1 Samuel 14:36-52
Complete Jewish Bible
36 Sha’ul said, “Let’s go after the P’lishtim by night. We’ll plunder them until dawn; we won’t leave one of them alive.” They answered, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the cohen said, “Let’s approach God here.” 37 Sha’ul consulted God: “Should I go down in pursuit of the P’lishtim? Will you hand them over to Isra’el?” But he didn’t answer him that day. 38 Sha’ul said, “Come here, all you heads of the people. Think carefully: who has committed this sin today? 39 For, as Adonai Isra’el’s deliverer lives, even if it proves to be Y’honatan my son, he must be put to death.” But no one among all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Isra’el, “You be on one side, and I and Y’honatan my son will be on the other side.” The people replied to Sha’ul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Sha’ul said to Adonai the God of Isra’el, “Who is right?” Y’honatan and Sha’ul were chosen by lot, and the people went free. 42 Sha’ul said, “Cast lots between me and Y’honatan my son.” Y’honatan was chosen. 43 Then Sha’ul said to Y’honatan, “Tell me what you did.” Y’honatan told him, “Yes, I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff in my hand. Here I am; I’m ready to die.” 44 Sha’ul said, “May God do the same to me and more also if you are not put to death, Y’honatan!” 45 But the people said to Sha’ul, “Must Y’honatan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Isra’el? Heaven forbid! As Adonai lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground; because he worked with God today!” In this way the people rescued Y’honatan, so that he didn’t die. 46 Then Sha’ul stopped pursuing the P’lishtim, and the P’lishtim returned to their own territory.
47 So Sha’ul took over the rulership of Isra’el. He fought against all his enemies on every side — against Mo’av, the people of ‘Amon, Edom, the kings of Tzovah and the P’lishtim. No matter which way he turned, he defeated them. 48 He demonstrated his strength by attacking ‘Amalek, and he saved Isra’el from the power of those who were plundering them.
49 The sons of Sha’ul were Y’honatan, Yishvi and Malkishua, while the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the older, Merav, and of the younger, Mikhal. 50 Sha’ul’s wife was named Achino‘am the daughter of Achima‘atz; the commander of his army was named Avner the son of Ner, Sha’ul’s uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Sha’ul, and Ner the father of Avner was the son of Avi’el.
52 As long as Sha’ul lived there was bitter war against the P’lishtim. Whenever Sha’ul saw any strong or courageous man, he recruited him into his service.
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1 Samuel 14:36-52
New King James Version
36 Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.”
And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.”
Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
37 So Saul (A)asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But (B)He did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, (C)“Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today. 39 For (D)as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.”
And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41 Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, (E)“Give[a] a perfect lot.” (F)So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, (G)“Tell me what you have done.”
And Jonathan told him, and said, (H)“I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!”
44 Saul answered, (I)“God do so and more also; (J)for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
45 But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! (K)As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked (L)with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
46 Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul’s Continuing Wars
47 So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of (M)Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of (N)Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he [b]harassed them. 48 And he gathered an army and (O)attacked[c] the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
49 (P)The sons of Saul were Jonathan, [d]Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger (Q)Michal. 50 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 (R)uncle. 51 (S)Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, (T)he took him for himself.
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- 1 Samuel 14:41 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. Why do You not answer Your servant today? If the injustice is with me or Jonathan my son, O Lord God of Israel, give proof; and if You say it is with Your people Israel, give holiness.
- 1 Samuel 14:47 LXX, Vg. prospered
- 1 Samuel 14:48 Lit. struck
- 1 Samuel 14:49 Abinadab, 1 Chr. 8:33; 9:39
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
