1 Samuel 14

1Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father.

1One day, Saul’s son Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, 'Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.' But he did not tell his father what he was doing.

2And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

2Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about six hundred men with him.

3and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

3Among them was Ahijah, who was wearing the priestly vest. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod and son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, who had been the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one knew that Jonathan had left.

4And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

4To get to the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go through a mountain pass. There was a sharp cliff on each side; one was named Bozez and the other was named Seneh.

5The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

5One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other stood to the south toward Geba.

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

6Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, 'Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised pagans. Perhaps the Lord will help us, because nothing can stop the Lord from saving, whether he uses many people or just a few.'

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

7His armor-bearer replied, 'Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.'

8Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them.

8Jonathan said, 'All right, we will cross over toward them and let them see us.'

9If 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'If they say to us, "Stay there until we come to you," then we will stop where we are and not go up to them.'

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

10'But if they say, "Come up to us," then we will go up. That will be our sign that the Lord has handed them over to us.'

11And both of them disclosed 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.

11When the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost, the Philistines said, 'Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.'

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

12The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, 'Come up to us, and we’ll teach you a lesson!' So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, 'Climb up after me; the Lord has handed them over to Israel.'

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

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

14And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.

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

15And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.

15Then panic struck the whole Philistine army—those in the camp, those in the field, and even those in the outposts and raiding parties. The ground shook, and a great terror from God spread through them.

16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.

16Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine army melting away and running in every direction.

17Then 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 armorbearer were not there.

17Then Saul said to the people with him, 'Take a count and see who has left us.' When they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing.

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

18Saul said to Ahijah, 'Bring the ark of God.' (At that time the ark was there with the Israelites.)

19And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand.

19While Saul was talking to the priest, the noise and confusion in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, 'Withdraw your hand.'

20And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

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

21Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that 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.

21Even the Hebrews who had previously joined the Philistines and were in their camp went over to the side of the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22Likewise all the men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

22When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were running away, they also joined in the chase and fought them.

23So Jehovah saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.

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

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

24The men of Israel were exhausted that day because Saul had bound the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be any man who eats food before evening, until I have taken revenge on my enemies.' So none of the people ate anything.

25And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground.

25The entire army entered a forest, and there was honey on the ground.

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

26When they went into the forest, they saw the honey oozing out, but no one ate any because they were afraid of the oath.

27But 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 the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

27But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath. He reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and ate some. When he did, his strength returned and his eyes brightened.

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

28Then one of the soldiers told him, 'Your father strictly warned the people with an oath, saying, "Cursed be any man who eats food today." That is why the men are so exhausted.'

29Then 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.

29Jonathan said, 'My father has brought trouble to the land. Look how my eyes brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.'

30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for now hath there been no great slaughter among the Philistines.

30'How much better it would have been if the people had eaten freely today from the supplies they took from their enemies! Wouldn't the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?'

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

31That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were completely worn out.

32and 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.

32The people rushed greedily at the loot. They took sheep, cattle, and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. They ate the meat while the blood was still in it.

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

33Someone told Saul, 'Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.' Saul said, 'You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over to me right now.'

34And 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 Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

34Then Saul said, 'Go among the people and tell them, "Each of you bring me your ox or sheep and slaughter it here. Eat it then, and do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it."' So everyone brought their animals that night and slaughtered them there.

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

35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.

36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among 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.

36Saul said, 'Let's go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn. Let's not leave a single one of them alive.' The men replied, 'Do whatever you think is best.' But the priest said, 'Let us consult God here.'

37And 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.

37So Saul asked God, 'Should I go down and chase the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?' But God did not answer him that day.

38And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

38Saul said, 'Come here, all you leaders of the army. Let us find out what sin was committed today.'

39For, as Jehovah liveth, who 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'As surely as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if the sin is in my son Jonathan, he must die.' But not one of the men said a word.

40Then 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.

40Then Saul said to all the Israelites, 'You stand on one side; I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.' The people replied, 'Do what you think is best.'

41Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped.

41Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Give us the right answer.' The lot fell on Jonathan and Saul, and the people were cleared.

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

42Saul said, 'Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.' And Jonathan was picked.

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

43Saul said to Jonathan, 'Tell me what you have done.' So Jonathan told him, 'I tasted a little honey from the end of my staff. And now I must die?'

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

44Saul said, 'May God punish me severely if you do not die, Jonathan.'

45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah 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.

45But the people said to Saul, 'Should Jonathan die? He is the one who brought this great victory to Israel. Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.' So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.

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

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

47Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he 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 put them to the worse.

47After Saul had taken over the kingdom of Israel, he fought his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he was successful.

48And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that despoiled them.

48He fought bravely and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had looted them.

49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

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

50and 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.

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

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

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

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

52There was fierce war against the Philistines all through Saul’s life. Whenever Saul saw a strong or brave man, he recruited him into his service.