1 Samuel 14:38-52

Legacy Standard Bible

³⁸ And Saul said, “^(A)Draw near here, all you ^[a]chiefs of the people, and know and see how this sin has happened today. ³⁹ For ^(B)as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. 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 in your eyes.” ⁴¹ Therefore, Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “^(C)Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. ⁴² And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, “^(D)Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “^(E)I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die!” ⁴⁴ And Saul said, “^(F)May God do ^[b]this to me and more also, for ^(G)you shall surely die, Jonathan.” ⁴⁵ But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has ^[c]brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, ^(H)not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for ^(I)he has worked with God this day.” So the people ^[d]redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul went up from ^[e]pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Against His Enemies

⁴⁷ Now Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, and he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, ^(J)the sons of Ammon, Edom, ^(K)the kings of Zobah, and ^(L)the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he ^[f]inflicted punishment. ⁴⁸ And he acted valiantly and ^(M)struck down the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hands of ^[g]those who plundered them.

⁴⁹ Now ^(N)the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn ^(O)Merab and the name of the younger ^(P)Michal. ⁵⁰ And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And ^(Q)the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. ^51 (R)And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

⁵² Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and Saul would see any mighty man or any man of valor and would ^(S)gather him to ^[h]his staff.