1 Samuel 14

1One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

2Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree at Migron. There were about six hundred men with him,

3including Ahijah son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh, who was wearing the ephod. No one knew that Jonathan had gone.

4On each side of the pass by which Jonathan intended to cross over to the Philistine outpost there was a rocky crag, one on one side and one on the other. One was named Bozez, and the other Seneh.

5One crag stood on the north facing Michmash, and the other on the south facing Geba.

6Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps Yahweh will act for us. Nothing can keep Yahweh from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7His armor-bearer said to him, “Do everything you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you, heart and soul.”

8Jonathan said, “All right, we will cross over to the men and let them see us.

9If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

10But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, because Yahweh has given them into our hands. That will be our sign.”

11So the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding!”

12The men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us, and we will teach you a lesson!” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for Yahweh has given them into the hand of Israel.”

13Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed him, finishing them off.

14In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

15Panic spread through the camp, in the field, and among all the troops. The outpost and the raiders trembled too. The earth shook, and it became a terror sent by God.

16Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin watched as the Philistine army melted away, scattering in every direction.

17Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the troops and see who has left us.” When they mustered them, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing.

18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For at that time the ark of God was with the Israelites.

19While Saul was talking to the priest, the uproar in the Philistine camp kept growing louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

20Then Saul and all the men with him assembled and went into the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.

21The Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp also went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too joined the battle in hot pursuit.

23So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.

24The men of Israel were hard pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under an oath: “Cursed is anyone who eats any food before evening, before I have taken revenge on my enemies!” So none of the people tasted any food.

25The whole army came into the forest, and there was honey on the ground.

26When the people entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.

27But Jonathan had not heard that his father had put the people under oath. He reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father put the people under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the people are exhausted.”

29Jonathan said, “My father has brought trouble on the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

30How much better it would have been if the people had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”

31That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were utterly exhausted.

32They pounced on the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves, and they slaughtered them on the ground and ate them with the blood.

33Then someone told Saul, “Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood.” He said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here to me at once.”

34Then Saul said, “Go out among the people and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your ox or your sheep, and slaughter them here and eat. Do not sin against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood.’” So that night all the people brought their oxen with them and slaughtered them there.

35Then Saul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar he built to Yahweh.

36Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave one of them alive.” They answered, “Do whatever seems best to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”

37So Saul asked God, “Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

38Then Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people. Find out what sin has been committed today.

39As surely as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, even if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of the people answered him.

40Then he said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do whatever seems best to you.”

41Then Saul said, “Yahweh, God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If this guilt lies with me or with my son Jonathan, Yahweh, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt lies with your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by the lot, and the people were cleared.

42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die!”

44Saul said, “May God deal with me severely, and more so! You must surely die, Jonathan.”

45But the people said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die, who has brought about this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As surely as Yahweh lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has done this today with God’s help.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their own land.

47After Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.

48He fought valiantly and struck down the Amalekites, and he rescued Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.

49Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger.

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

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

52There was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. Whenever Saul saw any strong or valiant man, he took him into his service.