1 Samuel 14

1 Now it happened one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

And the day comes that Jonathan son of Saul says to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and we pass over to the station of the Philistines, which [is] on the other side of this”; and he has not declared [it] to his father.

2 Now Saul stayed in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree by the threshing floor, and the people who were with him were about six hundred men.

And Saul is abiding at the extremity of Gibeah, under the pomegranate which [is] in Migron, and the people who [are] with him [are] about six hundred men,

3 Now Ahijah was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of YHWH in Shiloh. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

and Ahiah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas son of Eli priest of YHWH in Shiloh, [was] bearing an ephod; and the people did not know that Jonathan has gone.

4 Now on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to cross to the Philistine garrison there was a steep cliff on one side and a steep cliff on the other side. And the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

And between the passages where Jonathan sought to pass over to the station of the Philistines [is] the edge of a rock on one side, and the edge of a rock on the other side, and the name of one is Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 The one cliff was to north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

One edge [is] fixed on the north in front of Michmash, and the one on the south in front of Gibeah.

6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that YHWH will work for us, for nothing can prevent YHWH from saving by many or by a few."

And Jonathan says to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and we pass over to the station of these uncircumcised; it may be YHWH works for us, for there is no restraint to YHWH to save by many or by few.”

7 His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that your heart inclines toward. Look, I am with you, my heart is as your heart."

And the bearer of his weapons says to him, “Do all that [is] in your heart; turn for yourself; behold, I [am] with you, as your own heart.”

8 Then Jonathan said, "Look, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.

And Jonathan says, “Behold, we are passing over to the men, and are revealed to them;

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

if they thus say to us, Stand still until we have come to you, then we have stood in our place, and do not go up to them;

10 But if they say this, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up; for YHWH has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us."

and if they thus say, Come up against us, then we have gone up, for YHWH has given them into our hand, and this [is] the sign to us.”

11 Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves."

And both of them are revealed to the station of the Philistines, and the Philistines say, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves.”

12 The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me; for YHWH has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

And the men of the station answer Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons, and say, “Come up to us, and we cause you to know something.” And Jonathan says to the bearer of his weapons, “Come up after me, for YHWH has given them into the hand of Israel.”

13 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.

And Jonathan goes up on his hands, and on his feet, and the bearer of his weapons after him; and they fall before Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons is putting [them] to death after him.

14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men, with arrows and with weapons from flints of the field.

And the first striking which Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons have struck is of about twenty men, in about half a furrow of a yoke of a field,

15 And there was a terror in the camp, and in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders were terrified. And the earth quaked, and it became a terror of God.

and there is a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people, the station and the destroyers have trembled—even they, and the earth shakes, and it becomes a trembling of God.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw, and look, the multitude was scattering here and there.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin see, and behold, the multitude has melted away, and it goes on, and is beaten down.

17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count now, and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, look, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

And Saul says to the people who [are] with him, “Now inspect and see; who has gone from us?” And they inspect, and behold, Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons are not.

18 And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring near the ephod," for he wore the ephod at that time before Israel.

And Saul says to Ahiah, “Bring the Ark of God near”; for the Ark of God has been with the sons of Israel on that day.

19 And it happened, while Saul was speaking to the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

And it comes to pass, while Saul spoke to the priest, that the noise which [is] in the camp of the Philistines goes on, going on and becoming great, and Saul says to the priest, “Remove your hand.”

20 Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and look, every man's sword was against his fellow: a very great confusion.

And Saul is called, and all the people who [are] with him, and they come to the battle, and behold, the sword of each has been against his neighbor—a very great destruction.

21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously when they went up with them to the camp, they too turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

And the Hebrews [who] have been with the Philistines before the day prior, who had gone up with them into the camp, have turned around, even they, to be with Israel who [are] with Saul and Jonathan,

22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed closely after them in the battle.

and all the men of Israel, who are hiding themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, have heard that the Philistines have fled, and they pursue—even they—after them in battle.

23 So YHWH saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over by Beth Aven. And all the people with Saul were about ten thousand men. And the battle extended itself into every city in the hill country of Ephraim.

And YHWH saves Israel on that day, and the battle has passed over to Beth-Aven.

24 And Saul committed a great blunder that day, for he had placed the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

And the men of Israel have been distressed on that day, and Saul adjures the people, saying, “Cursed [is] the man who eats food until the evening, and I have been avenged of my enemies”; and none of the people have tasted food.

25 Now all the people came upon a honeycomb, and there was honey on the ground.

And all [those of] the land have come into a forest, and there is honey on the face of the field;

26 And when the people came upon the honeycomb, look, its bees had left, but no man would raise his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

and the people come into the forest, and behold, the honey dropped, and none is moving his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan did not hear when his father commanded the people with the oath, so he put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

And Jonathan has not heard of his father’s adjuring the people, and puts forth the end of the rod, which [is] in his hand, and dips it in the honeycomb, and brings back his hand to his mouth—and his eyes see!

28 Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food this day.'" The people were faint.

And a man of the people answers and says, “Your father certainly adjured the people, saying, Cursed [is] the man who eats food today; and the people are weary.”

29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

And Jonathan says, “My father has troubled the land; now see that my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies when they found it, for the slaughter among the Philistines would have been greater."

How much more if the people had well eaten today of the spoil of its enemies which it has found, for now the striking has not been great among the Philistines.”

31 They struck of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;

And they strike on that day among the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people are very weary,

32 and the people pounced upon the spoil, and took sheep, and cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

and the people make toward the spoil, and take sheep, and oxen, and sons of the herd, and slaughter on the earth, and the people eat with the blood.

33 Then they told Saul, saying, "Look, the people are sinning against YHWH, in that they eat meat with the blood." He said, "You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me this day."

And they declare to Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against YHWH, to eat with the blood.” And he says, “You have dealt treacherously, roll a great stone to me today.”

34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, 'Each one of you bring to me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against YHWH by eating with the blood.'" So everyone of the people brought whatever he had at hand with him, and slaughtered it there.

And Saul says, “Be scattered among the people, and you have said to them: Each bring his ox to me, and each his sheep; and you have slain [them] in this place, and eaten, and you do not sin against YHWH to eat with the blood.” And all the people bring [them]—each one [with] his ox in his hand, that night—and slaughter [them] there.

35 Saul built an altar to YHWH. This was the first altar that he built to YHWH.

And Saul builds an altar to YHWH; with it he has begun to build altars to YHWH.

36 Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."

And Saul says, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and we prey on them until the morning light, and do not leave a man of them.” And they say, “Do all that is good in your eyes.” And the priest says, “Let us draw near to God here.”

37 Saul asked counsel 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.

And Saul asks of God, “Do I go down after the Philistines? Do You give them into the hand of Israel?” And He has not answered him on that day.

38 And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people; and investigate and see how this sin has arisen today.

And Saul says, “Everyone draw near here, the chiefs of the people, and know and see in what this sin has been today;

39 For, as YHWH lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.

for YHWH lives, who is saving Israel: surely if it is in my son Jonathan, surely he certainly dies”; and none is answering him out of all the people.

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

And he says to all Israel, “You are on one side, and I and my son Jonathan are on another side”; and the people say to Saul, “Do that which is good in your eyes.”

41 Therefore Saul said, "YHWH, God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this sin is mine or in Jonathan my son, YHWH, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this sin is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people were cleared.

And Saul says to YHWH, God of Israel, “Give perfection”; and Jonathan and Saul are captured, and the people went out.

42 And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. Whomever YHWH shall indicate to be taken by lot, let him die." And the people said to Saul, "This thing is not to be." And Saul prevailed over the people, and they cast lots between him and Jonathan his son. And Jonathan was selected.

And Saul says, “Cast between me and my son Jonathan”; and Jonathan is captured.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand; and look, I must die."

And Saul says to Jonathan, “Declare to me, what have you done?” And Jonathan declares to him and says, “I certainly tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that [is] in my hand; behold, I die!”

44 And Saul said, "God do the same to me and more also if you are not put to death this day."

And Saul says, “Thus God does, and thus does He add, for you certainly die, Jonathan.”

45 The people said to Saul, "Shall he who has worked this great salvation in Israel die today? As YHWH lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

And the people say to Saul, “Does Jonathan die who worked this great salvation in Israel? Certainly not! YHWH lives, if there falls to the earth [even one] hair from his head, for with God he has worked this day”; and the people rescue Jonathan, and he has not died.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

And Saul goes up from after the Philistines, and the Philistines have gone to their place;

47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the people of Ammon, and against Edom, and against Beth Rehob, and against the king of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he was victorious.

and Saul captured the kingdom over Israel, and he fights all around against all his enemies, against Moab, and against the sons of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines, and wherever he turns he distresses [them].

48 And he did valiantly, and struck Amalek, and delivered Israel out of the hand of its plunderers.

And he makes a force, and strikes Amalek, and delivers Israel out of the hand of its spoiler.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jishvi, and Malkishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merob, and the name of the younger Mikal:

And the sons of Saul are Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-Shua; as for the name of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn [is] Merab, and the name of the younger Michal;

50 and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abiner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

and the name of the wife of Saul [is] Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the head of his host [is] Abner son of Ner, uncle of Saul;

51 Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

and Kish [is] the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, [is] the son of Ahiel.

52 There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.

And the war is severe against the Philistines all the days of Saul; when Saul has seen any mighty man, and any son of valor, then he gathers him to himself.