de Biblica1Certo dia, Jônatas, filho de Saul, disse ao seu jovem escudeiro: “Vamos ao destacamento filisteu, do outro lado”. Ele, porém, não contou isso a seu pai.2Saul estava sentado debaixo de uma romãzeira na fronteira de Gibeá, em Migrom. Com ele estavam uns seiscentos soldados,3entre os quais Aías, que levava o colete sacerdotal. Ele era filho de Aitube, irmão de Icabode, filho de Fineias e neto de Eli, o sacerdote do SENHOR em Siló. Ninguém sabia que Jônatas havia saído.4Em cada lado do desfiladeiro que Jônatas pretendia atravessar para chegar ao destacamento filisteu, havia um penhasco íngreme; um se chamava Bozez; o outro, Sené.5Havia um penhasco ao norte, na direção de Micmás, e outro ao sul, na direção de Geba.6E Jônatas disse a seu escudeiro: “Vamos ao destacamento daqueles incircuncisos. Talvez o SENHOR aja em nosso favor, pois nada pode impedir o SENHOR de salvar, seja com muitos seja com poucos”.7Disse o seu escudeiro: “Faze tudo o que tiveres em mente; eu irei contigo”.8Jônatas disse: “Venha, vamos atravessar na direção dos soldados e deixaremos que nos avistem.9Se nos disserem: ‘Esperem aí até que cheguemos perto’, ficaremos onde estivermos e não avançaremos.10Mas, se disserem: ‘Subam até aqui’, subiremos, pois este será um sinal para nós de que o SENHOR os entregou em nossas mãos”.11Então os dois se deixaram ver pelo destacamento dos filisteus, que disseram: “Vejam, os hebreus estão saindo dos buracos onde estavam escondidos”.12E gritaram para Jônatas e seu escudeiro: “Subam até aqui e daremos uma lição em vocês”. Diante disso, Jônatas disse a seu escudeiro: “Siga-me; o SENHOR os entregou nas mãos de Israel”.13Jônatas escalou o desfiladeiro, usando as mãos e os pés, e o escudeiro foi logo atrás. Jônatas os derrubava e seu escudeiro, logo atrás dele, os matava.14Naquele primeiro ataque, Jônatas e seu escudeiro mataram cerca de vinte homens numa pequena área de terra[1].
A Vitória de Israel sobre os Filisteus
15Então caiu terror sobre todo o exército, tanto sobre os que estavam no acampamento e no campo como sobre os que estavam nos destacamentos, e até mesmo nas tropas de ataque. O chão tremeu e houve um pânico terrível[2].16As sentinelas de Saul em Gibeá de Benjamim viram o exército filisteu se dispersando, correndo em todas as direções.17Então Saul disse aos seus soldados: “Contem os soldados e vejam quem está faltando”. Quando o fizeram, viram que Jônatas e seu escudeiro não estavam presentes.18Saul ordenou a Aías: “Traga a arca de Deus”. Naquele tempo ela estava com os israelitas.[3]19Enquanto Saul falava com o sacerdote, o tumulto no acampamento filisteu ia crescendo cada vez mais. Então Saul disse ao sacerdote: “Não precisa trazer a arca”[4].20Na mesma hora Saul e todos os soldados se reuniram e foram para a batalha. Encontraram os filisteus em total confusão, ferindo uns aos outros com suas espadas.21Alguns hebreus que antes estavam do lado dos filisteus e que com eles tinham ido ao acampamento filisteu, passaram para o lado dos israelitas que estavam com Saul e Jônatas.22Quando todos os israelitas que haviam se escondido nos montes de Efraim ouviram que os filisteus batiam em retirada, também entraram na batalha, perseguindo-os.23Assim o SENHOR concedeu vitória a Israel naquele dia, e a batalha se espalhou para além de Bete-Áven.
O Juramento Impensado de Saul
24Os homens de Israel estavam exaustos naquele dia, pois Saul lhes havia imposto um juramento, dizendo: “Maldito seja todo o que comer antes do anoitecer, antes que eu tenha me vingado de meus inimigos!” Por isso ninguém tinha comido nada.25O exército inteiro entrou num bosque, onde havia mel no chão.26Eles viram o mel escorrendo, contudo ninguém comeu, pois temiam o juramento.27Jônatas, porém, não sabia do juramento que seu pai havia imposto ao exército, de modo que estendeu a ponta da vara que tinha na mão e a molhou no favo de mel. Quando comeu, seus olhos brilharam[5].28Então um dos soldados lhe disse: “Seu pai impôs ao exército um juramento severo, dizendo: ‘Maldito seja todo o que comer hoje!’ Por isso os homens estão exaustos”.29Jônatas disse: “Meu pai trouxe desgraça para nós. Veja como meus olhos brilham[6] desde que provei um pouco deste mel.30Como teria sido bem melhor se os homens tivessem comido hoje um pouco do que tomaram dos seus inimigos. A matança de filisteus não teria sido ainda maior?”31Naquele dia, depois de derrotarem os filisteus, desde Micmás até Aijalom, os israelitas estavam completamente exaustos.32Eles então se lançaram sobre os despojos e pegaram ovelhas, bois e bezerros; mataram-nos ali mesmo e comeram a carne com o sangue.33E alguém disse a Saul: “Veja, os soldados estão pecando contra o SENHOR, comendo carne com sangue”. Ele disse: “Vocês foram infiéis. Rolem uma grande pedra até aqui.34Saiam entre os soldados e digam-lhes: Cada um traga a mim seu boi ou sua ovelha, abatam-nos e comam a carne aqui. Não pequem contra o SENHOR comendo carne com sangue”. Assim, cada um levou seu boi naquela noite e ali o abateu.35Então, Saul edificou um altar para o SENHOR; foi a primeira vez que fez isso.36Saul disse ainda: “Desçamos atrás dos filisteus à noite; vamos saqueá-los até o amanhecer e não deixemos vivo nem um só deles”. Eles responderam: “Faze o que achares melhor”. O sacerdote, porém, disse: “Consultemos aqui a Deus”.37Então Saul perguntou a Deus: “Devo perseguir os filisteus? Tu os entregarás nas mãos de Israel?” Mas naquele dia Deus não lhe respondeu.38Disse então Saul: “Venham cá, todos vocês que são líderes do exército, e descubramos que pecado foi cometido hoje.39Juro pelo nome do SENHOR, o libertador de Israel; mesmo que seja meu filho Jônatas, ele morrerá”. Mas ninguém disse uma só palavra.40A seguir disse Saul a todos os israelitas: “Fiquem vocês de um lado; eu e meu filho Jônatas ficaremos do outro”. E eles responderam: “Faze o que achares melhor”.41E Saul orou ao SENHOR, ao Deus de Israel: “Dá-me a resposta certa”[7]. A sorte caiu em Jônatas e Saul, e os soldados saíram livres.42Saul disse: “Lancem sortes entre mim e meu filho Jônatas”. E Jônatas foi indicado.43Então Saul disse a Jônatas: “Diga-me o que você fez”. E Jônatas lhe contou: “Eu provei um pouco de mel com a ponta de minha vara. Estou pronto para morrer”.44Saul disse: “Que Deus me castigue com todo rigor, caso você não morra, Jônatas!”45Os soldados, porém, disseram a Saul: “Será que Jônatas, que trouxe esta grande libertação para Israel, deve morrer? Nunca! Juramos pelo nome do SENHOR: Nem um só cabelo de sua cabeça cairá ao chão, pois o que ele fez hoje foi com o auxílio de Deus”. Então os homens resgataram Jônatas, e ele não foi morto.46E Saul parou de perseguir os filisteus, e eles voltaram para a sua própria terra.47Quando Saul assumiu o reinado sobre Israel, lutou contra os seus inimigos em redor: moabitas, amonitas, edomitas, os reis[8] de Zobá e os filisteus. Para qualquer lado que fosse, infligia-lhes castigo[9].48Lutou corajosamente e derrotou os amalequitas, libertando Israel das mãos daqueles que os saqueavam.
A Família de Saul
49Os filhos de Saul foram Jônatas, Isvi e Malquisua. O nome de sua filha mais velha era Merabe, e o da mais nova era Mical.50Sua mulher chamava-se Ainoã e era filha de Aimaás. O nome do comandante do exército de Saul era Abner, filho de Ner, tio de Saul.51Quis, pai de Saul, e Ner, pai de Abner, eram filhos de Abiel.52Houve guerra acirrada contra os filisteus durante todo o reinado de Saul. Por isso, sempre que Saul conhecia um homem forte e corajoso, alistava-o no seu exército.
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 Sm 13:15; 1 Sm 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. (Js 18:1; 1 Sm 2:28; 1 Sm 4:21; 1 Sm 22:9; 1 Sm 22:11; 1 Sm 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 Sm 13:23)5The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. (1 Sm 13:3; 1 Sm 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.” (Jz 7:4; Jz 7:7; Jz 14:3; 1 Sm 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 Sm 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 Sm 13:17)16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.[5] (Js 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. (Jz 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 Sm 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. (Js 24:33; 1 Sm 13:6; 1 Sm 14:11)23So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. (Ex 14:30; 1 Sm 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. (Js 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 Sm 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. (Jz 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. (Js 10:12; 1 Sm 13:2; 1 Sm 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 Sm 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 Sm 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 Sm 7:12; 1 Sm 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 Sm 14:3; 1 Sm 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 Sm 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 Sm 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. (Js 7:16; 1 Sm 10:20; At 1:24)42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. (1 Sm 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.” (Js 7:19; 1 Sm 14:27)44And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” (Rt 1:17; 1 Sm 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 Sm 14:39; 2 Sm 14:11; 1 Rs 1:52; Mt 10:30; Lc 12:7; Lc 21:18; At 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 Sm 11:11; 2 Sm 8:3; 2 Sm 10:6)48And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. (1 Sm 15:3; 1 Sm 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 Sm 18:17; 1 Sm 18:19; 1 Sm 31:2; 2 Sm 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 Sm 10:14; 2 Sm 2:8)51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. (1 Sm 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 Sm 8:11)