1 Samuel 13:19-14:24

Tree of Life Version

¹⁹ Now no blacksmith could be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” ²⁰ So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his sickle, his axe or his hoe. ²¹ The price of sharpening was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the sickles, the three-pronged forks or the axes, or to set the oxgoads. ²² So it came about on the day of battle, there was no sword or spear to be found in the hand of any of the troops that were with Saul and Jonathan—only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. ²³ Then the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmas.

Jonathan’s Daring Valor

14 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man carrying his armor, “Come, let’s cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that’s on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. ² Now Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is in Migron, and the troops with him were about 600 men. ³ Ahijah son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas son of Eli, the kohen of Adonai in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the troops did not know that Jonathan was gone. ⁴ Between the crossings by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on one side and another rocky crag on the other side—one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. ⁵ One crag was to the north near Michmas, and the other to the south near Geba.

⁶ Then Jonathan said to the young man carrying his armor, “Come, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. Perhaps Adonai will work for us, for nothing restrains Adonai from delivering whether by many or by few.” ⁷ His armor-bearer answered him, “Do whatever is in your heart; go ahead—I’m with you whatever your heart decides.”

⁸ Then Jonathan said, “Here, we’ll cross over to the men, then let them see us. ⁹ If they say to us: ‘Wait till we come to you,’ then we’ll 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 Adonai has delivered them into our hand—that will be our sign.”

¹¹ So they both let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison. “Look, some Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they were hiding,” the Philistines said. ¹² So the men of the garrison shouted down to Jonathan and his armor-bearer saying, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson!”

Then Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Follow me, for Adonai has handed them over to Israel!” ¹³ So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Then they fell before Jonathan, his armor-bearer behind him finishing them off. ¹⁴ That first assault that Jonathan and his armor-bearer made struck down about 20 men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. ¹⁵ Terror then spread through the camp, in the field, and among all the troops. Even the outposts and the raiders also trembled, when the earth quaked—it was a trembling from God.

¹⁶ Now Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin saw the throng scattering away in every direction. ¹⁷ So Saul said to the people who were with him, “Call the roll now and see who went from us.” When they called the roll, behold Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

¹⁸ Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God at that time was with Bnei-Yisrael. ¹⁹ But while Saul was talking to the kohen, the commotion in the Philistine camp kept increasing, so Saul said to the kohen, “Withdraw your hand.” ²⁰ Then Saul and all the people with him rallied and rushed into the battle. Behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow in utter confusion! ²¹ Now there were Hebrews who had defected to the Philistines previously and had gone up with them to their camp round about—even they joined the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² Also when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they also chased after them in the battle. ²³ So Adonai delivered Israel that day. The battle spread as far as Beth-aven.

Saul’s Rash Vow

²⁴ Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, for Saul put the people under oath saying, “Cursed be the man that eats any food before evening, until I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the people tasted food.