all the other Philistia soldiers, the ones in the camp and the ones who had been attacking the Israeli towns, ones who were out in the field much closer, panicked. Then God caused the ground to shake, and they all became terrified/very afraid.
16 撒烏耳的哨兵從本雅明的革巴眺望,看見敵營大亂;
Saul’s (lookouts/men who were watching to see if enemies were coming) were in Gibeah [town] in the land of the tribe of Benjamin. They saw that the soldiers of the Philistia army were running away in all directions.
17 撒烏耳就對隨從他的人說:「檢查一下,看我們中有誰去了。」他們檢查後,見約納堂和給他執戟的人不在了。
Saul [realized that some of his soldiers must have attacked the Philistia army. So he] said to the soldiers who were with him, “Check to see if any of our men are not here.” So they checked, and they found out that Jonathan and the man who carried his weapons were gone.
18 撒烏耳隊對阿希雅說:「拿天主的「厄弗得」來! 」因為那時正是他在以色列子民前帶著天主的「厄弗得。」
So Saul said to Ahijah [the Supreme Priest], “Bring the sacred vest here [and find out what we should do].” On that day Ahijah was wearing the sacred vest, going in front of the Israelis.
19 撒烏耳還同司祭說話時,培肋舍特人營中的混亂愈來愈大,撒烏耳就對司祭說:「收回你的手去! 」
But while Saul was talking to the priest, [he saw that] the Philistia soldiers were becoming more panicked/confused. So Saul said to Ahijah, “Take your hand down [from the sacred vest. Do not waste any more time using the marked stones in the vest to find out what Yahweh wants us to do.”]
20 撒烏耳和跟隨他的軍民遂集合起來,衝入戰場;看,培肋舍特人竟自相殘殺,陷入混亂。
Then Saul gathered his men and they went toward the battle. They found that the Philistia soldiers were so confused that they were striking each other with their swords.
21 以前服事培肋舍特人,與他們齊來參戰的希伯來人,忽然反正來協助撒烏耳和約納堂一起的以色列人。
Before that, some of the Hebrew men had deserted their army and gone to join with the Philistia army. But now those men [revolted and] joined with Saul and Jonathan and the other Israeli soldiers.
22 那藏在厄弗辣因山地的以色列人,聽說培肋舍特人潰敗了,也都出來參戰,乘勢追趕。
Some of the Israeli soldiers had previously run away and hidden in the mountains where the tribe of Ephraim lived. But when they heard that the Philistia soldiers were running away, they [came down and] joined the other Israeli soldiers and pursued the Philistia soldiers.
23 這樣上主在那一天拯救了以色列人;戰爭一直蔓延到貝特曷龍。【跟隨撒烏耳的人約有一萬,戰事蔓延到厄弗辣因整個山地。】
So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
24 以色列人那天很是疲乏,因為撒烏耳在那天做了一件糊塗事,要軍民發誓說:「誰直到晚上,在我向敵人復仇以前,吃了什麼東西,是可咒罵的。」所以全軍民都沒有嘗過食物。
Before Saul’s soldiers went to the battle, Saul declared to them solemnly, “I do not want any of you to eat any food before this evening, before we have defeated all our enemies. If anyone eats anything, [Yahweh] will curse/punish him.” So none of the Israeli soldiers ate any food, and they became faint/weak because they were very hungry.
25 那地方到處有蜂巢,地面上到處有蜜。
The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
26 軍民到了蜂巢旁,見有蜜流出,但卻沒有人敢用手取一點放在嘴裏,因為軍民都怕違犯所起的誓。
They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
27 可是約納堂沒有聽見他父親要軍民起的誓,所以把他手中所持的棍尖,插入蜂巢內,用手送到自己的嘴裏,他的眼立即明亮了。
But Jonathan did not hear what his father commanded [because he had left the camp very early in the morning]. So [when he saw] a honeycomb, he dipped the end of his walking stick into it and ate some honey. After he ate the honey, he felt stronger.
28 軍民中有一個向他說:「你父親要軍民起誓說:今天誰嘗了食物,他是可咒罵的。──雖然軍民很是疲乏。」
But one of the Israeli soldiers saw him and said to him, “Your father solemnly declared to us that [Yahweh] would curse/punish anyone who ate any food today. So now we are [very tired and] weak from being hungry [because we obeyed him].”
29 約納堂答說:「我父親使國家受了害;你們看,嘗了一點蜜,我的眼睛是多麼明亮!
Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
30 的確,假使今天人能吃飽由敵人奪來的東西,培肋舍特人吃的敗仗,豈不更大嗎﹖」
If he had permitted all of us to eat from the food we took from our enemies while we were pursuing them, we would have been able to kill many more of their soldiers!”
31 那一天他們擊殺培肋舍特人,從米革瑪斯直到阿雅隆,軍民都很疲乏。
The Israelis pursued and killed Philistia soldiers all that day, from Micmash [town west] to Aijalon. But they continued to become weaker from being hungry.
32 所以人民就急忙搶掠財物,奪取牛羊、牛犢,隨地宰殺,吃了帶血的肉。
They had taken [many] sheep and cattle that the Philistia soldiers had abandoned. Now, because they were extremely hungry, they butchered some of those animals and ate the meat without draining the blood from the animals.
33 有人告訴撒烏耳說:「看,人民吃了帶血的肉,得罪了上主。」撒烏耳一聽這消息便說:「你們把一塊大石頭滾到我這邊來。」
One of the soldiers told Saul, “Look! The men are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat that still has blood in it!” Saul replied [to the men who were near him], “They have disobeyed Yahweh! Roll a large stone over here!”
34 又說:「你們散在百姓中,對他們說:你們各人把自己得的牛或羊,牽到我這裏來,在這裏宰殺分食,不要吃帶血的肉,得罪上主。」於是人們當夜將自己得的牛羊牽來,在那裏祭殺了。
After they did that, he said to those men, “Go and tell all the soldiers that each of them must bring an ox or a sheep to me, and kill it here on this stone, [and drain the blood] before he eats any of the meat. They should not sin against Yahweh by eating meat [from some animal] without draining its blood.” So that night all the soldiers brought animals and slaughtered them there. Then Saul built an altar to [worship] Yahweh.
35 撒烏耳給上主建築了一座祭壇,這是他給上主建立的第一座祭壇。
That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
36 以後撒烏耳說:「我們今夜下去追擊培肋舍特人,劫掠他們直到天明,不給他們留下一人。」軍民回答說:「你看著怎樣好,就怎樣作罷! 」司祭卻說:「我們先得去天主那裏。」
Then Saul said [to the Israeli soldiers], “Let’s pursue the Philistia soldiers tonight. We can attack them all night. We will not allow any of them to escape alive.” The Israeli soldiers answered, “We will do whatever you think is the best thing for us to do.” But the priest said, “We should ask Yahweh [what he thinks we should do].”
37 撒烏耳遂求問天主說:「我可下去追擊培肋舍特人嗎﹖你將他們交在以色列手中嗎﹖」但是天主那天沒有回答他。
So Saul asked God, “Should we pursue the Philistine soldiers? Will you enable us to defeat them?” But God did not answer Saul that day.
38 撒烏耳說:「軍民的將領,你們上前來,查看一下,今天是誰犯了罪﹖
Then Saul summoned all the leaders of his army. He said to them, “[I am sure that God has not answered me because] someone has sinned. We must find out what sin someone has committed.
39 我指拯救以色列的上主起誓,即是罪在我的兒子約納堂,他也該死。」軍民中沒有一人敢回答。
Yahweh has rescued us [from the Philistia army]. Just as certain as Yahweh lives, whoever has sinned must be executed. Even if it is my son Jonathan who has sinned, he must be executed.” [His men knew who was guilty], but none of them said anything [to Saul].
40 於是他對全以色列說:「你們站在一邊,我與我兒子約納堂站在一邊。」全軍民對撒烏耳說:「你看怎樣好,就怎樣作罷! 」
Then Saul said to all the Israeli soldiers, “You stand on one side. My son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.” His men replied, “Do whatever you think is best.”
41 撒烏耳說:「上主,以色列的天主! 為什麼今天你不答覆你的僕人﹖若是這罪過在我或我兒子約納堂身上,上主,以色列的天主,求你賜給『烏陵;』若是罪過在你百姓以色列身上,求你賜給『突明』。」撒烏耳和約納堂中了,軍民清白無過。
Then Saul prayed to Yahweh, the Israelis’ God, “Tell me who is guilty and who is not guilty.” Then the priest (cast lots/threw the stones that were marked), and they indicated that it was [either] Jonathan or Saul who was the guilty one, and that the other men were not guilty.
42 撒烏耳下命說:「為我和我的兒子約納堂拈鬮。」約納堂中了。
Then Saul said to the priest, “Throw the stones again to indicate which of us two is guilty.” So he did, and the stones indicated that Jonathan was the guilty one.
43 撒烏耳於是對約納堂說:「告訴我,你作了什麼﹖」約納堂就告訴他說:「我不過用手持的棍尖,蘸了一點蜂蜜吃;我在這裏,我該死。」
Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done [that was wrong].” Jonathan replied, “I ate a little bit of honey. It was only a little bit that was on the end of my stick. Do I [deserve to be] executed [because of doing that]?”
44 撒烏耳回答說:「約納堂,你必須死,不然,願天主罰我該死。」
Saul replied, “Yes, you must be executed! I hope/wish that God will strike me and kill me if you are not executed for having done that!”
45 軍民卻對撒烏耳說:「約納堂在以色列中得了這樣偉大的勝利,豈該死嗎﹖萬萬不能! 我們指著上主起誓:他頭上的一根頭髮,也不應落在地上,因為他今天是倚賴天主行事。」這樣軍民救了約納堂不死,
But the Israeli soldiers said to Saul, “Jonathan has won a great victory for all us Israelis. Should he be executed for eating some honey [RHQ]? Certainly not! Just as surely as Yahweh lives, we will not allow you to injure him in any manner [IDM], [because] today God helped Jonathan [to kill many soldiers of the Philistia army]!” So [by saying that] the Israeli soldiers rescued Jonathan, and he was not executed.
46 撒烏耳遂上去,不再追趕培肋舍特人;培肋舍特人也回了本地。
Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
47 撒烏耳取得了以色列的王權後,便向四周所有的敵人進攻:他攻打了摩阿布、阿孟子民、厄東、貝特勒曷、祚巴的君王和培肋舍特人。他不論走到那裏,常獲得勝利。
After Saul became the ruler/king of the Israeli people, his army fought against their enemies in many areas. They fought against armies of the Moab people-group, the Ammon people-group, the Edom people-group, the kings of Zobah [city/area], and the Philistia people-group. Wherever the Israeli army fought, they defeated their enemies.
48 他很英勇,擊敗了阿瑪肋克,拯救以色列人脫離來搶掠的人。
Saul’s army fought bravely and defeated the [very tall] descendants of Amalek. His army rescued the Israelis from those who had (plundered/forcefully taken things from) them.
49 撒烏耳的兒子是:約納堂、依市偉和瑪耳基叔亞;他有兩個女兒:長女名叫默辣布,次女名叫米加耳。
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
50 撒烏耳的妻子名叫阿希諾罕,是阿希瑪茲的女兒。他的元帥名叫阿貝乃爾,是撒烏耳的叔父乃爾的兒子。
Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, who was the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
51 撒烏耳的父親克士和阿貝乃爾的父親乃爾是阿彼耳的兒子。
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
52 撒烏耳一生同培肋舍特人常發生激烈戰爭,撒烏耳見到任何勇敢善戰的人,就叫他來跟隨自己。
All the time that Saul was alive, his army fought against the Philistia army. And whenever Saul saw a young man who was (brave/not afraid to fight) and strong, he forced him to join his army.

< 撒母耳記上 14 >