1 Saamuʼeel 14
1 Gaafa tokko Yoonaataan ilmi Saaʼol dargaggeessa miʼa lolaa isaaf baatuun, “Kottu gara qubata Filisxeemotaa kan gama kaaniin jiru sanaatti ceenaa” jedhe. Inni garuu abbaa isaatti hin himne.
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 Saaʼolis Migroon keessa daarii Gibeʼaa muka Roomaanii jala taaʼaa ture. Namoonni isa wajjin turanis gara dhibba jaʼaa ti;
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 Ahiiyaan inni dirata uffatus isaan keessaa tokko ture. Innis ilma Ahiixuub obboleessa Iikaabood, ilma Fiinehaas ilma Eelii kan Shiiloo keessatti luba Waaqayyoo ture sanaa ti. Akka Yoonaataan deemes namni tokko iyyuu quba hin qabu ture.
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 Malkaan ittiin Yoonaataan gara qubata waraana Filisxeemotaatti ceʼuu barbaade sun bitaa fi mirgaan kattaawwan qara qaban lama qaba ture; inni tokko Bozeezi, kaan immoo Seenee jedhama.
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 Kattaan tokko karaa kaabaa fuullee Mikmaasiin, kaan immoo karaa kibbaa fuullee Gibeʼaa dhaabata ture.
One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
6 Yoonaataanis dargaggeessa miʼa lolaa isaaf baatuun, “Kottu gara qubata warra dhagna hin qabatin sanaatti ceenaa. Maaltu beeka Waaqayyo nu gargaara taʼaatii. Baayʼeedhaanis taʼu xinnoodhaan wanni fayyisuu irraa Waaqayyoon dhowwu tokko iyyuu hin jiru” jedhe.
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 Dargaggeessichi miʼa lolaa isaaf baatu sunis, “Waan qalbiitti yaadde hunda godhi; duubattis hin deebiʼin; anis akkuma yaada keetiitti si wajjinan jira” jedhe.
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 Yoonaataanis akkana jedhe; “Egaa kottu gara isaaniitti ceenaa; isaan nu hin argan.
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 Yoo isaan, ‘Hamma nu gara keessan dhufnuttu nu eegaa’ jedhan, asumatti isaan eegna; garuu isaanitti ol hin baanu.
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 Yoo isaan, ‘Gara keenyatti ol kottaa’ jedhan garuu kun akka Waaqayyo dabarsee harka keenyatti isaan kenne mallattoo waan nuu taʼuuf itti ol baana.”
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 Lamaan isaanii iyyuu qubata loltoota Filisxeemotaatti of argisiisan. Filisxeemonnis, “Kunoo! Ibroonni boolla itti dhokatan keessaa baʼaa jiru” jedhan.
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 Namoonni qubata Filisxeemotaa keessa jiranis, “Ol kottaa; waan tokko isinitti argisiisnaa!” jedhanii Yoonaataanii fi dargaggeessa miʼa lolaa isaaf baatu sanatti iyyan. Kanaaf Yoonaataan dargaggeessa miʼa lolaa isaaf baatuun, “Waaqayyo harka Israaʼelootaatti dabarsee isaan kenneeraatii na faana kottu” jedhe.
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 Yoonaataan harkaa fi miilla isaatiin daaʼimee ol baʼe; dargaggeessi miʼa lolaa isaaf baatus isa faana ol baʼe. Filisxeemonnis harka Yoonaataaniitiin barbadeeffaman; dargaggeessichi Yoonaataan wajjin tures isa duukaa buʼee isaan fixe.
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 Yoonaataanii fi namichi miʼa lolaa isaaf baatu sun rukuttaa jalqabaa sana keessatti lafa qotiyyoo cimdii tokko oolchuu irratti Filisxeemota gara digdamaa taʼan ajjeesan.
In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
15 Qubata keessatti, lafa qotiisaa keessattii fi saba gidduutti naasuutu taʼe; loltoonni qubata keessa turanii fi warri balaa buusan ni hollatan; laftis ni raafamte. Naasuun sunis naasuu Waaqa biraa ergame ture.
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 Yeroo sana waardiyyoonni Saaʼol kanneen biyya Beniyaam keessa Gibeʼaa turan utuu loltoonni sun karaa hundaan bittinnaaʼanii ni argan.
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 Saaʼol namoota isa wajjin turaniin, “Mee loltoota lakkaaʼaatii nama nu keessaa deeme ilaalaa” jedhe. Yommuu lakkaaʼanittis Yoonaataanii fi namichi miʼa lolaa isaaf baatu sun achi hin turre.
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 Saaʼolis Ahiiyaadhaan, “Mee taabota Waaqaa as fidi” jedhe. Yeroo sana taabonni sun Israaʼeloota harka ture.
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 Utuu Saaʼol lubatti dubbachaa jiruu qubata Filisxeemotaa keessatti wacni guddachaa dhufe. Kanaafuu Saaʼol lubichaan, “Harka kee gad deebifadhu” jedhe.
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 Saaʼolii fi namoonni isaa wal gaʼanii gara waraanaa deeman. Isaanis utuu Filisxeemonni burjaajaʼanii goraadee ofii isaaniitiin wal cicciranuu argan.
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 Ibroonni duraan Filisxeemota wajjin turanii fi isaan wajjin gara qubata isaaniitti ol baʼan sun gara Israaʼeloota warra Saaʼolii fi Yoonaataan wajjin turaniitti deebiʼan.
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 Israaʼeloonni biyya gaaraa Efreem keessatti dhokatanii turan yommuu akka Filisxeemonni baqachaa jiran dhagaʼanitti, lolatti makamanii isaan ariʼan.
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 Gaafas Waaqayyo Israaʼelin ni baraare; lolli sunis Beet Aawwen darbee itti fufe.
So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
24 Saaʼol, “Hamma galgalaatti, hamma ani diinota koo haaloo baafadhutti namni waa nyaatu kam iyyuu abaaramaa haa taʼu!” jedhee waan saba kakachiisee tureef gaafas namoonni Israaʼel akka malee dhiphatanii turan. Kanaafuu loltoota keessaa namni tokko iyyuu waa afaaniin hin qabne.
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 Hoomaan waraanaa hundi bosona seene; dammis lafa ture.
The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
26 Isaanis yeroo bosona seenanitti damma yaaʼu argan; taʼus isaan waan kakaa sana sodaataniif namni tokko iyyuu harka isaa afaanitti hin geeffanne.
They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
27 Yoonaataan garuu akka abbaan isaa namoota kakaadhaan qabe hin dhageenye ture; kanaafuu inni fiixee ulee qabatee ture sanaatiin dhaaba dammaa waraanee afaaniin muuxate; iji isaas ni ifeef.
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 Ergasiis loltoota keessaa tokko, “Abbaan kee, ‘Namni harʼa waa nyaatu kam iyyuu abaaramaa haa taʼu!’ jedhee cimsee hoomaa waraanaa kakaadhaan qabeera; namoonnis kanaaf gaggaban” jedhee isatti hime.
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 Yoonaataan immoo akkana jedhe; “Abbaan koo biyyatti rakkina uumeera. Yommuu ani damma kana irraa xinnoo afaaniin qabetti iji koo akkamitti akka naaf ifee baname mee ilaalaa.
Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
30 Namoonni utuu boojuu diinota isaanii irraa fudhatan keessaa waa nyaatanii akkam gaarii ture. Silaa Filisxeemonni ajjeefaman kana caalaa baayʼatu ture mitii?”
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 Israaʼeloonni gaafa sana erga Mikmaasii hamma Ayaaloonitti Filisxeemota dhaʼanii booddee akka malee dadhabanii turan.
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 Isaanis itti gaggabanii waan boojiʼan irratti lafa dhaʼanii hoolota, sangootaa fi jabboota lafatti qalatan; dhiiguma wajjinis nyaatan.
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 Isaan keessaas namichi tokko, “Kunoo namoonni foon dhiiga wajjin nyaachuudhaan Waaqayyotti cubbuu hojjechaa jiru” jedhee Saaʼolitti hime. Innis, “Isin seera cabsitaniirtu! Dhagaa guddaa isaa gangalchaatii as naa fidaa” jedhe.
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 Ergasiis, “Isin namoota gidduu faffacaʼaatii, ‘Tokkoon tokkoon keessan sangaa fi hoolaa keessan fidaatii qalaa nyaadhaa; isin foon dhiiga isaa wajjin nyaachuudhaan Waaqayyotti cubbuu hin hojjetinaa’ isaaniin jedhaa” jedhe. Kanaafuu namni hundi halkan gaafasii sangaa isaa fidee achitti qale.
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 Saaʼolis iddoo aarsaa Waaqayyoof ijaare; waan kanas yeroo jalqabaatiif godhe.
That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
36 Saaʼol, “Kottaa Filisxeemota duukaa buunee hamma lafti bariʼutti isaan saamnaa; nama tokko illee lubbuun hin hambifnu” jedhe. Isaanis, “Waan gaarii sitti fakkaate hunda godhi” jedhanii deebisan. Lubichi garuu, “Asumatti Waaqa gaafanna” jedhe.
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 Saaʼolis, “Ani Filisxeemota duukaa buʼuu? Ati dabarsitee harka Israaʼelitti isaan ni kennitaa?” jedhee Waaqa gaafate. Waaqni garuu gaafa sana deebii hin kennineef.
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 Kanaafuu Saaʼol akkana jedhe; “Hooggantoonni loltootaa hundi as kottaa; cubbuu harʼa hojjetame ifatti baafnaa.
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 Dhugaa Waaqayyo jiraataa isa Israaʼelin baraaru sanaa, yoo namni cubbuu kana hojjete ilma koo Yoonaataan illee taʼe inni duʼuu qaba.” Garuu isaan keessaa namni tokko iyyuu deebii isaaf hin kennine.
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 Saaʼolis Israaʼeloota hundaan, “Isin achi dhaabadhaa; anii fi ilmi koo Yoonaataan immoo as dhaabanna” jedhe. Namoonnis, “Waan gaarii sitti fakkaate godhi” jedhaniin.
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 Ergasii Saaʼol, “Deebii qajeelaa naa kenni” jedhee Waaqayyoon Waaqa Israaʼel kadhate. Ixaanis Yoonaataanii fi Saaʼolitti baʼe; namoonnis bilisa baʼan.
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 Saaʼolis, “Anaa fi ilma koo Yoonaataan gidduutti immoo ixaa buusaa” jedhe. Ixaan sunis Yoonaataanitti baʼe.
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 Saaʼolis Yoonaataaniin, “Ati waan goote natti himi” jedhe. Yoonaataanis, “Ani dhugumaan fiixee ulee kootiin damma xinnoo ishee muuxadheera. Egaa ani duʼuun qabaa?” jedhee isatti hime.
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 Saaʼolis Yoonaataaniin, “Yoonaataan, yoo ati dhugumaan duʼuu baatte Waaqni waan kanaa fi kan caalu iyyuu natti haa fidu” jedhe.
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 Namoonni garuu Saaʼoliin akkana jedhan; “Yonaataan namni moʼannoo guddaa kana Israaʼeliif fide duʼuu qabaa? Kun gonkumaa hin taʼu! Dhugaa Waaqayyo jiraataa, rifeensi mataa isaa tokko illee lafa hin buʼu; inni gargaarsa Waaqaatiin harʼa waan kana godheeraatii.” Namoonni akkasiin Yoonaataanin baraaran; innis hin ajjeefamne.
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 Saaʼolis Filisxeemota ariʼuu ni dhiise; isaanis gara biyya isaaniitti dachaʼan.
Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
47 Saaʼol erga Israaʼel irratti mootii taʼee booddee diinota isaanii kanneen gama hundaan turan hunda jechuunis Moʼaabota, Amoonota, Edoomota, Mootota Zoobaa fi Filisxeemota lole. Lafa dhaqu hundattis isaan barbadeessa ture.
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 Gootummaadhaanis Amaaleqoota lolee moʼate; Israaʼelootas harka warra isaan saamanii jalaa baase.
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 Ilmaan Saaʼol Yoonaataan, Yishwii fi Malkii-Shuwaa turan. Maqaan intallan isaa immoo isheen hangafni Meerab, quxisuun immoo Miikaal jedhama ture.
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
50 Maqaan niitii isaa Ahiinooʼam jedhama ture; isheenis intala Ahiimaʼaz turte. Maqaan ajajaa waraana Saaʼol Abneer ilma Neeriti; Neer immoo obboleessa abbaa Saaʼol.
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 Qiish abbaan Saaʼolii fi Neer abbaan Abneer ilmaan Abiiʼeel.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
52 Bara jireenya Saaʼol guutuu waraana cimaatu Filisxeemota irratti adeemsifamaa ture; Saaʼolis yommuu nama jabaa yookaan goota tokko argutti ofitti fudhatee akka isa tajaajilu godhata ture.
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.
