de Biblica1Un día más tarde el príncipe Jonatán le dijo a su escudero: «Vamos, crucemos el valle hasta la guarnición de los filisteos». Pero no le avisó a su padre que salía.2Saúl y sus seiscientos hombres estaban acampados en las afueras de Guibeá debajo de un granado que hay en Migrón.3Entre sus hombres estaba Abías el sacerdote, hijo de Ajitob, hermano de Icabod; Ajitob era hijo de Finés y bisnieto de Elí, sacerdote del SEÑOR en Siló, que portaba el efod. Nadie se dio cuenta de que Jonatán había salido.4Para llegar a la guarnición filistea, Jonatán tuvo que ir por un estrecho paso que estaba entre dos riscos conocidos como Bosés y Sene.5El risco del norte estaba frente a Micmás y el del sur frente a Guibeá.6―Vamos a donde están esos paganos —dijo Jonatán a su escudero—. Quizás el SEÑOR haga algo por medio nuestro. Para él no hay diferencia en salvar con muchos o con pocos.7―Bien —contestó el joven—. Haz lo que creas conveniente. Cuenta conmigo en cualquier cosa que decidas hacer.8―¡Estupendo! Esto es lo que haremos —le respondió Jonatán—.9Cuando ellos nos vean, si nos dicen: “¡Quietos, no se muevan!”, nos detendremos y los esperaremos.10Pero si dicen: “Vengan y peleen”, eso haremos. Porque esa será la señal de Dios de que él nos ayudará a derrotarlos.11Cuando los filisteos los vieron acercarse, gritaron: ―Los israelitas están saliendo de sus cuevas.12Entonces le gritaron a Jonatán y a su escudero: ―Vengan acá pues queremos decirles algo. ―Ven, sígueme —dijo Jonatán a su escudero—, porque el SEÑOR nos ayudará a derrotarlos.13Subieron afirmándose con las manos y rodillas. Y a los filisteos que caían delante de Jonatán, el escudero los remataba.14Murieron en total veinte hombres en ese primer ataque, y sus cuerpos quedaron esparcidos en un espacio como de la mitad de un surco.
Israel derrota a los filisteos
15Repentinamente cundió el pánico en todo el campamento filisteo, tanto los que estaban acampados como los que estaban en el campo abierto. Para colmo, hubo un gran terremoto que aumentó el terror.16Los centinelas de Saúl en Guibeá vieron como la muchedumbre filistea comenzó a esparcirse de forma confusa en todas direcciones.17«Averígüenme quién no está aquí» —ordenó Saúl. Al pasar lista descubrieron que Jonatán y su escudero no estaban.18«Trae acá el cofre de Dios» —ordenó Saúl a Abías, porque el cofre estaba entre el pueblo de Israel en aquel tiempo.19Pero mientras Saúl le hablaba al sacerdote, el griterío y el tumulto entre los filisteos se hicieron aún más grandes. «Deja, ya no lo traigas» —le dijo Saúl.20Entonces Saúl y sus seiscientos hombres salieron a la batalla y encontraron que los filisteos se estaban matando unos a otros, pues había una terrible confusión en todas partes.21Y los hebreos que se habían unido a los filisteos se rebelaron y se unieron a los israelitas capitaneados por Saúl y Jonatán.22Finalmente, los israelitas que estaban ocultos en las colinas se unieron en la persecución cuando vieron que los filisteos huían.23De esta manera el SEÑOR salvó a Israel aquel día y la batalla continuó hasta más allá de Bet Avén.
El juramento de Saúl
24Aquel día Saúl había declarado: «Caiga una maldición sobre cualquiera que coma algo antes de la tarde, antes que yo haya completado la venganza sobre mis enemigos».25Nadie comió aquel día aun cuando encontraron panales de abejas en el bosque,26porque todos tuvieron miedo de la maldición de Saúl.27Sin embargo, Jonatán, que no había oído la orden de su padre, sacó miel de un panal con un palo, y cuando terminó de comerla se sintió con más fuerzas.28Entonces alguien le dijo que su padre había lanzado una maldición sobre todo aquel que comiera aquel día, y a causa de eso todos estaban cansados y débiles.29«¡A quién se le ocurre! —exclamó Jonatán—. Un mandamiento de este tipo solamente nos perjudica. Me siento mejor ahora que he comido este poco de miel.30Si el pueblo hubiera podido comer el alimento hallado entre nuestros enemigos, quién sabe cuanto mayor daño hubiéramos hecho a los filisteos».31Sin embargo, hambrientos como estaban, persiguieron y mataron a los filisteos desde Micmás hasta Ayalón, debilitándose cada vez más.32Y aquella tarde se lanzaron sobre los despojos de la batalla y mataron ovejas, bueyes y cabritos y comieron carne sin desangrar.33Alguien le dijo a Saúl lo que estaba ocurriendo, y que el pueblo pecaba contra el SEÑOR comiendo sangre. ―Es una ofensa contra el SEÑOR —dijo Saúl—. Tráiganme acá una piedra grande,34y vayan a decir al pueblo que traigan bueyes y ovejas para degollarlos y derramar su sangre aquí, a fin de que no pequen contra el SEÑOR comiendo carne sin desangrar. Y así lo hicieron al caer la noche.35Y Saúl edificó un altar al SEÑOR, el primero que levantaba.36Después dijo: ―Sigamos a los filisteos toda la noche y destruyámoslos hasta que no quede ninguno. ―Haz lo que creas más conveniente —contestaron sus hombres. Pero el sacerdote dijo: ―Preguntémosle primero al SEÑOR.37Saúl consultó a Dios: ―¿Iremos tras los filisteos? ¿Nos ayudarás a derrotarlos? Pero esta vez el SEÑOR no respondió.38Entonces Saúl les dijo a sus generales: ―Algo anda mal. Debemos descubrir qué pecado se ha cometido hoy.39Juro por el nombre del SEÑOR que salvó a Israel, que aunque el pecador sea mi hijo Jonatán, morirá. Nadie de la tropa le contestó.40―Jonatán y yo nos situaremos de un lado —dijo Saúl— y ustedes al otro lado. El pueblo aceptó,41y Saúl añadió: ―Oh SEÑOR Dios de Israel, ¿por qué no has respondido a mis preguntas? ¿Somos Jonatán y yo los culpables, o el pecado está en los demás? Oh SEÑOR Dios, muéstranos quién es el culpable. Y fueron señalados Jonatán y Saúl como culpables, y el pueblo fue declarado inocente.42Saúl dijo: ―Ahora echemos suertes entre Jonatán y yo. Jonatán fue señalado culpable.43―Dime, ¿qué has hecho? —preguntó Saúl a Jonatán. ―Comí miel —reconoció Jonatán—. Pero fue sólo un poco que saqué con la punta de un palo. ¿Debo morir?44―Sí, Jonatán —dijo Saúl—, deberás morir. Que Dios me mate si no eres ejecutado por esto.45Pero los soldados se opusieron: ―¿Jonatán, que salvó hoy a Israel, morirá? ¡De ninguna manera! Juramos por el SEÑOR que ni un cabello de su cabeza será tocado, porque él ha obrado al lado de Dios hoy día. Así el pueblo salvó a Jonatán de la muerte.46Luego Saúl no fue en persecución de los filisteos y estos regresaron a su tierra.47Y como estaba firmemente establecido como rey de Israel, peleó contra todos los pueblos de su entorno: contra Moab, Amón, Edom, los reyes de Sobá y los filisteos. Adondequiera que iba, triunfaba.48Hizo grandes cosas. Venció a los amalecitas, y salvó a Israel de todos los que habían sido sus opresores.
La familia de Saúl
49Saúl tuvo tres hijos, Jonatán, Isví y Malquisúa; y dos hijas, Merab, la mayor, y Mical.50-51La esposa de Saúl se llamaba Ajinoán, hija de Ajimaz. El jefe de su ejército era su primo Abner, hijo de Ner, tío de Saúl. Ner y Quis, el padre de Saúl, eran hermanos. Ambos eran hijos de Abiel.52Los israelitas pelearon constantemente con los filisteos durante la vida de Saúl. Y cada vez que Saúl encontraba a un joven valiente y fuerte lo unía a su ejército.
1One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.2Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave[1] at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, (1 S 13:15; 1 S 13:23)3including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. (Jos 18:1; 1 S 2:28; 1 S 4:21; 1 S 22:9; 1 S 22:11; 1 S 22:20)4Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. (1 S 13:23)5The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. (1 S 13:3; 1 S 13:16)6Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” (Jue 7:4; Jue 7:7; Jue 14:3; 1 S 17:26; 2 Cr 14:11)7And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish.[2] Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them.9If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them.10But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.”11So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” (1 S 13:6)12And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”13Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him.14And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre[3] of land.15And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.[4] (1 S 13:17)16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.[5] (Jos 2:9)17Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.18So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people[6] of Israel.19Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” (Nm 27:21)20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. (Jue 7:22; 2 Cr 20:23)21Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. (1 S 29:4)22Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. (Jos 24:33; 1 S 13:6; 1 S 14:11)23So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. (Ex 14:30; 1 S 13:5)
Saul’s Rash Vow
24And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. (Jos 6:26)25Now when all the people[7] came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground.26And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.27But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. (1 S 14:43)28Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint. (Jue 8:4)29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.30How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”31They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. (Jos 10:12; 1 S 13:2; 1 S 14:28)32The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. (Lv 3:17; 1 S 15:19)33Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.”[8] (1 S 14:32)34And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there.35And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord. (1 S 7:12; 1 S 7:17)36Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” (1 S 14:3; 1 S 14:18)37And 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 that day. (1 S 28:6)38And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today.39For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. (Rt 3:13; 1 S 14:44)40Then 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 to you.”41Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”[9] And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. (Jos 7:16; 1 S 10:20; Hch 1:24)42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. (1 S 14:41)43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” (Jos 7:19; 1 S 14:27)44And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” (Rt 1:17; 1 S 14:39)45Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. (1 S 14:39; 2 S 14:11; 1 R 1:52; Mt 10:30; Lc 12:7; Lc 21:18; Hch 27:34)46Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies
47When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. (1 S 11:11; 2 S 8:3; 2 S 10:6)48And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. (1 S 15:3; 1 S 15:7)49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. (1 S 18:17; 1 S 18:19; 1 S 31:2; 2 S 2:8; 1 Cr 8:33; 1 Cr 9:39)50And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. (1 S 10:14; 2 S 2:8)51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. (1 S 9:1)52There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. (1 S 8:11)