1 Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of A1 Sam 13:15, 16Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in BIs 10:28Migron. And the people who were with him were C1 Sam 13:15about six hundred men, 3 and Ahijah, the A1 Sam 22:9-12, 20son of Ahitub, B1 Sam 4:21Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Loʀᴅ at C1 Sam 1:3Shiloh, D1 Sam 2:28was 1Lit carryingwearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 A1 Sam 13:23Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of A1 Sam 17:26, 36; Jer 9:25, 26these uncircumcised; perhaps the Loʀᴅ will work for us, for BJudg 7:4, 7; 1 Sam 17:46, 47; Ps 115:3; 135:6; Zech 4:6; Matt 19:26the Loʀᴅ is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your 1Lit heartdesire.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “AJudg 7:9-14Behold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9  “If they 1Lit say thussay to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10  “But if they 1Lit say thussay, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Loʀᴅ has given them into our hands; and AGen 24:14; Judg 6:36this shall be the sign to us.” 11 When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, A1 Sam 13:6; 14:22Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 So the men of the garrison 1Lit answeredhailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and A1 Sam 17:43, 44we will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for B2 Sam 5:24the Loʀᴅ has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. 15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and A1 Sam 13:17, 18the raiders trembled, and B1 Sam 7:10the earth quaked so CGen 35:5; 2 Kin 7:6that it became a 1Lit trembling of Godgreat trembling.

16 Now Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, “1Lit muster(ed)Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had 1Lit muster(ed)numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “A1 Sam 23:9; 30:7Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 19 ANum 27:21While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, AJudg 7:22; 2 Chr 20:23every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even A1 Sam 29:4they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the A1 Sam 13:6men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. 23 So AEx 14:30; 1 Sam 10:19; 14:23; 1 Chr 11:14; 2 Chr 32:22; Ps 44:7the Loʀᴅ delivered Israel that day, and the battle 1Lit passed overspread beyond B1 Sam 13:5Beth-aven.

24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had AJosh 6:26put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food 1Lit untilbefore evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the people entered the forest, behold, AMatt 3:4there was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath; therefore, A1 Sam 14:43he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and B1 Sam 30:12his eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’ ” And the people were weary. 29 Then Jonathan said, “AJosh 7:25; 1 Kin 18:18My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30  “How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

31 They struck among the Philistines that day from A1 Sam 14:5Michmash to BJosh 10:12Aijalon. And the people were very weary. 32 A1 Sam 15:19The people 1Lit did with regard to the spoilrushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them BGen 9:4; Lev 3:17; 17:10-14; 19:26; Deut 12:16, 23; Acts 15:20with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are ALev 7:26, 27; 19:26; Deut 12:16, 23-25; 15:23sinning against the Loʀᴅ by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.” 34 Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the Loʀᴅ by eating with the blood.’ ” So all the people that night brought each one his ox 1Lit in his handwith him and slaughtered it there. 35 And A1 Sam 7:12, 17; 2 Sam 24:25; James 4:8Saul built an altar to the Loʀᴅ; it was the first altar that he built to the Loʀᴅ.

36 Then 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 whatever seems good 1Lit in your eyesto you.” So A1 Sam 14:3, 18, 19the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 Saul A1 Sam 10:22inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But B1 Sam 28:6He did not answer him on that day. 38 Saul said, “AJosh 7:11, 12; 1 Sam 10:19, 20Draw near here, all you 1Lit cornerschiefs of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. 39  “For A1 Sam 14:24, 44; 2 Sam 12:5as the Loʀᴅ lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good 1Lit in your eyesto you.” 41 Therefore, Saul said to the Loʀᴅ, the God of Israel, “AActs 1:24Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “AJosh 7:19Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “B1 Sam 14:27I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44 Saul said, “ARuth 1:17; 1 Sam 25:22May God do 1Lit thusthis to me and more also, for B1 Sam 14:39you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has 1Lit workedbrought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the Loʀᴅ lives, A2 Sam 14:11; 1 Kin 1:52; Luke 21:18; Acts 27:34not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for B2 Cor 6:1he has worked with God this day.” So the people 2Lit ransomedrescued Jonathan and he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from 1Lit afterpursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, A1 Sam 11:1-13the sons of Ammon, Edom, B2 Sam 8:3-10the kings of Zobah, and C1 Sam 14:52the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he 1Or condemnedinflicted punishment. 48 He acted valiantly and 1Lit smoteA1 Sam 15:3, 7defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of 2Lit its plunderersthose who plundered them.

49 Now A1 Sam 31:2; 1 Chr 8:33; 10:2the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn B1 Sam 18:17-19Merab and the name of the younger C1 Sam 18:20, 27; 19:12; 2 Sam 6:20-23Michal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And A2 Sam 2:8the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 A1 Sam 9:1, 21Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he 1Lit gatheredA1 Sam 8:11attached him to 2Lit himselfhis staff.