1 Samuel 14 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

1 One day Jonathan, the son of Saul, spoke to the young man carrying his armour. ‘Come on’, he said. ‘Let’s go over to the Philistine army camp on the other side of the pass.’ But he didn’t tell his father about it. 2 Saul was staying just outside Gibeah. He was under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about 600 men with him. 3 Ahijah was one of them. He was wearing a sacred linen apron. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub. Ahitub was the son of Eli’s son Phinehas. Eli had been the LORD’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. 4 Jonathan planned to go across the pass to reach the Philistine camp. But there was a cliff on each side of the pass. One cliff was called Bozez. The other was called Seneh. 5 One cliff stood on the north side of the pass towards Mikmash. The other stood on the south side towards Geba. 6 Jonathan spoke to the young man carrying his armour. He said, ‘Come on. Let’s go over to the camp of those fellows who aren’t circumcised. Perhaps the LORD will help us. If he does, it won’t matter how many or how few of us there are. That won’t keep the LORD from saving us.’ 7 ‘Go ahead’, the young man said. ‘Do everything you have in mind. I’m with you all the way.’ 8 Jonathan said, ‘Come on, then. We’ll go across the pass towards the Philistines and let them see us. 9 Suppose they say to us, “Wait there until we come to you.” Then we’ll stay where we are. We won’t go up to them. 10 But suppose they say, “Come up to us.” Then we’ll climb up. That will show us that the LORD has handed them over to us.’ 11 So Jonathan and the young man let the soldiers in the Philistine camp see them. ‘Look!’ said the Philistines. ‘Some of the Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.’ 12 The men in the Philistine camp shouted to Jonathan and the young man carrying his armour. They said, ‘Come on up here. We’ll teach you a thing or two.’ So Jonathan said to the young man, ‘Climb up after me. The LORD has handed them over to Israel.’ 13 Using his hands and feet, Jonathan climbed up. The young man was right behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines. The young man followed him and killed those who were still alive. 14 In that first attack, Jonathan and the young man killed about 20 men. They did it in an area of about half an acre.

Israel chases the Philistines away

15 Then panic struck the whole Philistine army. It struck those who were in the camp and those in the field. It struck those who were at the edge of the camp. It also struck those who were in the groups that had been sent out to attack Israel. The ground shook. It was a panic that God had sent. 16 Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin saw what was happening. They saw the Philistine army melting away in all directions. 17 Then Saul spoke to the men with him. He said, ‘Bring the troops together. See who has left our camp.’ When they did, they discovered that Jonathan and the young man carrying his armour weren’t there. 18 Saul said to Ahijah the priest, ‘Bring the ark of God.’ At that time it was with the Israelites. 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the noise in the Philistine camp got louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, ‘Stop what you are doing.’ 20 Then Saul and all his men gathered together. They went to the battle. They saw that the Philistines were in total disorder. They were striking one another with their swords. 21 At an earlier time some of the Hebrews had been on the side of the Philistines. They had gone up with them to their camp. But now they changed sides. They joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Some of the Israelites had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim. They heard that the Philistines were running away. They quickly joined the battle and chased after them. 23 So on that day the LORD saved Israel. And the fighting continued on past Beth Aven.

Jonathan eats honey

24 The Israelites became very hungry that day. That’s because Saul had forced the army to make a promise. He had said, ‘None of you must eat any food before evening comes. You must not eat until I’ve paid my enemies back for what they did. If you do, may you be under a curse!’ So none of the troops ate any food at all. 25 The whole army entered the woods. There was honey on the ground. 26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey dripping out of a honeycomb. No one put any of the honey in his mouth. They were afraid of the curse that would come if they broke their promise. 27 But Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father had forced the army to make a promise. Jonathan had a long stick in his hand. He reached out and dipped the end of it into the honeycomb. He put some honey in his mouth. It gave him new life. 28 Then one of the soldiers told him, ‘Your father forced the army to make a promise that everyone must obey. He said, “None of you must eat any food today. If you do, may you be under a curse!” That’s why the men are weak and ready to faint.’ 29 Jonathan said, ‘My father has made trouble for the country. See how I gained new life after I tasted a little of this honey. 30 Our soldiers took food from their enemies today. Suppose they had eaten some of it. How much better off they would have been! Even more Philistines would have been killed.’ 31 That day the Israelites struck down the Philistines. They killed them from Mikmash to Aijalon. By that time they were tired and worn out. 32 They grabbed what they had taken from their enemies. They killed some of the sheep, cattle and calves right there on the ground. They ate the meat while the blood was still in it. 33 Then someone said to Saul, ‘Look! The men are sinning against the LORD. They’re eating meat that still has blood in it.’ Saul said to them, ‘You have broken your promise. Roll a large stone over here at once.’ 34 He continued, ‘Go out among the men. Tell them, “Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep. Kill them here and eat them. Don’t sin against the LORD by eating meat that still has blood in it.” ’ So that night everyone brought the ox he had taken and killed it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to honour the LORD. It was the first time he had done that. 36 Saul said, ‘Let’s go down and chase after the Philistines tonight. Let’s not leave even one of them alive. Let’s take everything they have before morning.’ ‘Do what you think is best,’ they replied. But the priest said, ‘Let’s ask God for advice first.’ 37 So Saul asked God, ‘Should I go down and chase after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?’ But God didn’t answer him that day. 38 Saul said to the leaders of the army, ‘Come here. Let’s find out what sin has been committed today. 39 The LORD is the one who rescues Israel. You can be sure that the LORD lives. And you can be just as sure that the sinner must die. He must die even if he’s my son Jonathan.’ But no one said anything. 40 Then Saul said to all the Israelites, ‘You stand over there. I and my son Jonathan will stand over here.’ ‘Do what you think is best,’ they replied. 41 Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel. He said, ‘Why haven’t you answered your servant today? If I or my son Jonathan is to blame, answer with Urim. But if the Israelites are to blame, answer with Thummim.’ Jonathan and Saul were chosen by casting lots. The other men were cleared of blame. 42 Saul said, ‘Cast the lot to find out whether I or my son Jonathan is to blame.’ And Jonathan was chosen. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ So Jonathan told him, ‘I used the end of my stick to get a little honey and taste it. And now do I have to die?’ 44 Saul said, ‘Jonathan, I must certainly put you to death. If I don’t, may God punish me greatly.’ 45 But the men said to Saul, ‘Should Jonathan be put to death? Never! He has saved Israel in a wonderful way. He did it today with God’s help. You can be sure that the LORD lives. And you can be just as sure that not even one hair on Jonathan’s head will fall to the ground.’ So the men rescued Jonathan. He wasn’t put to death. 46 Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines. They went back to their own land. 47 After Saul became the king of Israel, he fought against Israel’s enemies who were all around them. He went to war against Moab, Ammon and Edom. He fought against the kings of Zobah and the Philistines. No matter where he went, he punished his enemies. 48 He fought bravely. He won the battle over the Amalekites. He saved Israel from the power of those who had carried off what belonged to Israel.

Saul’s family

49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. Saul’s elder daughter was named Merab. His younger daughter was named Michal. 50 Saul’s wife was named Ahinoam. She was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was named Abner. He was the son of Ner. Ner was Saul’s uncle. 51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel. 52 As long as Saul was king, he had to fight hard against the Philistines. So every time Saul saw a strong or brave man, he took him into his army.

English Standard Version

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

1 One 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. 2 Saul 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, (1Sa 13:15; 1Sa 13:23) 3 including 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; 1Sa 2:28; 1Sa 4:21; 1Sa 22:9; 1Sa 22:11; 1Sa 22:20)

Jos 18:11Sa 2:281Sa 4:211Sa 22:91Sa 22:111Sa 22:20

4 Within 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. (1Sa 13:23) 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. (1Sa 13:3; 1Sa 13:16) 6 Jonathan 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.” (Jud 7:4; Jud 7:7; Jud 14:3; 1Sa 17:26; 2Ch 14:11)

Jud 7:4Jud 7:7Jud 14:31Sa 17:262Ch 14:11

7 And 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.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If 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. 10 But 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.” 11 So 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.” (1Sa 13:6) 12 And 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.” 13 Then 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. 14 And 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. 15 And 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] (1Sa 13:17) 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.^[5] (Jos 2:9) 17 Then 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. 18 So 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. 19 Now 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.” (Nu 27:21) 20 Then 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. (Jud 7:22; 2Ch 20:23) 21 Now 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. (1Sa 29:4) 22 Likewise, 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; 1Sa 13:6; 1Sa 14:11) 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. (Ex 14:30; 1Sa 13:5)

Saul’s Rash Vow

24 And 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) 25 Now when all the people^[7] came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And 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. 27 But 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. (1Sa 14:43) 28 Then 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. (Jud 8:4) 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How 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.” 31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. (Jos 10:12; 1Sa 13:2; 1Sa 14:28) 32 The 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. (Le 3:17; 1Sa 15:19) 33 Then 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] (1Sa 14:32) 34 And 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. 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord. (1Sa 7:12; 1Sa 7:17) 36 Then 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.” (1Sa 14:3; 1Sa 14:18) 37 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 that day. (1Sa 28:6) 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For 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. (Ru 3:13; 1Sa 14:44) 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 to you.” 41 Therefore 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; 1Sa 10:20; Ac 1:24) 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. (1Sa 14:41) 43 Then 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; 1Sa 14:27) 44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” (Ru 1:17; 1Sa 14:39) 45 Then 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. (1Sa 14:39; 2Sa 14:11; 1Ki 1:52; Mt 10:30; Lu 12:7; Lu 21:18; Ac 27:34)

1Sa 14:392Sa 14:111Ki 1:52Mt 10:30Lu 12:7Lu 21:18Ac 27:34

46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies

47 When 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. (1Sa 11:11; 2Sa 8:3; 2Sa 10:6) 48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. (1Sa 15:3; 1Sa 15:7) 49 Now 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. (1Sa 18:17; 1Sa 18:19; 1Sa 31:2; 2Sa 2:8; 1Ch 8:33; 1Ch 9:39)

1Sa 18:171Sa 18:191Sa 31:22Sa 2:81Ch 8:331Ch 9:39

50 And 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. (1Sa 10:14; 2Sa 2:8) 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. (1Sa 9:1) 52 There 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. (1Sa 8:11)