1
Now it came to pass upon a day[H3117], that Jonathan[H3129] the son[H1121] of Saul[H7586]said[H559] unto the young man[H5288] that bare[H5375] his armour[H3627], Come[H3212], and let us go over[H5674] to the Philistines[H6430]' garrison[H4673], that is on the other side[H5676]. But he told[H5046] not his father[H1].
2
And Saul[H7586]tarried[H3427] in the uttermost[H7097] part of Gibeah[H1390] under a pomegranate tree[H7416] which is in Migron[H4051]: and the people[H5971] that were with him were about six[H8337]hundred[H3967]men[H376];
3
And Ahiah[H281], the son[H1121] of Ahitub[H285], Ichabod's brother[H251], the son[H1121] of Phinehas[H6372], the son[H1121] of Eli[H5941], the LORD'S priest[H3548] in Shiloh[H7887], wearing[H5375] an ephod[H646]. And the people[H5971]knew[H3045] not that Jonathan[H3129] was gone[H1980].
4
And between the passages[H4569], by which Jonathan[H3129]sought[H1245] to go over[H5674] unto the Philistines[H6430]' garrison[H4673], there was a sharp[H8127]rock[H5553] on the one[H259]side[H5676], and a sharp[H8127]rock[H5553] on the other[H259]side[H5676]: and the name[H8034] of the one[H259] was Bozez[H949], and the name[H8034] of the other[H259]Seneh[H5573].
5
The forefront[H8127] of the one[H259] was situate[H4690]northward[H6828] over against[H4136]Michmash[H4363], and the other[H259]southward[H5045] over against[H4136]Gibeah[H1387].
6
And Jonathan[H3083]said[H559] to the young man[H5288] that bare[H5375] his armour[H3627], Come[H3212], and let us go over[H5674] unto the garrison[H4673] of these uncircumcised[H6189]: it may be that the LORD[H3068] will work[H6213] for us: for there is no restraint[H4622] to the LORD[H3068] to save[H3467] by many[H7227] or by few[H4592].
7
And his armourbearer[H5375]said[H559] unto him, Do[H6213] all that is in thine heart[H3824]: turn[H5186] thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart[H3824].
8
Then said[H559]Jonathan[H3083], Behold, we will pass over[H5674] unto these men[H582], and we will discover[H1540] ourselves unto them.
9
If they say[H559] thus unto us, Tarry[H1826] until we come[H5060] to you; then we will stand still[H5975] in our place, and will not go up[H5927] unto them.
10
But if they say[H559] thus, Come up[H5927] unto us; then we will go up[H5927]: for the LORD[H3068] hath delivered[H5414] them into our hand[H3027]: and this shall be a sign[H226] unto us.
11
And both[H8147] of them discovered[H1540] themselves unto the garrison[H4673] of the Philistines[H6430]: and the Philistines[H6430]said[H559], Behold, the Hebrews[H5680] come forth[H3318] out of the holes[H2356] where they had hid[H2244] themselves.
12
And the men[H582] of the garrison[H4675]answered[H6030]Jonathan[H3129] and his armourbearer[H5375], and said[H559], Come up[H5927] to us, and we will shew[H3045] you a thing[H1697]. And Jonathan[H3129]said[H559] unto his armourbearer[H3627], Come up[H5927]after[H310] me: for the LORD[H3068] hath delivered[H5414] them into the hand[H3027] of Israel[H3478].
13
And Jonathan[H3129] climbed up[H5927] upon his hands[H3027] and upon his feet[H7272], and his armourbearer[H5375]after[H310] him: and they fell[H5307]before[H6440]Jonathan[H3129]; and his armourbearer[H3627]slew[H4191]after[H310] him.
14
And that first[H7223]slaughter[H4347], which Jonathan[H3129] and his armourbearer[H5375]made[H5221], was about twenty[H6242]men[H376], within as it were an half[H2677]acre[H4618] of land[H7704], which a yoke[H6776] of oxen might plow.
15
And there was trembling[H2731] in the host[H4264], in the field[H7704], and among all the people[H5971]: the garrison[H4673], and the spoilers[H7843], they also trembled[H2729], and the earth[H776]quaked[H7264]: so it was a very great[H430]trembling[H2731].
16
And the watchmen[H6822] of Saul[H7586] in Gibeah[H1390] of Benjamin[H1144]looked[H7200]; and, behold, the multitude[H1995] melted away[H4127], and they went[H3212] on beating down[H1986] one another.
17
Then said[H559]Saul[H7586] unto the people[H5971] that were with him, Number[H6485] now, and see[H7200] who is gone[H1980] from us. And when they had numbered[H6485], behold, Jonathan[H3129] and his armourbearer[H5375] were not there.
18
And Saul[H7586]said[H559] unto Ahiah[H281], Bring hither[H5066] the ark[H727] of God[H430]. For the ark[H727] of God[H430] was at that time[H3117] with the children[H1121] of Israel[H3478].
19
And it came to pass, while Saul[H7586]talked[H1696] unto the priest[H3548], that the noise[H1995] that was in the host[H4264] of the Philistines[H6430]went[H3212]on[H1980] and increased[H7227]: and Saul[H7586]said[H559] unto the priest[H3548], Withdraw[H622] thine hand[H3027].
20
And Saul[H7586] and all the people[H5971] that were with him assembled[H2199] themselves, and they came[H935] to the battle[H4421]: and, behold, every man's sword[H2719] was against his fellow[H7453], and there was a very[H3966]great[H1419]discomfiture[H4103].
21
Moreover the Hebrews[H5680] that were with the Philistines[H6430]before[H865] that time[H8032], which went up[H5927] with them into the camp[H4264] from the country round about[H5439], even they also turned to be with the Israelites[H3478] that were with Saul[H7586] and Jonathan[H3129].
22
Likewise all the men[H376] of Israel[H3478] which had hid[H2244] themselves in mount[H2022]Ephraim[H669], when they heard[H8085] that the Philistines[H6430]fled[H5127], even they also followed hard[H1692]after[H310] them in the battle[H4421].
23
So the LORD[H3068]saved[H3467]Israel[H3478] that day[H3117]: and the battle[H4421] passed over[H5674] unto Bethaven[H1007].
24
And the men[H376] of Israel[H3478] were distressed[H5065] that day[H3117]: for Saul[H7586] had adjured[H422] the people[H5971], saying[H559], Cursed[H779] be the man[H376] that eateth[H398] any food[H3899] until evening[H6153], that I may be avenged[H5358] on mine enemies[H341]. So none of the people[H5971]tasted[H2938] any food[H3899].
25
And all they of the land[H776]came[H935] to a wood[H3293]; and there was honey[H1706]upon[H6440] the ground[H7704].
26
And when the people[H5971] were come[H935] into the wood[H3293], behold, the honey[H1706]dropped[H1982]; but no man put[H5381] his hand[H3027] to his mouth[H6310]: for the people[H5971]feared[H3372] the oath[H7621].
27
But Jonathan[H3129]heard[H8085] not when his father[H1]charged[H7650] the people[H5971] with the oath[H7650]: wherefore he put[H7725]forth[H7971] the end[H7097] of the rod[H4294] that was in his hand[H3027], and dipped[H2881] it in an honeycomb[H3295], and put[H7725] his hand[H3027] to his mouth[H6310]; and his eyes[H5869] were enlightened[H215].
28
Then answered[H6030]one[H376] of the people[H5971], and said[H559], Thy father[H1]straitly[H7650]charged[H7650] the people[H5971] with an oath[H7650], saying[H559], Cursed[H779] be the man[H376] that eateth[H398] any food[H3899] this day[H3117]. And the people[H5971] were faint[H5774].
29
Then said[H559]Jonathan[H3129], My father[H1] hath troubled[H5916] the land[H776]: see[H7200], I pray you, how mine eyes[H5869] have been enlightened[H215], because I tasted[H2938] a little[H4592] of this honey[H1706].
30
How much more[H637], if haply[H3863] the people[H5971] had eaten[H398]freely[H398] to day[H3117] of the spoil[H7998] of their enemies[H341] which they found?[H4672] for had there not been now a much greater[H7235]slaughter[H4347] among the Philistines?[H6430]
31
And they smote[H5221] the Philistines[H6430] that day[H3117] from Michmash[H4363] to Aijalon[H357]: and the people[H5971] were very[H3966]faint[H5774].
32
And the people[H5971]flew[H5860] upon the spoil[H7998], and took[H3947]sheep[H6629], and oxen[H1241], and calves[H1121], and slew[H7819] them on the ground[H776]: and the people[H5971] did eat[H398] them with the blood[H1818].
33
Then they told[H5046]Saul[H7586], saying[H559], Behold, the people[H5971]sin[H2398] against the LORD[H3068], in that they eat[H398] with the blood[H1818]. And he said[H559], Ye have transgressed[H898]: roll[H1556] a great[H1419]stone[H68] unto me this day[H3117].
34
And Saul[H7586]said[H559], Disperse[H6327] yourselves among the people[H5971], and say[H559] unto them, Bring me hither[H5066] every man[H376] his ox[H7794], and every man[H376] his sheep[H7716], and slay[H7819] them here, and eat[H398]; and sin[H2398] not against the LORD[H3068] in eating[H398] with the blood[H1818]. And all the people[H5971]brought[H5066] every man[H376] his ox[H7794] with him[H3027] that night[H3915], and slew[H7819] them there.
35
And Saul[H7586]built[H1129] an altar[H4196] unto the LORD[H3068]: the same was the first[H2490]altar[H4196] that he built[H1129] unto the LORD[H3068].
36
And Saul[H7586]said[H559], Let us go down[H3381]after[H310] the Philistines[H6430] by night[H3915], and spoil[H962] them until the morning[H1242]light[H216], and let us not leave[H7604] a man[H376] of them. And they said[H559], Do[H6213] whatsoever seemeth[H5869]good[H2896] unto thee. Then said[H559] the priest[H3548], Let us draw near[H7126]hither[H1988] unto God[H430].
37
And Saul[H7586]asked[H7592] counsel of God[H430], Shall I go down[H3381]after[H310] the Philistines?[H6430] wilt thou deliver[H5414] them into the hand[H3027] of Israel?[H3478] But he answered[H6030] him not that day[H3117].
38
And Saul[H7586]said[H559], Draw ye near[H5066]hither[H1988], all the chief[H6438] of the people[H5971]: and know[H3045] and see[H7200]wherein[H4100] this sin[H2403] hath been this day[H3117].
39
For, as the LORD[H3068]liveth[H2416], which saveth[H3467]Israel[H3478], though it be[H3426] in Jonathan[H3129] my son[H1121], he shall surely[H4191]die[H4191]. But there was not a man among all the people[H5971] that answered[H6030] him.
40
Then said[H559] he unto all Israel[H3478], Be ye on one[H259]side[H5676], and I and Jonathan[H3129] my son[H1121] will be on the other[H259]side[H5676]. And the people[H5971]said[H559] unto Saul[H7586], Do[H6213] what seemeth[H5869]good[H2896] unto thee.
41
Therefore Saul[H7586]said[H559] unto the LORD[H3068]God[H430] of Israel[H3478], Give[H3051] a perfect[H8549] lot. And Saul[H7586] and Jonathan[H3129] were taken[H3920]: but the people[H5971]escaped[H3318].
42
And Saul[H7586]said[H559], Cast[H5307] lots between me and Jonathan[H3129] my son[H1121]. And Jonathan[H3129] was taken[H3920].
43
Then Saul[H7586]said[H559] to Jonathan[H3129], Tell[H5046] me what thou hast done[H6213]. And Jonathan[H3129]told[H5046] him, and said[H559], I did but[H2938]taste[H2938] a little[H4592]honey[H1706] with the end[H7097] of the rod[H4294] that was in mine hand[H3027], and, lo[H2009], I must die[H4191].
44
And Saul[H7586]answered[H559], God[H430] do so[H6213] and more also[H3254]: for thou shalt surely[H4191]die[H4191], Jonathan[H3129].
45
And the people[H5971]said[H559] unto Saul[H7586], Shall Jonathan[H3129]die[H4191], who hath wrought[H6213] this great[H1419]salvation[H3444] in Israel?[H3478]God[H430]forbid[H2486]: as the LORD[H3068]liveth[H2416], there shall not one hair[H8185] of his head[H7218]fall[H5307] to the ground[H776]; for he hath wrought[H6213] with God[H430] this day[H3117]. So the people[H5971]rescued[H6299]Jonathan[H3129], that he died[H4191] not.
46
Then Saul[H7586]went[H1980]up[H5927] from following[H310] the Philistines[H6430]: and the Philistines[H6430]went[H1980] to their own place[H4725].
47
So Saul[H7586]took[H3920] the kingdom[H4410] over Israel[H3478], and fought[H3898] against all his enemies[H341] on every side[H5439], against Moab[H4124], and against the children[H1121] of Ammon[H5983], and against Edom[H123], and against the kings[H4428] of Zobah[H6678], and against the Philistines[H6430]: and whithersoever he turned[H6437] himself, he vexed[H7561] them.
48
And he gathered[H6213] an host[H2428], and smote[H5221] the Amalekites[H6002], and delivered[H5337]Israel[H3478] out of the hands[H3027] of them that spoiled[H8154] them.
49
Now the sons[H1121] of Saul[H7586] were Jonathan[H3129], and Ishui[H3440], and Melchishua[H4444]: and the names[H8034] of his two[H8147]daughters[H1323] were these; the name[H8034] of the firstborn[H1067]Merab[H4764], and the name[H8034] of the younger[H6996]Michal[H4324]:
50
And the name[H8034] of Saul's wife[H802] was Ahinoam[H293], the daughter[H1323] of Ahimaaz[H290]: and the name[H8034] of the captain[H8269] of his host[H6635] was Abner[H74], the son[H1121] of Ner[H5369], Saul's uncle[H1730].
51
And Kish[H7027] was the father[H1] of Saul[H7586]; and Ner[H5369] the father[H1] of Abner[H74] was the son[H1121] of Abiel[H22].
52
And there was sore[H2389]war[H4421] against the Philistines[H6430] all the days[H3117] of Saul[H7586]: and when Saul[H7586]saw[H7200] any strong[H1368]man[H376], or any valiant[H2428]man[H1121], he took[H622] him unto him.