1Now the daycamethat Jonathan,the sonof Saul,saidto the youngmanwho was carryinghis armor,"Comeand let us crossoverto the Philistines'garrisonthat is on the otherside."But he did not tellhis father.2Saulwas stayingin the outskirtsof Gibeahunderthe pomegranatetreewhichis in Migron.And the peoplewho[were] with him [were] about sixhundredmen,3and Ahijah,the sonof Ahitub,Ichabod'sbrother,the sonof Phinehas,the sonof Eli,the priestof the LORDat Shiloh,was wearingan ephod.And the peopledid not knowthat Jonathanhad gone.4Betweenthe passesby whichJonathansoughtto crossoverto the Philistines'garrison,there was a sharpcragon the onesideand a sharpcragon the otherside,and the nameof the onewas Bozez,and the nameof the otherSeneh.5The onecragroseon the northoppositeMichmash,and the otheron the southoppositeGeba.
6Then Jonathansaidto the youngmanwho was carryinghis armor,"Comeand let us crossoverto the garrisonof theseuncircumcised;perhapsthe LORDwill workfor us, for the LORDis not restrainedto saveby manyorby few."7His armorbearersaidto him, "Doallthat is in your heart;turnyourself, [and] hereI am with you according to your desire."8Then Jonathansaid,"Behold,we will crossoverto the menand revealourselves to them.9"Ifthey sayto us, 'Waituntilwe cometo you'; then we will standin our placeand not goup to them.10"But ifthey say,'Comeup to us,' then we will goup, for the LORDhas giventhem into our hands;and thisshall be the signto us."11When bothof them revealedthemselves to the garrisonof the Philistines,the Philistinessaid,"Behold,Hebrewsare comingout of the holeswherethey have hiddenthemselves."12So the menof the garrisonhailedJonathanand his armorbearerand said,"Comeup to us and we will tellyou something."And Jonathansaidto his armorbearer,"Comeup afterme, for the LORDhas giventhem into the handsof Israel."13Then Jonathanclimbedup on his handsand feet,with his armorbearerbehindhim; and they fellbeforeJonathan,and his armorbearerputsome to deathafterhim.14That firstslaughterwhichJonathanand his armorbearermadewas about twentymenwithin about halfa furrowin an acreof land.15And there was a tremblingin the camp,in the field,and among allthe people.Eventhe garrisonand the raiderstrembled,and the earthquakedso that it becamea greattrembling.
16Now Saul'swatchmenin Gibeahof Benjaminlooked,and behold,the multitudemeltedaway;and they wenthereand [there].17Saulsaidto the peoplewho[were] with him, "Numbernowand seewhohas gonefrom us." And when they had numbered,behold,Jonathanand his armorbearerwere not [there].18Then Saulsaidto Ahijah,"Bringthe arkof Godhere."For the arkof Godwas at that timewith the sonsof Israel.19WhileSaultalkedto the priest,the commotionin the campof the Philistinescontinuedand increased;so Saulsaidto the priest,"Withdrawyour hand."20Then Sauland allthe peoplewho[were] with him ralliedand cameto the battle;and behold,everyman'sswordwas against his fellow,[and there was] verygreatconfusion.21Now the Hebrews[who] were with the Philistinespreviously,whowentup with them allaroundin the camp,eventhey also[turned] to be with the Israeliteswho[were] with Sauland Jonathan.22When allthe menof Israelwho had hiddenthemselves in the hillcountryof Ephraimheardthat the Philistineshad fled,eventhey alsopursuedthem closelyin the battle.23So the LORDdeliveredIsraelthat day,and the battlespreadbeyondBeth-aven.
24Now the menof Israelwere hard-pressedon that day,for Saulhad putthe peopleunderoath,saying,"Cursedbe the manwhoeatsfoodbeforeevening,and untilI have avengedmyself on my enemies."So noneof the peopletastedfood.25All[the people of] the landenteredthe forest,and there was honeyon the ground.26When the peopleenteredthe forest,behold,[there was] a flowof honey;but noman puthis handto his mouth,for the peoplefearedthe oath.27But Jonathanhad not heardwhen his fatherputthe peopleunderoath;therefore, he putout the endof the staffthat [was] in his handand dippedit in the honeycomb,and puthis handto his mouth,and his eyesbrightened.28Then oneof the peoplesaid,"Your fatherstrictlyputthe peopleunderoath,saying,'Cursedbe the manwhoeatsfoodtoday.'"And the peoplewere weary.29Then Jonathansaid,"My fatherhas troubledthe land.Seenow,howmy eyeshave brightenedbecauseI tasteda littleof thishoney.30"Howmuchmore,ifonly the peoplehad eatenfreelytodayof the spoilof their enemieswhichthey found!For nowthe slaughteramong the Philistineshas not been great."
31They struckamong the Philistinesthat dayfrom Michmashto Aijalon.And the peoplewere veryweary.32The peoplerushedgreedilyupon the spoil,and tooksheepand oxenand calves,and slew[them] on the ground;and the peopleate[them] with the blood.33Then they toldSaul,saying,"Behold,the peopleare sinningagainst the LORDby eatingwith the blood."And he said,"You have actedtreacherously;rolla greatstoneto me today."34Saulsaid,"Disperseyourselvesamong the peopleand sayto them, 'Eachoneof you bringme his oxor his sheep,and slaughter[it] hereand eat;and do not sinagainst the LORDby eatingwith the blood.'"So allthe peoplethat nightbroughteachonehis oxwith him and slaughtered[it] there.35And Saulbuiltan altarto the LORD;it was the firstaltarthat he builtto the LORD.
36Then Saulsaid,"Let us godownafterthe Philistinesby nightand takespoilamong them untilthe morninglight,and let us not leavea manof them." And they said,"Dowhateverseems goodto you." So the priestsaid,"Let us drawnearto Godhere."37Saulinquiredof God,"Shall I godownafterthe Philistines?Will You givethem into the handof Israel?"But He did not answerhim on that day.38Saulsaid,"Drawnearhere,allyou chiefsof the people,and investigateand seehowthissinhas happenedtoday.39"For as the LORDlives,who deliversIsrael,thoughit is in Jonathanmy son,he shall surelydie."But not oneof allthe peopleansweredhim.40Then he saidto allIsrael,"You shall be on onesideand I and Jonathanmy sonwill be on the otherside."And the peoplesaidto Saul,"Dowhatseems goodto you."41Therefore, Saulsaidto the LORD,the Godof Israel,"Givea perfect[lot]." And Jonathanand Saulwere taken,but the peopleescaped.42Saulsaid,"Cast[lots] betweenme and Jonathanmy son."And Jonathanwas taken.
43Then Saulsaidto Jonathan,"Tellme whatyou have done."So Jonathantoldhim and said,"I indeedtasteda littlehoneywith the endof the staffthat was in my hand.HereI am, I must die!"44Saulsaid,"May Goddothis[to me] and morealso,for you shall surelydie,Jonathan."45But the peoplesaidto Saul,"Must Jonathandie,whohas broughtaboutthisgreatdeliverancein Israel?Farfrom it! As the LORDlives,not one hairof his headshall fallto the ground,for he has workedwith Godthisday."So the peoplerescuedJonathanand he did not die.46Then Saulwentup from pursuingthe Philistines,and the Philistineswentto their own place.
47Now when Saulhad takenthe kingdomoverIsrael,he foughtagainst allhis enemieson everyside,against Moab,the sonsof Ammon,Edom,the kingsof Zobah,and the Philistines;and whereverhe turned,he inflictedpunishment.48He actedvaliantlyand defeatedthe Amalekites,and deliveredIsraelfrom the handsof those who plunderedthem.
49Now the sonsof Saulwere Jonathanand Ishviand Malchi-shua;and the namesof his twodaughters[were these]: the nameof the firstbornMeraband the nameof the youngerMichal.50The nameof Saul'swifewas Ahinoamthe daughterof Ahimaaz.And the nameof the captainof his armywas Abnerthe sonof Ner,Saul'suncle.51Kish[was] the fatherof Saul,and Nerthe fatherof Abner[was] the sonof Abiel.
52Now the waragainstthe Philistineswas severeallthe daysof Saul;and when Saulsawanymightymanor anyvaliantman,he attachedhim to his staff.
