I Samuelis 14
1 Et accidit quadam die ut diceret Ionathas filius Saul ad adolescentem armigerum suum: Veni, et transeamus ad stationem Philisthinorum, quae est trans locum illum. Patri autem suo hoc ipsum non indicavit.
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 Porro Saul morabatur in extrema parte Gabaa sub malogranato, quae erat in agro Gabaa: et erat populus cum eo quasi sexcentorum virorum.
Saul was staying near Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about six hundred men with him,
3 Et Achias filius Achitob fratris Ichabod filii Phinees, qui ortus fuerat ex Heli sacerdote Domini in Silo, portabat ephod. Sed et populus ignorabat quo isset Ionathas.
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 Erant autem inter ascensus, per quos nitebatur Ionathas transire ad stationem Philisthinorum, eminentes petrae ex utraque parte, et quasi in modum dentium scopuli hinc et inde praerupti, nomen uni Boses, et nomen alteri Sene:
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 unus scopulus prominens ad Aquilonem ex adverso Machmas, et alter ad Meridiem contra Gabaa.
The cliff to the north was on the Michmash side, the one to the south on the Geba side.
6 Dixit autem Ionathas ad adolescentem armigerum suum: Veni, transeamus ad stationem incircumcisorum horum, si forte faciat Dominus pro nobis: quia non est Domino difficile salvare, vel in multis, vel in paucis.
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 Dixitque ei armiger suus: Fac omnia, quae placent animo tuo: perge quo cupis, et ero tecum ubicumque volueris.
“You choose what you want to do,” the armor-bearer replied. “I'm with you whatever you decide!”
8 Et ait Ionathas: Ecce nos transimus ad viros istos. Cumque apparuerimus eis,
“Let's go then!” Jonathan said. “We'll cross over in their direction so they can see us.
9 si taliter locuti fuerint ad nos, manete donec veniamus ad vos: stemus in loco nostro, nec ascendamus ad eos.
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 Si autem dixerint: Ascendite ad nos: ascendamus, quia tradidit eos Dominus in manibus nostris, hoc erit nobis signum.
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 Apparuit igitur uterque stationi Philisthinorum: dixeruntque Philisthiim: En Hebraei egrediuntur de cavernis, in quibus absconditi fuerant.
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 Et locuti sunt viri de statione ad Ionathan, et ad armigerum eius, dixeruntque: Ascendite ad nos, et ostendemus vobis rem. Et ait Ionathas ad armigerum suum: Ascendamus, sequere me: tradidit enim Dominus eos in manus Israel.
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 Ascendit autem Ionathas manibus et pedibus reptans, et armiger eius post eum. Itaque alii cadebant ante Ionathan, alios armiger eius interficiebat sequens eum.
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 Et facta est plaga prima, qua percussit Ionathas et armiger eius, quasi viginti virorum in media parte iugeris, quam par boum in die arare consuevit.
In this first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men over an area of half an acre.
15 Et factum est miraculum in castris, et per agros: sed et omnis populus stationis eorum, qui ierant ad praedandum, obstupuit, et conturbata sunt castra: et accidit quasi miraculum a Deo.
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 Et respexerunt speculatores Saul, qui erant in Gabaa Beniamin, et ecce multitudo prostrata, et huc illucque diffugiens.
Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine army melting away, scattering in all directions.
17 Et ait Saul populo, qui erat cum eo: Requirite, et videte quis abierit ex nobis. Cumque requisissent, repertum est non adesse Ionathan, et armigerum eius.
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 Et ait Saul ad Achiam: Applica arcam Dei. (Erat enim ibi arca Dei in die illa cum filiis Israel.)
Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here.” (At the time the Ark of God traveled with the Israelites.)
19 Cumque loqueretur Saul ad sacerdotem, tumultus magnus exortus est in castris Philisthinorum: crescebatque paulatim, et clarius resonabat. Et ait Saul ad sacerdotem: Contrahe manum tuam.
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 Conclamavit ergo Saul, et omnis populus, qui erat cum eo, et venerunt usque ad locum certaminis: et ecce versus fuerat gladius uniuscuiusque ad proximum suum, et caedes magna nimis.
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 Sed et Hebraei qui fuerant cum Philisthiim heri et nudiustertius, ascenderantque cum eis in castris, reversi sunt ut essent cum Israel, qui erant cum Saul et Ionatha.
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 Omnes quoque Israelitae, qui se absconderant in monte Ephraim, audientes quod fugissent Philisthaei, sociaverunt se cum suis in praelio. Et erant cum Saul, quasi decem millia virorum.
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 Et salvavit Dominus in die illa Israel. pugna autem pervenit usque ad Bethaven.
On that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle extended past Beth-aven.
24 Et viri Israel sociati sunt sibi in die illa: adiuravit autem Saul populum, dicens: Maledictus vir, qui comederit panem usque ad vesperam, donec ulciscar de inimicis meis. Et non manducavit universus populus panem:
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 omneque terrae vulgus venit in saltum, in quo erat mel super faciem agri.
When they all entered the forest they found honeycomb on the ground.
26 Ingressus est itaque populus saltum, et apparuit fluens mel, nullusque applicuit manum ad os suum. timebat enim populus iuramentum.
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 Porro Ionathas non audierat cum adiuraret pater eius populum: extenditque summitatem virgae, quam habebat in manu, et intinxit in favum mellis: et convertit manum suam ad os suum, et illuminati sunt oculi eius.
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 Respondensque unus de populo, ait: Iureiurando constrinxit pater tuus populum, dicens: Maledictus vir, qui comederit panem hodie. (defecerat autem populus)
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 Dixitque Ionathas: Turbavit pater meus terram: vidistis ipsi quia illuminati sunt oculi mei, eo quod gustaverim paululum de melle isto:
“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 quanto magis si comedisset populus de praeda inimicorum suorum, quam reperit? nonne maior plaga facta fuisset in Philisthiim?
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 Percusserunt ergo in die illa Philisthaeos a Machmis usque in Aialon. Defatigatus est autem populus nimis:
After defeating the Philistines that day, killing them from Michmash to Aijalon, the Israelites were totally exhausted.
32 et versus ad praedam tulit oves, et boves, et vitulos, et mactaverunt in terra: comeditque populus cum sanguine.
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 Nunciaverunt autem Sauli dicentes quod populus peccasset Domino, comedens cum sanguine. Qui ait: Praevaricati estis: volvite ad me iam nunc saxum grande.
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 Et dixit Saul: Dispergimini in vulgus, et dicite eis ut adducat ad me unusquisque bovem suum et arietem, et occidite super istud, et vescimini, et non peccabitis Domino comedentes cum sanguine. Adduxit itaque omnis populus unusquisque bovem in manu sua usque ad noctem: et occiderunt ibi.
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 Aedificavit autem Saul altare Domino; tuncque primum coepit aedificare altare Domino.
So Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar he had built to the Lord.
36 Et dixit Saul: Irruamus super Philisthaeos nocte, et vastemus eos usquedum illucescat mane, nec relinquamus ex eis virum. Dixitque populus: Omne quod bonum videtur in oculis tuis, fac. Et ait sacerdos: Accedamus huc ad Deum.
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 Et consuluit Saul Dominum: Num persequar Philisthiim? si trades eos in manus Israel? Et non respondit ei in die illa.
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 Dixitque Saul: Applicate huc universos angulos populi: et scitote, et videte per quem acciderit peccatum hoc hodie.
So Saul gave the order, “All you army commanders, come here so we can investigate what sin has happened today.
39 Vivit Dominus salvator Israel, quia si per Ionathan filium meum factum est, absque retractione morietur. Ad quod nullus contradixit ei de omni populo.
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 Et ait ad universum Israel: Separamini vos in partem unam, et ego cum Ionatha filio meo ero in parte altera. Responditque populus ad Saul: Quod bonum videtur in oculis tuis, fac.
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 Et dixit Saul ad Dominum Deum Israel: Domine Deus Israel da indicium: quid est quod non responderis servo tuo hodie? Si in me, aut in Ionatha filio meo est iniquitas haec, da ostensionem: aut si haec iniquitas est in populo tuo, da sanctitatem. Et deprehensus est Ionathas et Saul, populus autem exivit.
Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Let the Thummin show.” Jonathan and Saul were identified, while everyone else was cleared.
42 Et ait Saul: Mittite sortem inter me, et inter Ionathan filium meum. Et captus est Ionathas.
Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” Jonathan was selected.
43 Dixit autem Saul ad Ionathan: Indica mihi quid feceris. Et indicavit ei Ionathas, et ait: Gustans gustavi in summitate virgae, quae erat in manu mea, paululum mellis, et ecce ego morior.
“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 Et ait Saul: Haec faciat mihi Deus, et haec addat, quia morte morieris Ionatha.
Saul said, “May God punish me very severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”
45 Dixitque populus ad Saul: Ergone Ionathas morietur, qui fecit salutem hanc magnam in Israel? hoc nefas est: vivit Dominus, si ceciderit capillus de capite eius in terram, quia cum Deo operatus est hodie. Liberavit ergo populus Ionathan, ut non moreretur.
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 Recessitque Saul, nec persecutus est Philisthiim: porro Philisthiim abierunt in loca sua.
Saul stopped chasing down the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own country.
47 Et Saul, confirmato regno super Israel, pugnabat per circuitum adversum omnes inimicos eius, contra Moab, et filios Ammon, et Edom, et reges Soba, et Philisthaeos: et quocumque se verterat, superabat.
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 Congregatoque exercitu, percussit Amalec, et eruit Israel de manu vastatorum eius.
He fought bravely, conquering the Amalekites, saving Israel from those who plundered them.
49 Fuerunt autem filii Saul, Ionathas et Iessui, et Melchisua: et nomina duarum filiarum eius, nomen primogenitae Merob, et nomen minoris Michol.
Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, (the firstborn), and Michal, (the younger one).
50 Et nomen uxoris Saul, Achinoam filia Achimaas: et nomen principis militiae eius Abner, filius Ner, patruelis Saul.
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 Porro Cis fuit pater Saul, et Ner pater Abner, filius Abiel.
Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 Erat autem bellum potens adversum Philisthaeos omnibus diebus Saul. Nam quemcumque viderat Saul virum fortem, et aptum ad praelium, sociabat eum sibi.
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.
