1 Samuel 14

And it happened one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man, the carrier of his equipment, “Come, and let us cross over to the garrison of the Philistines that {is} across from here.” But he did not declare {this} to his father.

Now Saul was staying at the edge of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that {is} in Migron. And the people who {were} with him {were} about 600 men \*

and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of God at Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

Now within the passes that Jonathan sought to pass through to the garrison of the Philistines {were} the tooth of a rock on the side from that and the tooth of a rock on the side from this. And the name of the one {was} Bozez, and the name of the {other} one {was} Seneh.

The tooth of the one {was} a pillar from the north before Michmash, and the {other} one {was} from the south before Geba. \*

And Jonathan said to the young man, the carrier of his equipment, “Come, and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised! Perhaps God will act for us, for {there is} no hindrance to God to save by many or by few.”

And the carrier of his equipment said to him, “Do all that {is} in your heart. Turn yourself; behold me, with you according to your heart.” \*

And Jonathan said, “Behold, we will be crossing over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.

If thus they say to us, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stand under us, and we will not go up to them. \*

But if thus they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for God has given them into our hand, and this {will be} the sign for us.”

And the two of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out from the holes where they have hidden themselves there.”

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and the carrier of his equipment and said, “Come up to us, and let us make you know a thing.” And Jonathan said to the carrier of his equipment, “Come up after me, for God has given them into the hand of Israel.” \*

And Jonathan went up on his hands and on his feet, and the carrier of his equipment {was} behind him. And they fell to the face of Jonathan, and the carrier of his equipment was killing behind him.

And the first striking that Jonathan and the carrier of his equipment struck was about 20 men {in} about half of a furrow {of} a yoke of a field. \*

And {there} was trembling in the camp in the field and among all of the people. The garrison and the destroyer, even they trembled. And the earth quaked, and it became a trembling of God.

And the watchmen {who were} to Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was being melted and went, even here. \*

And Saul said to the people who {were} with him, “Muster, please, and see who has gone from with us.” And they mustered, and behold, {there was} no Jonathan or the carrier of his equipment. \*

And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the Box of God.” For the Box of God was with the sons of Israel on that day.

And it happened, while Saul spoke to the priest, that the tumult that {was} in the camp of the Philistines, that going, it went and became great. And Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” \*

And Saul and all of the people who {were} with him were called together, and they came to the battle. And behold, the sword of a man was against his fellow, a very great tumult.

Now some Hebrews were to the Philistines according to yesterday and the third day who had gone up with them into the camp all around. But even they {became} to be with Israel who {was} with Saul and Jonathan. \*

And all of the men of Israel having hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, and they pursued after them, they too, in the battle.

And God saved Israel on that day. And the battle passed over Beth Aven. \*

But the men of Israel were distressed on that day, for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed {is} the man who eats bread until the evening and I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So all of the people had not tasted bread.

And the whole land came into a forest, and honey was on the face of the ground.

And the people came into the forest, and behold, the flowing of honey! But no one was reaching his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. \*

But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people. So he extended the end of the staff that {was} in his hand, and he dipped it into a comb of honey. And he returned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

And a man from the people answered and said, “Adjuring, your father adjured the people, saying, ‘Cursed {is} the man who eats bread today.’ So the people are faint.” \*

And Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See, please, that my eyes have brightened because I have tasted a little of this honey.

How much more that if eating, the people had eaten today from the plunder of their enemies that they found! For now the striking against the Philistines has not been great.” \*

And on that day they struck the Philistines from Michmash {to} Aijalon. But the people were very faint.

And the people swooped down upon the plunder, and they took flock and herd and sons of the herd, and they slaughtered {them} on the ground. And the people ate with the blood. \*

Then they declared to Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against God by eating with the blood!” And he said, “You have acted unfaithfully. Roll a great stone to me today.”

And Saul said, “Disperse among the people and say to them, ‘Bring to me, a man his ox and a man his sheep, and slaughter {them} here and eat. But you shall not sin against God by eating with the blood.’” And all of the people brought, a man his ox by his hand that night, and they slaughtered {them} there.

And Saul built an altar to God. He began to build it, an altar to God. \*

And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines {by} night, and let us plunder them until the light of morning. And let us not leave a man among them.” And they said, “Do all of the good in your eyes.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”

And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him on that day. \*

Then Saul said, “Come near here, all of the cornerstones of the people! And know and see by what this sin has happened today.

For, the life of God, the one having saved Israel, that {even} if it is by Jonathan my son, that dying, he shall die.” But {there was} no one answering him from all of the people. \*

So he said to all of Israel, “You will be to one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be to one side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do the good in your eyes.”

Then Saul said to God, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect {one}!” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people went out.

And Saul said, “Cause it to fall between me and between Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken. \*

And Saul said to Jonathan, “Declare to me what you have done.” And Jonathan declared to him and said, “Tasting, I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that {was} in my hand. Behold me, I shall die.”

And Saul said, “May God do thus, and may he add thus, for dying, you shall die, Jonathan.”

But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has done this great salvation in Israel? Profane! The life of God, if from the hair of his head should fall to the ground! For he has done with God this day.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. \*

Then Saul went up from after the Philistines. And the Philistines went to their place.

Now Saul had taken the kingship over Israel. And he fought with all of his enemies all around, with Moab and with the sons of Ammon and with Edom and with the kings of Zobah and with the Philistines. And upon all where he turned, he inflicted punishment.

And he did valor, and he struck Amalek. And he delivered Israel from the hand of its plunderers. \*

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-Shua. And the names of the two of his daughters {were}: the name of the firstborn, Merab, and the name of the younger, Michal.

And the name of the wife of Saul {was} Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army {was} Abner, the son of Ner, the uncle of Saul.

Now Kish the father of Saul and Ner the father of Abner {were} the son of Abiel.

And the battle was strong against the Philistines all of the days of Saul. When Saul saw any man, a warrior, or any son of valor, then he gathered him to himself. \*