1 Samuel 14:24-46
Christian Standard Bible
24 and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had[a] placed the troops under an oath:(A) “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[b] 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[c] 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.(B) When he ate the honey,[d] he had renewed energy.[e](C) 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.(D) Just look at how I have renewed energy[f] 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(E) all the way to Aijalon.(F) Since the Israelites were completely exhausted, 32 they rushed to the plunder,(G) 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.”(H)
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.(I)
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(J) said, “Let’s approach God here.”(K)
37 So Saul inquired of God,(L) “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.(M)
38 Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let’s investigate[g] 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.”[h](N) 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.”(O)
Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey(P) 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(Q) 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,(R) for he worked with God’s help today.”(S) 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.
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- 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.”
1 Samuel 14:24-46
New American Standard Bible
Saul’s Foolish Order
24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had (A)put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food [a]before evening, and before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the people entered the forest, behold, (B)there was honey dripping; but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath. 27 However, Jonathan had not heard it when his father put the people under oath; so (C)he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and (D)his eyes [b]brightened. 28 Then one of the people responded and said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29 Then Jonathan said, “(E)My father has troubled the land. See now that my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if only the people had freely eaten today of the spoils of their enemies which they found! For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”
31 They attacked the Philistines that day from (F)Michmash to (G)Aijalon. But the people were very tired. 32 So (H)the people loudly rushed upon the spoils, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them (I)with the blood. 33 Then observers informed Saul, saying, “Look, the people are (J)sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a large rock to me today.” 34 Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating it with the blood.’” So all the people brought them that night, each one his ox [c]with him, and they slaughtered them there. 35 And (K)Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36 Then Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let’s not leave a man among them alive.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good [d]to you.” So (L)the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.” 37 So Saul (M)inquired of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But (N)He did not answer him on that day. 38 Then Saul said, “(O)[e]Come here, all you [f]leaders of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. 39 For (P)as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall assuredly 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 my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good [g]to you.” 41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “(Q)Give a [h]perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people [i]were exonerated. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected by lot.
43 So Saul said to Jonathan, “(R)Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “(S)I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44 And Saul said, “(T)May God do the same to me and more also, for (U)you shall certainly die, Jonathan!” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, he who has [j]brought about this great [k]victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, (V)not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because (W)he has worked with God this day.” So the people [l]rescued Jonathan and he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from [m]pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- 1 Samuel 14:24 Lit until
- 1 Samuel 14:27 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT saw
- 1 Samuel 14:34 Lit with his hand
- 1 Samuel 14:36 Lit in your eyes
- 1 Samuel 14:38 Lit Approach here
- 1 Samuel 14:38 Lit cornerstones
- 1 Samuel 14:40 Lit in your eyes
- 1 Samuel 14:41 I.e., a clear answer
- 1 Samuel 14:41 Lit got out
- 1 Samuel 14:45 Lit worked
- 1 Samuel 14:45 Lit deliverance
- 1 Samuel 14:45 Lit ransomed
- 1 Samuel 14:46 Lit after
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