1 Samuel, 14

1. Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that [is] on the other side. But he told not his father.

1. The same day, Jonathan, son of Saul, said to his armor-bearer, "Let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side. Jonathan did not inform his father about this.

2. And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which [is] in Migron: and the people that [were] with him [were] about six hundred men;

2. Saul was at that time on the outskirts of Gibeah, at Migron, under the pomegranate tree with about six hundred men.

3. And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

3. Also with Saul was Ahijah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, and he was wearing the ephod to consult Yahweh. Not even the soldiers knew that Jonathan had left them.

4. And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, [there was] a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one [was] Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

4. The pass through which Jonathan planned to go to reach the Philistine garrison was flanked on each side by a rocky crag: one called Bozez, the other, Seneh.

5. The forefront of the one [was] situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

5. One of the crags was to the north in the direction of Michmash; the other to the south, in the direction of Giba.

6. And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

6. Jonathan said to his shield-bearer, "Let us go over to the garrison of those uncircumcised fellows. It may be that Yahweh will help us, for it is as easy for Yahweh to give victory with a few men as with many."

7. And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to thy heart.

7. His armor-bearer replied, "Do whatever you think best. As for me, I follow and obey you."

8. Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto [these] men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

8. Jonathan said, "Look, we will draw near and show ourselves to those men.

9. If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

9. When they see us, if they cry out: 'Stay there and we shall go over to you,' we shall stay quiet and go no further.

10. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this [shall be] a sign unto us.

10. But if they say: 'Come up to us,' we shall go up because that will be a sign that Yahweh has delivered them into our hands."

11. And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

11. When the two were seen by the Philistines, the latter exclaimed, "Look! Hebrews coming out of their hiding places!"

12. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

12. And they challenged Jonathan and his shield-bearer, "Come over here and we will teach you a lesson!" Jonathan then told his armor-bearer, "Follow me, for Yahweh has delivered them into the hands of Israel."

13. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

13. Then Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, his armor-bearer following him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer finished them off.

14. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].

14. In that first slaying by Jonathan and his armor-bearer, about twenty men lost their lives within half a furlong.

15. And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

15. Panic struck in the camp and in the countryside, sowing terror in the garrison. Even the band of raiders was disturbed. It was like an earthquake and they were filled with a holy terror.

16. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].

16. Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin saw the commotion in the camp: the Philistines were running and scattering in all directions.

17. Then said Saul unto the people that [were] with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer [were] not [there].

17. Saul then told those who were around him, "Count our men and see who is missing." And they discovered that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not with them.

18. And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

18. Saul ordered Ahijah: "Bring the ephod," because Ahijah had taken it with him.

19. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

19. But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp increased. Saul then told the priest, "Withdraw your hand,"

20. And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.

20. and after consulting his men, he went with them to the camp. They saw that there was complete confusion and the soldiers were striking each other with their swords.

21. Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Israelites that [were] with Saul and Jonathan.

21. Moreover, the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines turned around and sided with the Israelites under Saul and Jonathan.

22. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, [when] they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

22. When the Israelites who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they came out from hiding and pursued them.

23. So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

23. And so Yahweh delivered Israel that day in a battle that extended beyond Beth-horon.

24. And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted [any] food.

24. On that day, however, as the Israelites became weary, Saul took an oath putting the people under the ban, "Cursed be the man who takes food before evening, before I have avenged myself on my enemies." Because of this oath, no one dared touch any food.

25. And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

25. As the men wandered into the forest, they saw honey on the ground and

26. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

26. although it was freely dripping from the honeycomb, no one tasted it for fear of the oath.

27. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that [was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

27. But Jonathan, who had not heard of this oath, dipped the tip of the rod he was holding in the honeycomb and put it to his lips. And he felt fortified.

28. Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the people were faint.

28. At this, someone said, "Though the people were tired, your father bound them with this oath: cursed be the man who takes food today."

29. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

29. Then Jonathan said, "My father did you wrong. See how I have been fortified by tasting a little of this honey.

30. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

30. If only our men had freely eaten today of the spoil of their enemies, the Philistines would have suffered an even greater defeat."

31. And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

31. Nevertheless they pursued the Philistines all the way from Michmash to Aijalon. Then the people, extremely worn out,

32. And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew [them] on the ground: and the people did eat [them] with the blood.

32. rushed to the spoils and took sheep, oxen, and calves and, after they had slaughtered them on the ground, they ate over the blood.

33. Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

33. Saul was told that the people were sinning against Yahweh by eating over the blood. He said, "You have acted like pagan people! Roll a large stone here in front of me."

34. And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay [them] here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew [them] there.

34. Then he added, "Go around and tell the people to bring their oxen or their sheep to me. Slaughter them here and eat, but do not offend Yahweh by eating over the blood." So that night, everyone brought what he had of the spoils and slaughtered it there.

35. And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

35. Then Saul built an altar to Yahweh - the first he ever built to Him.

36. And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.

36. Then Saul said, "Let us pursue and spoil the Philistines by night and finish them off by morning without leaving a single man alive." To this the people replied, "Do what you think is best." But the priest said, "We must consult Yahweh."

37. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

37. So Saul asked, "Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hands of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

38. And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

38. Saul said, "Call all the army officers here. We must find out who is responsible for the sin that has been committed today.

39. For, [as] the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But [there was] not a man among all the people [that] answered him.

39. I swear before Yahweh, who has just saved Israel, that he shall surely die even if it happens to be my son Jonathan." No one answered Saul.

40. Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

40. He told the people, "Go, stand on one side while I and my son Jonathan, stand on the other." The people answered, "Do what you think is good."

41. Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect [lot]. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

41. Then Saul said, "O Yahweh, God of Israel, why did you not answer your servant this time? If it is my son Jonathan or I who have sinned, O Yahweh, God of Israel, let the casting of lots show Urim; if it is your people Israel who have sinned, let it show Thummin." The lot cast pointed to Jonathan and Saul, not to the people.

42. And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

42. Saul then said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." The lot singled out Jonathan.

43. Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and], lo, I must die.

43. Saul then said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan replied, "All I did was to taste a little honey from the tip of the rod that I dipped in the honeycomb! Am I to die for this?"

44. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

44. Saul said, "May God strike me down if you are not put to death, Jonathan."

45. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: [as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

45. But the people protested, "By no means shall Jonathan die, he who has brought this resounding victory to Israel! Not at all! By Yahweh's life not one hair of his head will fall, for he has acted today with God's assistance." So the people rescued Jonathan from certain death.

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

46. After that, Saul ceased to pursue the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own country.

47. So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].

47. When Saul felt secure as king of Israel, he began to fight against all his surrounding enemies: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah and the Philistines, routing his enemies wherever he went.

48. And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

48. He crushed the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who were plundering them.

49. Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters [were these]; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

49. The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua; his two daughters were Merab, his firstborn, and Michal.

50. And the name of Saul's wife [was] Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host [was] Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

50. His wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. The general of his army was Abner, son of Ner who was Saul's uncle.

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

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

52. And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

52. Saul struggled fiercely against the Philistines all the days of his life, so whenever he discovered a strong and brave man, he recruited him into his service.