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OEB 1SA Chapter 14

14 and one day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armour, ‘Come – let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree at Mignon, and with him were about six hundred men. 3 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord at Shiloh, was in charge of an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to 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. 5 One crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armour, ‘Come, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised Philistines. Perhaps the Lord will act for us, for there is nothing that can prevent the Lord from saving by many or by few.’ 7 His armour-bearer said to him, ‘Do whatever your judgment dictates. I am with you, your wish is mine.’ 8 Then Jonathan said, ‘We will pass over to the men and show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, “Stand still until we can reach you,” then we will stand still in our place, and 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 will be the sign to us.’ 11 When both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, ‘There are Hebrews coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.’ 12 The men of the garrison cried out to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, ‘Come up to us so that we can tell you something.’ Then Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, ‘Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’ 13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armour-bearer after him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer kept despatching them after him. 14 In the first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer slew about twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 15 There was panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison, and even the raiders trembled and the earth quaked so that it produced a great panic.

16 The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and saw the army surging hither and thither. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, ‘Investigate now and see who is gone from us.’ When they had investigated they found that Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ephod here,’ for at that time he had charge of the ephod before Israel. 19 While Saul was speaking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines kept on increasing. So Saul said to the priest, ‘Draw back your hand.’ 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him responded to the call, and came to the battle, and every man’s sword was turned upon his fellow and there was very great confusion. 21 The Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistines and joined their the camp, turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the Israelites who were in hiding in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines were fleeing, pursued close after them in the battle. 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed on beyond Beth-aven.

24 Then Saul committed a great act of folly that day, for he laid an oath on the people, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening and until I avenge myself on my enemies.’ So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now there was honeycomb in that country, 26 and when the people came to the honeycomb, the bees had just flown away, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people. 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 lightened. 28 Then one of the fighters spoke up, ‘Your father charged the people saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food this day.” So the men are exhausted.’ 29 Then said Jonathan, ‘My father has brought disaster on the land. See how I have been refreshed, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 If only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found, how much greater would have been the slaughter of the Philistines!’

31 But they struck at the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint, 32 and they rushed upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood. 33 When Saul was told that the people were sinning against the Lord in eating with the blood, he said to those who told him, ‘Treason! Roll a great stone to me.’ 34 And Saul said, ‘Go out among the people and say to them, “Let each man bring to me his ox and his sheep, and slay it here and eat; but do not sin against the Lord in eating the flesh together with the blood.” ’ All the people brought their oxen that night and slew them there. 35 So Saul built an altar to the Lord. That was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Then Saul said, ‘Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder among them until daybreak, and let us not spare a single man.’ They said, ‘Do whatever you think best,’ but the priest said, ‘Let us first consut God.’ 37 So Saul asked of God, ‘Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?’ But there was no answer that day. 38 And Saul said, ‘Come here, all you chiefs of the people and know and see in whom is this guilt today. 39 For as the Lord lives, who delivered Israel, even if it be in Jonathan my son, that man will surely die.’ But no one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, ‘You will on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.’ The people said to Saul, ‘Do what seems good to you.’ 41 Therefore Saul asked the Lord, God of Israel, ‘Why have you not answered your servant this day? If the guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, the Lord, God of Israel, give Urim, but if the guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.’ And the lot indicated Jonathan and Saul, and the people were cleared. 42 And Saul said, ‘Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son. He whom the Lord indicates, must die.’ The people said to Saul, ‘It must not be so!’ But Saul overruled the people and they cast the lot between him and Jonathan his son. And Jonathan was indicated.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ And Jonathan told him, saying, ‘I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand, and here I am! I am ready to die.’ 44 And Saul said, ‘May God do to me whatever he pleases, you must surely die, Jonathan!’ 45 But the people said to Saul, ‘Should Jonathan die who has wrought this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.’ So the people redeemed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul broke off from pursuing the Philistines and the Philistines went to their own country.

47 When Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab and the Ammonites and Edom and the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned he was victorious. 48 He did mighty deeds and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of its plunderers.

49 Now the sons of Saul were: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were: the eldest, Merab, the youngest, Michal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner the son Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Kish the father of Saul and Ner the father of Abner were sons of Abiel.

52 The war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul. Whenever Saul saw any valiant or efficient man, he would take him into his service.

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