1 שְׁמוּאֵל 14

1 וַיְהִ֣י הַיֹּ֗ום וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יֹונָתָ֤ן בֶּן־שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־הַנַּ֙עַר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֔יו לְכָ֗ה וְנַעְבְּרָה֙ אֶל־מַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַלָּ֑ז וּלְאָבִ֖יו לֹ֥א הִגִּֽיד׃

One day Jonathan, son of Saul, said to the young armor-bearer, “Come on, let's cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he didn't let his father know his plans.

2 וְשָׁא֗וּל יֹושֵׁב֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַגִּבְעָ֔ה תַּ֥חַת הָרִמֹּ֖ון אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמִגְרֹ֑ון וְהָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמֹּ֔ו כְּשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֹ֖ות אִֽישׁ׃

Saul was staying near Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about six hundred men with him,

3 וַאֲחִיָּ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִט֡וּב אֲחִ֡י אִיכָבֹ֣וד ׀ בֶּן־פִּינְחָ֨ס בֶּן־עֵלִ֜י כֹּהֵ֧ן ׀ יְהוָ֛ה בְּשִׁלֹ֖ו נֹשֵׂ֣א אֵפֹ֑וד וְהָעָם֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י הָלַ֖ךְ יֹונָתָֽן׃

including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, priest of the Lord in Shiloh. No one realized Jonathan had left.

4 וּבֵ֣ין הַֽמַּעְבְּרֹ֗ות אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּקֵּ֤שׁ יֹֽונָתָן֙ לַֽעֲבֹר֙ עַל־מַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים שֵׁן־הַסֶּ֤לַע מֵהָעֵ֙בֶר֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וְשֵׁן־הַסֶּ֥לַע מֵהָעֵ֖בֶר מִזֶּ֑ה וְשֵׁ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ בֹּוצֵ֔ץ וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד סֶֽנֶּה׃

Cliffs stood on both sides of the pass that Jonathan planned to cross to reach the Philistine garrison, one called Bozez and the other Seneh.

5 הַשֵּׁ֧ן הָאֶחָ֛ד מָצ֥וּק מִצָּפֹ֖ון מ֣וּל מִכְמָ֑שׂ וְהָאֶחָ֥ד מִנֶּ֖גֶב מ֥וּל גָּֽבַע׃ ס

The cliff to the north was on the Michmash side, the one to the south on the Geba side.

6 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹונָתָ֜ן אֶל־הַנַּ֣עַר ׀ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו לְכָה֙ וְנַעְבְּרָ֗ה אֶל־מַצַּב֙ הָעֲרֵלִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אוּלַ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין לַֽיהוָה֙ מַעְצֹ֔ור לְהֹושִׁ֥יעַ בְּרַ֖ב אֹ֥ו בִמְעָֽט׃

Jonathan said to the young armor-bearer, “Come on, let's cross over to the garrison of these heathen men. Maybe the Lord will help us out. It's not a problem for the Lord to win, whether by many or by few.”

7 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֔יו עֲשֵׂ֖ה כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ נְטֵ֣ה לָ֔ךְ הִנְנִ֥י עִמְּךָ֖ כִּלְבָבֶֽךָ׃ ס

“You choose what you want to do,” the armor-bearer replied. “I'm with you whatever you decide!”

8 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהֹ֣ונָתָ֔ן הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ עֹבְרִ֖ים אֶל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְנִגְלִ֖ינוּ אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

“Let's go then!” Jonathan said. “We'll cross over in their direction so they can see us.

9 אִם־כֹּ֤ה יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ דֹּ֕מּוּ עַד־הַגִּיעֵ֖נוּ אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְעָמַ֣דְנוּ תַחְתֵּ֔ינוּ וְלֹ֥א נַעֲלֶ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

If they tell us, ‘Wait there until we come down to you,’ we will wait where we are and we won't go up to them.

10 וְאִם־כֹּ֨ה יֹאמְר֜וּ עֲל֤וּ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְעָלִ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־נְתָנָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיָדֵ֑נוּ וְזֶה־לָּ֖נוּ הָאֹֽות׃

But if they say, ‘Come on up to us,’ we'll climb up, for that will be the sign that the Lord has handed them over to us.”

11 וַיִּגָּל֣וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֶל־מַצַּ֖ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הִנֵּ֤ה עִבְרִים֙ יֹֽצְאִ֔ים מִן־הַחֹרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִתְחַבְּאוּ־שָֽׁם׃

So both of them let themselves be seen by Philistine garrison. “Hey, look!” shouted the Philistines. “The Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in.”

12 וַיַּעֲנוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמַּצָּבָ֜ה אֶת־יֹונָתָ֣ן ׀ וְאֶת־נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ עֲל֣וּ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְנֹודִ֥יעָה אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָ֑ר פ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יֹונָתָ֜ן אֶל־נֹשֵׂ֤א כֵלָיו֙ עֲלֵ֣ה אַחֲרַ֔י כִּֽי־נְתָנָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

The men from the garrison called down to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up here, and we'll teach you a thing or two!” “Follow me up,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”

13 וַיַּ֣עַל יֹונָתָ֗ן עַל־יָדָיו֙ וְעַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו אַחֲרָ֑יו וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יֹונָתָ֔ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו מְמֹותֵ֥ת אַחֲרָֽיו׃

So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. Jonathan attacked and killed them, and his armor-bearer followed doing the same.

14 וַתְּהִ֞י הַמַּכָּ֣ה הָרִאשֹׁנָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֧ה יֹונָתָ֛ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו כְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים אִ֑ישׁ כְּבַחֲצִ֥י מַעֲנָ֖ה צֶ֥מֶד שָׂדֶֽה׃

In this first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men over an area of half an acre.

15 וַתְּהִי֩ חֲרָדָ֨ה בַמַּחֲנֶ֤ה בַשָּׂדֶה֙ וּבְכָל־הָעָ֔ם הַמַּצָּב֙ וְהַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית חָרְד֖וּ גַּם־הֵ֑מָּה וַתִּרְגַּ֣ז הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִ֖י לְחֶרְדַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃

Then Philistines went into a panic, in the camp, in the field, and throughout their army. Even those in the outposts and the groups of raiders became terrified. The earth shook—this was a panic from God.

16 וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה הֶהָמֹ֛ון נָמֹ֖וג וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַהֲלֹֽם׃ פ

Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine army melting away, scattering in all directions.

17 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֗וּל לָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתֹּ֔ו פִּקְדוּ־נָ֣א וּרְא֔וּ מִ֖י הָלַ֣ךְ מֵעִמָּ֑נוּ וַֽיִּפְקְד֔וּ וְהִנֵּ֛ה אֵ֥ין יֹונָתָ֖ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָֽיו׃

Saul told the soldiers with him, “Do a roll-call and find out who isn't here with us.” When they did the roll-call, they discovered that Jonathan and his armor-bearer weren't there.

18 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ לַֽאֲחִיָּ֔ה הַגִּ֖ישָׁה אֲרֹ֣ון הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּֽי־הָיָ֞ה אֲרֹ֧ון הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים בַּיֹּ֥ום הַה֖וּא וּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here.” (At the time the Ark of God traveled with the Israelites.)

19 וַיְהִ֗י עַ֣ד דִּבֶּ֤ר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהֶהָמֹ֗ון אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֹ֖וךְ וָרָ֑ב פ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר שָׁא֛וּל אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֖ן אֱסֹ֥ף יָדֶֽךָ׃

But as Saul was speaking to the priest, the commotion coming from the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul told the priest, “Forget it!”

20 וַיִּזָּעֵ֣ק שָׁא֗וּל וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתֹּ֔ו וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה הָיְתָ֜ה חֶ֤רֶב אִישׁ֙ בְּרֵעֵ֔הוּ מְהוּמָ֖ה גְּדֹולָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

Then Saul and all his army assembled and went into battle. They discovered the Philistines were in total disarray, attacking each other with swords.

21 וְהָעִבְרִ֗ים הָי֤וּ לַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ כְּאֶתְמֹ֣ול שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ום אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָל֥וּ עִמָּ֛ם בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה סָבִ֑יב וְגַם־הֵ֗מָּה לִֽהְיֹות֙ עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִם־שָׁא֖וּל וְיֹונָתָֽן׃

The Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines, and who were with them in their camp, switched sides and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 וְכֹל֩ אִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הַמִּֽתְחַבְּאִ֤ים בְּהַר־אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־נָ֖סוּ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַֽיַּדְבְּק֥וּ גַם־הֵ֛מָּה אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were running away, they also joined in chasing after the Philistines to attack them.

23 וַיֹּ֧ושַׁע יְהוָ֛ה בַּיֹּ֥ום הַה֖וּא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהַ֨מִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָבְרָ֖ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית אָֽוֶן׃

On that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle extended past Beth-aven.

24 וְאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל נִגַּ֖שׂ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֑וּא וַיֹּאֶל֩ שָׁא֨וּל אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר אָר֣וּר הָ֠אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֹ֨אכַל לֶ֜חֶם עַד־הָעֶ֗רֶב וְנִקַּמְתִּי֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבַ֔י וְלֹֽא טָעַ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לָֽחֶם׃ ס

It was difficult for the men of Israel that day because Saul had ordered the army to take an oath, saying, “Cursed is anyone who eats anything before evening, before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So no one in the army had eaten anything.

25 וְכָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּ֣אוּ בַיָּ֑עַר וַיְהִ֥י דְבַ֖שׁ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃

When they all entered the forest they found honeycomb on the ground.

26 וַיָּבֹ֤א הָעָם֙ אֶל־הַיַּ֔עַר וְהִנֵּ֖ה הֵ֣לֶךְ דְּבָ֑שׁ וְאֵין־מַשִּׂ֤יג יָדֹו֙ אֶל־פִּ֔יו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֥א הָעָ֖ם אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָֽה׃

While they were in the forest they saw the honey running out, but no one picked it up to eat it because they were all afraid of the oath they had taken.

27 וְיֹונָתָ֣ן לֹֽא־שָׁמַ֗ע בְּהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ אָבִיו֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֶת־קְצֵ֤ה הַמַּטֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֹ֔ו וַיִּטְבֹּ֥ל אֹותָ֖הּ בְּיַעְרַ֣ת הַדְּבָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֤שֶׁב יָדֹו֙ אֶל־פִּ֔יו וַתָּרֹאנָה (וַתָּאֹ֖רְנָה) עֵינָֽיו׃

But Jonathan hadn't heard that his father had ordered the army to take this oath. So he stuck the end of his stick into the honeycomb, picked up a piece to eat, and he felt much better.

28 וַיַּעַן֩ אִ֨ישׁ מֵֽהָעָ֜ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַשְׁבֵּעַ֩ הִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ אָבִ֤יךָ אֶת־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָר֥וּר הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֹ֥אכַל לֶ֖חֶם הַיֹּ֑ום וַיָּ֖עַף הָעָֽם׃

But one of the soldiers told him, “Your father made the army take a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is anyone who eats anything today!’ That is why the men are exhausted.”

29 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יֹֽונָתָ֔ן עָכַ֥ר אָבִ֖י אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ רְאוּ־נָא֙ כִּֽי־אֹ֣רוּ עֵינַ֔י כִּ֣י טָעַ֔מְתִּי מְעַ֖ט דְּבַ֥שׁ הַזֶּֽה׃

“My father has caused a whole lot of trouble for everyone,” Jonathan replied. “See how well I am because I've eaten a little of this honey.

30 אַ֗ף כִּ֡י לוּא֩ אָכֹ֨ל אָכַ֤ל הַיֹּום֙ הָעָ֔ם מִשְּׁלַ֥ל אֹיְבָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָצָ֑א כִּ֥י עַתָּ֛ה לֹֽא־רָבְתָ֥ה מַכָּ֖ה בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

It would have been so much better if only the army had eaten plenty today from the plunder taken from their enemies! How many more Philistines would have been killed?”

31 וַיַּכּ֞וּ בַּיֹּ֤ום הַהוּא֙ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים מִמִּכְמָ֖שׂ אַיָּלֹ֑נָה וַיָּ֥עַף הָעָ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃

After defeating the Philistines that day, killing them from Michmash to Aijalon, the Israelites were totally exhausted.

32 וַיַּעַשׂ (וַיַּ֤עַט) הָעָם֙ אֶל־שָׁלָל (הַשָּׁלָ֔ל) וַיִּקְח֨וּ צֹ֧אן וּבָקָ֛ר וּבְנֵ֥י בָקָ֖ר וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ־אָ֑רְצָה וַיֹּ֥אכַל הָעָ֖ם עַל־הַדָּֽם׃

They grabbed the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves, and slaughtered them right there on the ground. But they ate them with the blood.

33 וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לְשָׁאוּל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה הָעָ֛ם חֹטִ֥אים לַֽיהוָ֖ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל עַל־הַדָּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר בְּגַדְתֶּ֔ם גֹּֽלּוּ־אֵלַ֥י הַיֹּ֖ום אֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹולָֽה׃

Saul was told, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.” “Law-breakers!” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here right now!”

34 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֣וּל פֻּ֣צוּ בָעָ֡ם וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם לָהֶ֡ם הַגִּ֣ישׁוּ אֵלַי֩ אִ֨ישׁ שֹׁורֹ֜ו וְאִ֣ישׁ שְׂיֵ֗הוּ וּשְׁחַטְתֶּ֤ם בָּזֶה֙ וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֔ם וְלֹֽא־תֶחֶטְא֥וּ לַֽיהוָ֖ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶל־הַדָּ֑ם וַיַּגִּ֨שׁוּ כָל־הָעָ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ שֹׁורֹ֧ו בְיָ֛דֹו הַלַּ֖יְלָה וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ־שָֽׁם׃

Then he said, “Go around the soldiers and tell them, ‘Every man must bring me his cattle or his sheep and slaughter them here, and then eat. Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.’” Everyone in the army brought what he had and slaughtered it there that night.

35 וַיִּ֧בֶן שָׁא֛וּל מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָ֑ה אֹתֹ֣ו הֵחֵ֔ל לִבְנֹ֥ות מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃ פ

So Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar he had built to the Lord.

36 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֡וּל נֵרְדָ֣ה אַחֲרֵי֩ פְלִשְׁתִּ֨ים ׀ לַ֜יְלָה וְֽנָבֹ֥זָה בָהֶ֣ם ׀ עַד־אֹ֣ור הַבֹּ֗קֶר וְלֹֽא־נַשְׁאֵ֤ר בָּהֶם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כָּל־הַטֹּ֥וב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵׂ֑ה ס וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נִקְרְבָ֥ה הֲלֹ֖ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Saul said, “Let's go and chase down the Philistines during night and plunder them till dawn, leaving no survivors.” “Do what you think best,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let's ask God first.”

37 וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל שָׁאוּל֙ בֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים הַֽאֵרֵד֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הֲתִתְּנֵ֖ם בְּיַ֣ד יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֥א עָנָ֖הוּ בַּיֹּ֥ום הַהֽוּא׃

Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and chase down the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But that day God didn't answer him.

38 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל גֹּ֣שֽׁוּ הֲלֹ֔ם כֹּ֖ל פִּנֹּ֣ות הָעָ֑ם וּדְע֣וּ וּרְא֔וּ בַּמָּ֗ה הָֽיְתָ֛ה הַחַטָּ֥את הַזֹּ֖את הַיֹּֽום׃

So Saul gave the order, “All you army commanders, come here so we can investigate what sin has happened today.

39 כִּ֣י חַי־יְהוָ֗ה הַמֹּושִׁ֙יעַ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֧י אִם־יֶשְׁנֹ֛ו בְּיֹונָתָ֥ן בְּנִ֖י כִּ֣י מֹ֣ות יָמ֑וּת וְאֵ֥ין עֹנֵ֖הוּ מִכָּל־הָעָֽם׃

I swear on the life of the Lord who saves Israel, that even if it's my son Jonathan, he will have to die!” But no one of the whole army said anything.

40 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אַתֶּם֙ תִּֽהְיוּ֙ לְעֵ֣בֶר אֶחָ֔ד וַֽאֲנִי֙ וְיֹונָתָ֣ן בְּנִ֔י נִהְיֶ֖ה לְעֵ֣בֶר אֶחָ֑ד וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הָעָם֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל הַטֹּ֥וב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃ ס

Saul told them all, “You stand over to one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the opposite side.” “Do what you think best,” the army replied.

41 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֗וּל אֶל־יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָ֣בָה תָמִ֑ים וַיִּלָּכֵ֧ד יֹונָתָ֛ן וְשָׁא֖וּל וְהָעָ֥ם יָצָֽאוּ׃

Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Let the Thummin show.” Jonathan and Saul were identified, while everyone else was cleared.

42 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל הַפִּ֕ילוּ בֵּינִ֕י וּבֵ֖ין יֹונָתָ֣ן בְּנִ֑י וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד יֹונָתָֽן׃

Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” Jonathan was selected.

43 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־יֹ֣ונָתָ֔ן הַגִּ֥ידָה לִּ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָה וַיַּגֶּד־לֹ֣ו יֹונָתָ֗ן וַיֹּאמֶר֩ טָעֹ֨ם טָעַ֜מְתִּי בִּקְצֵ֨ה הַמַּטֶּ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִ֛י מְעַ֥ט דְּבַ֖שׁ הִנְנִ֥י אָמֽוּת׃

“Tell me what you have done,” Saul asked Jonathan. “I just tasted a little honey with the end of my stick,” Jonathan told him. “Here I am, and I have to die.”

44 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל כֹּֽה־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יֹוסִ֑ף כִּֽי־מֹ֥ות תָּמ֖וּת יֹונָתָֽן׃

Saul said, “May God punish me very severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”

45 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָעָ֜ם אֶל־שָׁא֗וּל הֲ‍ֽיֹונָתָ֤ן ׀ יָמוּת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָ֠שָׂה הַיְשׁוּעָ֨ה הַגְּדֹולָ֣ה הַזֹּאת֮ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ חָלִ֗ילָה חַי־יְהוָה֙ אִם־יִפֹּ֞ל מִשַּׂעֲרַ֤ת רֹאשֹׁו֙ אַ֔רְצָה כִּֽי־עִם־אֱלֹהִ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ה הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּפְדּ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם אֶת־יֹונָתָ֖ן וְלֹא־מֵֽת׃ ס

But the people told Saul, “Does Jonathan have to die, the one who achieved this great victory in Israel? Absolutely not! We swear on the life of the Lord, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground, for it was with God's help that he achieved this today.” The people saved Jonathan, and he didn't die.

46 וַיַּ֣עַל שָׁא֔וּל מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים הָלְכ֥וּ לִמְקֹומָֽם׃

Saul stopped chasing down the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own country.

47 וְשָׁא֛וּל לָכַ֥ד הַמְּלוּכָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם סָבִ֣יב ׀ בְּֽכָל־אֹיְבָ֡יו בְּמֹואָ֣ב ׀ וּבִבְנֵי־עַמֹּ֨ון וּבֶאֱדֹ֜ום וּבְמַלְכֵ֤י צֹובָה֙ וּבַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּבְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִפְנֶ֖ה יַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃

After Saul had made his hold over Israel secure, he fought against all his enemies all around: Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Whatever direction he went he defeated them all.

48 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ חַ֔יִל וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיַּצֵּ֥ל אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֥ד שֹׁסֵֽהוּ׃ ס

He fought bravely, conquering the Amalekites, saving Israel from those who plundered them.

49 וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל יֹונָתָ֥ן וְיִשְׁוִ֖י וּמַלְכִּי־שׁ֑וּעַ וְשֵׁם֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו שֵׁ֤ם הַבְּכִירָה֙ מֵרַ֔ב וְשֵׁ֥ם הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה מִיכַֽל׃

Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, (the firstborn), and Michal, (the younger one).

50 וְשֵׁם֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת שָׁא֔וּל אֲחִינֹ֖עַם בַּת־אֲחִימָ֑עַץ וְשֵׁ֤ם שַׂר־צְבָאֹו֙ אֲבִינֵ֔ר בֶּן־נֵ֖ר דֹּ֥וד שָׁאֽוּל׃

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

51 וְקִ֧ישׁ אֲבִֽי־שָׁא֛וּל וְנֵ֥ר אֲבִֽי־אַבְנֵ֖ר בֶּן־אֲבִיאֵֽל׃ ס

Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.

52 וַתְּהִ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ חֲזָקָ֣ה עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וְרָאָ֨ה שָׁא֜וּל כָּל־אִ֤ישׁ גִּבֹּור֙ וְכָל־בֶּן־חַ֔יִל וַיַּאַסְפֵ֖הוּ אֵלָֽיו׃ ס

Throughout Saul's lifetime there was constant war with the Philistines. Saul recruited into his army every strong warrior and every brave fighter that he met.