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1 Samuel 13:23-14
New English Translation

Jonathan Ignites a Battle

23 A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash.

14 Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor-bearer,[a] “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know.

2 Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron, on the outskirts of Gibeah. The army that was with him numbered about 600 men. 3 Now Ahijah was carrying[b] an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, who was the brother of Ichabod and a son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh. The army was unaware that Jonathan had left.

4 Now there was a steep cliff on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to go to reach the Philistine garrison. One cliff was named Bozez, the other Seneh. 5 The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.

6 Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will intervene[c] for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few.” 7 His armor-bearer said to him, “Do everything that is on your mind.[d] Do as you’re inclined. I’m with you all the way!”[e]

8 Jonathan replied, “All right.[f] We’ll go over to these men and fight them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay put until we approach you,’ we will stay[g] right there and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up against us,’ we will go up. For in that case the Lord has given them into our hand—it will be a sign to us.”

11 When they[h] made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, “Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves.” 12 Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!”[i] Then Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up behind me, for the Lord has given[j] them into the hand of Israel!”

13 Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer following behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines,[k] while his armor-bearer came along behind him and killed them.[l] 14 In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre.

15 Then fear overwhelmed[m] those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God.[n]

16 Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin[o] looked on[p] as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another.[q] 17 So Saul said to the army that was with him, “Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us.” When they mustered the troops,[r] Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the ephod,”[s] for he was at that time wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.[t] 19 While[u] Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistines’ camp was becoming greater and greater. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

20 Saul and all the army assembled and marched into battle, where they found[v] the Philistines in total panic killing one another with their swords.[w] 21 The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side[x] joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they too pursued them in battle. 23 So the Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven.[y]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 14:1 tn Or “the servant who was carrying his military equipment” (likewise in vv. 6, 7, 12, 13, 14).
  2. 1 Samuel 14:3 tn Heb “bearing.” Many English versions understand this verb to mean “wearing” (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NLT). The ephod could be used for consulting the Lord’s will (1 Sam 23:9-10; 30:7-8) and is not always worn (1 Sam 23:6). The significance in this context is probably not that Ahijah was dressed for sacrificial duties or to appear before God at the tabernacle, but rather that the ephod was available for consulting God, given the people’s ignorance about Jonathan’s activities. (Cf. the note at 1 Sam 2:28.)
  3. 1 Samuel 14:6 tn Heb “act.”
  4. 1 Samuel 14:7 tn Heb “in your heart.”
  5. 1 Samuel 14:7 tn Heb “Look, I am with you, according to your heart.” See the note at 13:14.
  6. 1 Samuel 14:8 tn Heb “Look!”
  7. 1 Samuel 14:9 tn Heb “stand.”
  8. 1 Samuel 14:11 tn Heb “the two of them.”
  9. 1 Samuel 14:12 tn Heb “a thing.”
  10. 1 Samuel 14:12 tn The perfect verbal form is used rhetorically here to express Jonathan’s certitude. As far as he is concerned, the victory is as good as won and can be described as such.
  11. 1 Samuel 14:13 tn Heb “and they fell before Jonathan.”
  12. 1 Samuel 14:13 tn Heb “and the one carrying his equipment was killing after him.”
  13. 1 Samuel 14:15 tn Heb “fell upon.”
  14. 1 Samuel 14:15 tn Heb “and it was by the fear of God.” The translation understands this to mean that God was the source or cause of the fear experienced by the Philistines. This seems to be the most straightforward reading of the sentence. It is possible, however, that the word “God” functions here simply to intensify the accompanying word “fear,” in which one might translate “a very great fear” (cf. NAB, NRSV). It is clear that on some occasions that the divine name carries such a superlative nuance. For examples see Joüon 2:525 §141.n.
  15. 1 Samuel 14:16 tn Heb “at Gibeah of Benjamin.” The words “in the territory” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
  16. 1 Samuel 14:16 tn Heb “saw, and look!”
  17. 1 Samuel 14:16 tn Heb “the crowd melted and went, even here.”
  18. 1 Samuel 14:17 tn Heb “and they mustered the troops, and look!”
  19. 1 Samuel 14:18 tc Heb “the ark of God.” It seems unlikely that Saul would call for the ark, which was several miles away in Kiriath Jearim (see 1 Sam 7:2). The LXX and an Old Latin ms have “ephod” here, a reading which harmonizes better with v. 3 and fits better with the verb “bring near” (see 1 Sam 23:9; 30:7) and with the expression “withdraw your hand” in v. 19. There are also quotations of this reading in rabbinic literature and medieval Jewish literature according to V. Aptowitzer, The Scripture in the Rabbinic Literature and Medieval Jewish Literature, Prolegomena (3 parts, Vindobonae, 1906, 1908, 1911). It is followed in the present translation (cf. NAB, NJB, GWN, TEV, NLT, CEB, BBE).
  20. 1 Samuel 14:18 tc Heb “for the ark of God was in that day, and the sons of Israel.” The translation follows the text of some Greek manuscripts. See the previous note.
  21. 1 Samuel 14:19 tn Or perhaps “until.”
  22. 1 Samuel 14:20 tn Heb “and look, there was.”
  23. 1 Samuel 14:20 tn Heb “the sword of a man against his companion, a very great panic.”
  24. 1 Samuel 14:21 tn Heb “and the Hebrews were to the Philistines formerly, who went up with them in the camp all around.”
  25. 1 Samuel 14:23 tc The LXX includes the following words: “And all the people were with Saul, about ten thousand men. And the battle extended to the entire city on mount Ephraim.”
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1 Samuel 13:23-14
English Standard Version

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. 2 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, 3 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. 4 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. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of (K)Geba.

6 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.” 7 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.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 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.

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
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1 Samuel 13:23-14
New International Version

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines

23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass(A) at Mikmash.(B) 14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

2 Saul was staying(C) on the outskirts of Gibeah(D) under a pomegranate tree(E) in Migron.(F) With him were about six hundred men, 3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s(G) brother Ahitub(H) son of Phinehas, the son of Eli,(I) the Lord’s priest in Shiloh.(J) No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

4 On each side of the pass(K) that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.(L)

6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised(M) men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing(N) can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many(O) or by few.(P)”

7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign(Q) that the Lord has given them into our hands.(R)”

11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews(S) are crawling out of the holes they were hiding(T) in.” 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.(U)”

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand(V) of Israel.”

13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

Israel Routs the Philistines

15 Then panic(W) struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding(X) parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.[a]

16 Saul’s lookouts(Y) at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. 17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring(Z) the ark(AA) of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)[b] 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest,(AB) “Withdraw your hand.”

20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking(AC) each other with their swords. 21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went(AD) over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden(AE) in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. 23 So on that day the Lord saved(AF) Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 14:15 Or a terrible panic
  2. 1 Samuel 14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint “Bring the ephod.” (At that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites.)
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