1 Samuel 14
Christian Standard Bible
14 That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron(A) on the outskirts of Gibeah.[a](B) The troops with him numbered about six hundred.(C) 3 Ahijah,(D) who was wearing an ephod,(E) was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod(F) son of Phinehas, son of Eli the Lord’s priest at Shiloh.(G) But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.
4 There were sharp columns[b] of rock on both sides of the pass(H) that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh; 5 one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba. 6 Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men.(I) Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”(J)
7 His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. Go ahead! I’m completely with you.”
8 “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. 9 If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us—that will be our sign.”
11 They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” 12 The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said.
“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”(K) 13 Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. 14 In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.
A Defeat for the Philistines
15 Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties(L) were terrified. The earth shook,(M) and terror spread from God.[c](N) 16 When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction. 17 So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.
18 Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites[d] at that time. 19 While Saul spoke to the priest,(O) the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”[e]
20 Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there the Philistines were, fighting against each other in great confusion!(P) 21 There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites(Q) who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim(R) heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle. 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day.(S)
Saul’s Rash Oath
The battle extended beyond Beth-aven, 24 and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had[f] placed the troops under an oath:(T) “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
25 Everyone[g] went into the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the troops entered the forest, they saw the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it[h] because they feared the oath. 27 However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb.(U) When he ate the honey,[i] he had renewed energy.[j](V) 28 Then one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”
29 Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land.(W) Just look at how I have renewed energy[k] because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”
31 The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash(X) all the way to Aijalon.(Y) Since the Israelites were completely exhausted, 32 they rushed to the plunder,(Z) took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it. 33 Some reported to Saul, “Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.”(AA)
Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.” 34 He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.’” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.(AB)
36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!”
“Do whatever you want,” the troops replied.
But the priest(AC) said, “Let’s approach God here.”(AD)
37 So Saul inquired of God,(AE) “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.(AF)
38 Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let’s investigate[l] how this sin has occurred today. 39 As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him.
40 So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.”
And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”
41 So Saul said to the Lord, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”[m](AG) Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.
42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected. 43 Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.”(AH)
Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey(AI) with the end of the staff I was carrying. I am ready to die!”
44 Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely(AJ) if you do not die, Jonathan!”
45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel! No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground,(AK) for he worked with God’s help today.”(AL) So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. 46 Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.
Summary of Saul’s Kingship
47 When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites,(AM) Edom, the kings of Zobah,(AN) and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.[n] 48 He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites,(AO) and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons(AP) were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab,(AQ) his firstborn, and Michal,(AR) the younger. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.(AS) 51 Saul’s father was Kish.(AT) Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.
52 The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.(AU)
Footnotes
- 14:2 LXX reads on top of the hill
- 14:4 Lit There was a tooth
- 14:15 Or and a great terror spread
- 14:18 LXX reads “Bring the ephod.” For he wore the ephod before Israel
- 14:19 Lit “Withdraw your hand”
- 14:24 LXX adds committed a great act of ignorance and
- 14:25 Lit All the land
- 14:26 Lit but there was none who raised his hand to his mouth
- 14:27 Lit he returned his hand to his mouth
- 14:27 Lit his eyes became bright
- 14:29 Lit how my eyes became bright
- 14:38 Lit know and see
- 14:41 LXX; MT reads said to the Lord, “God of Israel, give us the right decision.”
- 14:47 LXX reads he was victorious
1 Samuel 14
Common English Bible
14 One day Jonathan, Saul’s son, said to his young armor-bearer, “Come on! Let’s go over to the Philistine fort on the opposite side.” But he didn’t tell his father. 2 Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree at Migron. He had about six hundred men with him, 3 including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, who was Ichabod’s brother and the son of Phinehas the son of Eli, who was the Lord’s priest at Shiloh. He was wearing a priestly vest.[a] None of the troops knew that Jonathan had gone.
4 There were two stone outcroppings in the pass where Jonathan planned on crossing over to the Philistine fort—one on each side. One of these was named Bozez; the other was named Seneh. 5 One outcropping was on the north side, in front of Michmash, and the other was on the south side, in front of Geba. 6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the fort of these uncircumcised men. Maybe the Lord will act on our behalf. After all, nothing can stop the Lord from saving, whether there are many soldiers[b] or few.”
7 “Go ahead with whatever you’re planning,” his armor-bearer replied. “I’m with you, whatever you decide.”
8 “All right then,” Jonathan said. “We’ll go over to the men and show ourselves. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay there until we get to you,’ then we’ll stay where we are and won’t go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up because that will be the sign that the Lord has handed them over to us.”
11 So they showed themselves to the Philistine fort, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes they’ve been hiding in!” 12 Then the troops in the fort yelled to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up! We’ll teach you a lesson!”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Follow me, because the Lord has handed them over to Israel!” 13 So Jonathan scrambled up on his hands and feet with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan. His armor-bearer, coming behind him, would then finish them off. 14 In the first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre.[c] 15 Panic broke out in the camp, in the field, and among all the troops. Even those in the fort and the raiders shook with fear. The very ground shook! It was a terror from God.
16 Now Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine camp running all over the place.[d] 17 Saul said to the troops with him, “Take a count and see who is missing.” So they counted, and Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone. 18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the priestly vest!”[e] because at that time, Ahijah wore the priestly vest in Israel’s presence.[f] 19 As Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp continued to grow. Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”[g]
20 Then Saul called all his troops together, and they went into battle. The Philistines were completely confused; every soldier’s sword was turned against his fellow soldier. 21 Even those Hebrews who had earlier joined up with the Philistines and moved into their camp changed sides to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Similarly, when all the Israelites who had been hiding in the highlands of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they also joined the battle in hot pursuit of the Philistines. 23 The Lord saved Israel that day, and the fighting carried on beyond Beth-aven.
24 Now the Israelite soldiers were in a difficult situation that day because Saul had bound the troops by a solemn pledge: “Anyone who eats anything before evening when I have taken revenge on my enemies is doomed.” So none of the army ate anything. 25 The troops[h] came across a honeycomb with honey on the ground. 26 But even when they came across the honeycomb with the honey still flowing, no one ate any of it because the troops were afraid of the solemn pledge. 27 But Jonathan hadn’t heard his father make the people swear the pledge, so he dipped the end of the staff he was carrying into the honeycomb. When he ate some his eyes lit up. 28 Then one of the soldiers spoke up: “Your father bound the troops by a solemn pledge: ‘Anyone who eats food today is doomed.’ That’s why the troops are exhausted.”
29 Jonathan said, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Look how my eyes lit up when I tasted just a bit of that honey! 30 It would have been even better if the troops had eaten some of their enemies’ plunder today when they found it! But now the Philistine defeat isn’t as thorough as it might have been.”
31 That day, after they had fought the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were completely exhausted. 32 So the troops tore into the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground and devoured them with the blood still in them. 33 When it was reported to Saul, “The troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it,” Saul said, “All of you are traitors! Roll a large stone over here right now. 34 Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Everyone must bring their ox or sheep, and slaughter them here with me. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’” So everyone brought whatever they had and slaughtered it there.[i] 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord. It was the first altar he had built to the Lord.
36 “Let’s go after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning,” Saul said. “We won’t leave them a single survivor!”
“Do whatever you think is best,” the troops replied.
But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
37 So Saul questioned God: “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.
38 Then Saul said, “All you officers in the army, come forward! Let’s find out what sin was committed today. 39 As surely as the Lord lives—the one who has saved Israel—even if it’s my own son Jonathan, that person will be executed.” Not one of the soldiers answered him. 40 So Saul said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other.”
“Do whatever you think is best,” the troops said.
41 Then Saul asked the Lord God of Israel, “Why haven’t you answered your servant today? If the wrongdoing is mine or my son Jonathan’s, respond with Urim, but if the wrongdoing belongs to your people Israel, respond with Thummim.”[j] Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the troops were cleared.
42 Then Saul said, “Decide between me and my son Jonathan.”[k] And Jonathan was selected.
43 “Tell me what you’ve done,” Saul said to Jonathan.
So Jonathan told him. “I only took a very small taste of honey on the end of my staff,” he said. “And now I’m supposed to die?”
44 “May God deal harshly with me and worse still if you don’t die today!”[l] Saul swore.
45 But the troops said to Saul, “Why should Jonathan die when he has won this great victory for Israel? No way! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair off his head will fall to the ground, because he did this today with God’s help.” So the troops rescued Jonathan, and he wasn’t executed.
46 Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their own country.
Saul’s wars
47 Saul secured his kingship over Israel. He fought against his enemies on every side: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the king of Zobah,[m] and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he was victorious.[n] 48 He acted heroically, defeating the Amalekites and rescuing Israel from the power of any who had plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, the oldest, and Michal, the younger daughter. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, Ahimaaz’s daughter. The name of his general was Abner, Ner’s son, Saul’s uncle. 51 Kish, Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, were Abiel’s sons.
52 There was fierce warfare against the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul saw any strong or heroic man, he would add him to his troops.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 14:3 Heb ephod
- 1 Samuel 14:6 MT lacks soldiers.
- 1 Samuel 14:14 Heb uncertain
- 1 Samuel 14:16 LXX
- 1 Samuel 14:18 LXX ephod
- 1 Samuel 14:18 LXX; MT “Bring out God’s chest!” because at that time God’s chest was with the Israelites; cf 14:3.
- 1 Samuel 14:19 That is, from the priestly vest (Heb ephod) or from the Urim and Thummim contained therein
- 1 Samuel 14:25 MT land
- 1 Samuel 14:34 LXX; MT brought their ox and slaughtered it there that night.
- 1 Samuel 14:41 LXX, Vulg; MT Saul asked the Lord God of Israel, “Give the right answer.” Urim and Thummim were sacred lots carried by the priest.
- 1 Samuel 14:42 LXX adds Whoever the Lord selects will die. The army said to Saul, “Don’t do this!” But Saul forced them, so they decided between him and Jonathan his son.
- 1 Samuel 14:44 LXX; MT if you don’t die, Jonathan
- 1 Samuel 14:47 LXX, DSS (4QSama); MT kings of Zobah
- 1 Samuel 14:47 LXX
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