23 And (A)the garrison of the Philistines went out to the (B)pass of (C)Michmash.

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

14 One 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. Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave[a] at (D)Migron. The people who were with him were about (E)six hundred men, including (F)Ahijah the son of Ahitub, (G)Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord (H)in Shiloh, (I)wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. Within (J)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. The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of (K)Geba.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these (L)uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, (M)for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish.[b] Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If 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. 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 shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming (N)out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And 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.” 13 Then 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. 14 And 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[c] of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even (O)the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.[d]

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude (P)was dispersing here and there.[e] 17 Then 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. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people[f] of Israel. 19 Now (Q)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.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, (R)every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, (S)even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel (T)who had hidden themselves (U)in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 (V)So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond (W)Beth-aven.

Saul's Rash Vow

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, (X)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. 25 Now when all the people[g] came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And 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. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, (Y)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. 28 Then 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 (Z)faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How 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.”

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from (AA)Michmash to (AB)Aijalon. And the people were very (AC)faint. 32 The people (AD)pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them (AE)with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating (AF)with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.”[h] 34 And 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. 35 And Saul (AG)built an altar to the Lord; it 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 them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But (AH)the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” (AI)But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For (AJ)as the Lord lives who saves Israel, (AK)though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who 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 to you.” 41 Therefore 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.”[i] (AL)And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, (AM)“Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, (AN)“Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, (AO)“I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, (AP)“God do so to me and more also; (AQ)you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! (AR)As the Lord lives, (AS)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. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel's Enemies

47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, (AT)against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of (AU)Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48 And he did valiantly (AV)and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 (AW)Now 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 (AX)Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. (AY)And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, (AZ)Saul's uncle. 51 (BA)Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of (BB)Abiel.

52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, (BC)he attached him to himself.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 14:2 Or under the pomegranate [tree]
  2. 1 Samuel 14:7 Septuagint Do all that your mind inclines to
  3. 1 Samuel 14:14 Hebrew a yoke
  4. 1 Samuel 14:15 Or became a panic from God
  5. 1 Samuel 14:16 Septuagint; Hebrew they went here and there
  6. 1 Samuel 14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint “Bring the ephod.” For at that time he wore the ephod before the people
  7. 1 Samuel 14:25 Hebrew land
  8. 1 Samuel 14:33 Septuagint; Hebrew this day
  9. 1 Samuel 14:41 Vulgate and Septuagint; Hebrew Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give Thummim.”

30 (A)So they were seeking to arrest him, but (B)no one laid a hand on him, (C)because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet (D)many of the people believed in him. They said, (E)“When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd (F)muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent (G)officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, (H)“I will be with you a little longer, and then (I)I am going to him who sent me. 34 (J)You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? (K)Does he intend to go to (L)the Dispersion among (M)the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, (N)‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

Rivers of Living Water

37 (O)On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, (P)“If anyone thirsts, let him (Q)come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, (R)as[a] the Scripture has said, (S)‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of (T)living water.’” 39 Now (U)this he said about the Spirit, (V)whom those who believed in him were to receive, (W)for as yet the Spirit had not been (X)given, (Y)because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Division Among the People

40 When they heard these words, (Z)some of the people said, “This really is (AA)the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is (AB)the Christ.” But some said, (AC)“Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes (AD)from the offspring of David, and comes (AE)from Bethlehem, the village (AF)where David was?” 43 So there was (AG)a division among the people over him. 44 (AH)Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 (AI)The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, (AJ)“No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, (AK)“Have you also been deceived? 48 (AL)Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 (AM)Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 (AN)“Does our law judge a man without first (AO)giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, (AP)“Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that (AQ)no prophet arises from Galilee.”

[The earliest manuscripts do not include 7:53–8:11.][b]

The Woman Caught in Adultery

53 [[They went each to his own house,

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Footnotes

  1. John 7:38 Or let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As
  2. John 7:53 Some manuscripts do not include 7:53–8:11; others add the passage here or after 7:36 or after 21:25 or after Luke 21:38, with variations in the text

Help Me, O Lord My God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

109 (A)Be not silent, O (B)God of my praise!
For wicked and (C)deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me (D)without cause.
In return for my love they (E)accuse me,
    but I (F)give myself to prayer.[a]
So they (G)reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

(H)Appoint a wicked man (I)against him;
    let an accuser stand (J)at his right hand.
When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his (K)prayer be counted as sin!
May his (L)days be few;
    may (M)another take his (N)office!
May his (O)children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
10 May his children (P)wander about and beg,
    (Q)seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May (R)the creditor seize all that he has;
    may (S)strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to (T)extend kindness to him,
    nor any to (U)pity his fatherless children!
13 May his (V)posterity be cut off;
    may his (W)name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May (X)the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
    and let not the sin of his mother be (Y)blotted out!
15 (Z)Let them be before the Lord continually,
    that he may (AA)cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued (AB)the poor and needy
    and (AC)the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 (AD)He loved to curse; let curses come[b] upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far[c] from him!
18 He (AE)clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it (AF)soak[d] into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my (AG)accusers from the Lord,
    of those who speak evil against my life!

21 But you, O God my Lord,
    deal on my behalf (AH)for your name's sake;
    because your (AI)steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am (AJ)poor and needy,
    and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like (AK)a shadow at evening;
    I am (AL)shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak (AM)through fasting;
    my (AN)body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am (AO)an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they (AP)wag their heads.

26 (AQ)Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them (AR)know that this is your hand;
    you, O Lord, have done it!
28 (AS)Let them curse, but you will bless!
    They arise and are put to shame, but (AT)your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be (AU)clothed with dishonor;
    may they (AV)be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
    I will (AW)praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands (AX)at the right hand of the needy one,
    to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 109:4 Hebrew but I am prayer
  2. Psalm 109:17 Revocalization; Masoretic Text curses have come
  3. Psalm 109:17 Revocalization; Masoretic Text it is far
  4. Psalm 109:18 Revocalization; Masoretic Text it has soaked

(A)A fool (B)despises his father's instruction,
    but (C)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
(D)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (E)not so the hearts of fools.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast

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