1 Samuel 14 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Jonathan’s Victory

1 Now the day ^H3117 came ^H1961 that Jonathan ^H3083, the son ^H1121 of Saul ^H7586, said ^H559 to the young ^H5288 man ^H5288 who was carrying ^H5375 his armor ^H3627, “Come ^H1980, and let’s cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 to the Philistines’ ^H6430 garrison ^H4673 that is on the other ^H1975 side ^H5676.” But he did not tell ^H5046 his father ^H1.

2 Saul ^H7586 was staying ^H3427 on the outskirts ^H7097 of Gibeah ^H1390 under ^H8478 the pomegranate ^H7416 tree ^H7416 that is in Migron ^H4051. And the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him numbered about six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376; 3 and Ahijah ^H281, the son ^H1121 of Ahitub ^H285, Ichabod’s ^H350 brother ^H251, the son ^H1121 of Phinehas ^H6372, the son ^H1121 of Eli ^H5941, the priest ^H3548 of the LORD ^H3068 at Shiloh ^H7887, was [fn]wearing ^H5375 an ephod ^H646. And the people ^H5971 did not know ^H3045 that Jonathan ^H3083 had gone ^H1980. 4 Now between ^H996 the gorges ^H4569 by which ^H834 Jonathan ^H3083 sought ^H1245 to cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 to the Philistines’ ^H6430 garrison ^H4673 there was a rocky ^H5553 crag ^H8127 on the one ^H2088 side ^H5676, and a rocky ^H5553 crag ^H8127 on the other ^H2088 side ^H5676; and the name ^H8034 of the one ^H259 was Bozez ^H949, and the name ^H8034 of the other ^H259, Seneh ^H5573. 5 The one ^H259 crag ^H8127 rose on the north ^H6828 opposite ^H4136 Michmash ^H4363, and the other ^H259 on the south ^H5045 opposite ^H4136 Geba ^H1387.

6 Then Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559 to the young ^H5288 man ^H5288 who was carrying ^H5375 his armor ^H3627, “Come ^H1980, and let’s cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 to the garrison ^H4673 of these ^H428 uncircumcised ^H6189 men; perhaps ^H194 the LORD ^H3068 will work ^H6213 for us, because ^H3588 the LORD ^H3068 is not limited ^H4622 to saving ^H3467 by many ^H7227 or ^H176 by few ^H4592!” 7 His armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375 said ^H559 to him, “Do ^H6213 everything ^H3605 that is in your heart ^H3824; turn ^H5186 yourself to it, and here ^H2009 I am with you, as your heart ^H3824 desires.” 8 Then Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, we are going to cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 to the men ^H376 and reveal ^H1540 ourselves to them. 9 If ^H518 they [fn]say ^H559 to us, ‘Wait ^H1826 until ^H5704 we come ^H5060 to you’; then we will stand ^H5975 in ^H8478 our place ^H8478 and not go ^H5927 up ^H5927 to them. 10 But if ^H518 they [fn]say ^H559, ‘Come ^H5927 up ^H5927 to us,’ then we will go ^H5927 up ^H5927, for the LORD ^H3068 has handed ^H5414 H3027 them over ^H5414 to us; and this ^H2088 shall be the sign ^H226 to us.” 11 When the two ^H8147 of them revealed ^H1540 themselves to the garrison ^H4673 of the Philistines ^H6430, the Philistines ^H6430 said ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, Hebrews ^H5680 are coming ^H3318 out ^H3318 of the holes ^H2356 where ^H834 H8033 they have kept ^H2244 themselves hidden ^H2244.” 12 So the men ^H376 of the garrison ^H4673 responded ^H6030 to Jonathan ^H3083 and his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375 and said ^H559, “Come ^H5927 up ^H5927 to us and we will inform ^H3045 you of something ^H1697.” And Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559 to his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375, “Come ^H5927 up ^H5927 after ^H310 me, for the LORD ^H3068 has handed ^H5414 H3027 them over ^H5414 to Israel ^H3478.” 13 Then Jonathan ^H3083 climbed ^H5927 up ^H5927 on his hands ^H3027 and feet ^H7272, with his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375 behind ^H310 him; and the men fell ^H5307 before ^H6440 Jonathan ^H3083, and his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375 put ^H4191 some to ^H4191 death ^H4191 after ^H310 him. 14 Now that first ^H7223 slaughter ^H4347 which ^H834 Jonathan ^H3083 and his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375 inflicted ^H5221 was about twenty ^H6242 men ^H376 within about half ^H2677 a furrow ^H4618 in an acre ^H6776 of land ^H7704. 15 And there was a trembling ^H2731 in the camp ^H4264, in the field ^H7704, and among all ^H3605 the people ^H5971. Even ^H1571 the garrison ^H4673 and the raiders ^H4889 trembled ^H2729, and the earth ^H776 quaked ^H7264 so that it became ^H1961 a [fn]great ^H430 trembling ^H2731.

16 Now Saul’s ^H7586 watchmen ^H6822 in Gibeah ^H1390 of Benjamin ^H1144 looked ^H7200, and behold ^H2009, the multitude ^H1995 dissolved ^H4127; they went ^H1980 here ^H1988 and there. 17 So Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him, “Look ^H6485 carefully ^H6485 now ^H4994 and see ^H7200 who ^H4310 has left ^H1980 H4480 us.” And when they had looked ^H6485, behold ^H2009, Jonathan ^H3083 and his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375 were not there. 18 Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to Ahijah ^H281, “Bring ^H5066 the ark ^H727 of God ^H430 here ^H5066.” For at that time ^H3117 the ark ^H727 of God ^H430 was with the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478. 19 While ^H5704 Saul ^H7586 talked ^H1696 to the priest ^H3548, the commotion ^H1995 in the camp ^H4264 of the Philistines ^H6430 continued ^H1980 and increased ^H7227; so Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to the priest ^H3548, “Withdraw ^H622 your hand ^H3027.” 20 Then Saul ^H7586 and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him rallied ^H2199 and came ^H935 to the battle ^H4421; and behold ^H2009, every ^H376 man’s sword ^H2719 was against his fellow ^H7453 Philistine, and there was very ^H3966 great ^H1419 confusion ^H4103. 21 Now the Hebrews ^H5680 who were with the Philistines ^H6430 previously ^H865 H8032, who ^H834 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 with them all ^H5439 around ^H5439 in the camp ^H4264, even they also ^H1571 returned to be with the Israelites ^H3478 who ^H834 were with Saul ^H7586 and Jonathan ^H3083. 22 When all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 who had kept ^H2244 themselves hidden ^H2244 in the hill ^H2022 country ^H2022 of Ephraim ^H669 heard ^H8085 that the Philistines ^H6430 had fled ^H5127, they also ^H1571 closely ^H1692 pursued ^H1692 them in the battle ^H4421. 23 So the LORD ^H3068 saved ^H3467 Israel ^H3478 that day ^H3117, and the battle ^H4421 [fn]spread ^H5674 beyond ^H5674 Beth-aven ^H1007.

Saul’s Foolish Order

24 Now the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 were hard-pressed ^H5065 on that day ^H3117, for Saul ^H7586 had put ^H422 the people ^H5971 under ^H422 oath ^H422, saying ^H559, “Cursed ^H779 be the man ^H376 who ^H834 eats ^H398 food ^H3899 [fn]before ^H5704 evening ^H6153, and before I have avenged ^H5358 myself on my enemies ^H340.” So none ^H3808 H3605 of the people ^H5971 tasted ^H2938 food ^H3899.

25 All ^H3605 the people of the land ^H776 entered ^H935 the forest ^H3293, and there was honey ^H1706 on the ground ^H6440 H7704. 26 When the people ^H5971 entered ^H935 the forest ^H3293, behold ^H2009, there was honey ^H1706 dripping ^H1982; but no ^H369 man put ^H5381 his hand ^H3027 to his mouth ^H6310, because ^H3588 the people ^H5971 feared ^H3372 the oath ^H7621. 27 However, Jonathan ^H3083 had not heard ^H8085 it when his father ^H1 put ^H7650 the people ^H5971 under ^H7650 oath ^H7650; so he put ^H7971 out ^H7971 the end ^H7097 of the staff ^H4294 that was in his hand ^H3027 and dipped ^H2881 it in the honeycomb ^H3295 H1706, and put ^H7725 his hand ^H3027 to his mouth ^H6310, and his eyes ^H5869 [fn]brightened ^H215. 28 Then one ^H376 of the people ^H5971 responded ^H6030 and said ^H559, “Your father ^H1 strictly ^H7650 put ^H7650 the people ^H5971 under ^H7650 oath ^H7650, saying ^H559, ‘Cursed ^H779 be the man ^H376 who ^H834 eats ^H398 food ^H3899 today ^H3117.’” And the people ^H5971 were weary ^H5888. 29 Then Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559, “My father ^H1 has troubled ^H5916 the land ^H776. See ^H7200 now ^H4994 that my eyes ^H5869 have brightened ^H215 because ^H3588 I tasted ^H2938 a little ^H4592 of this ^H2088 honey ^H1706. 30 How ^H637 much ^H637 H3588 more ^H637 H3588, if ^H3863 only the people ^H5971 had freely ^H398 eaten ^H398 today ^H3117 of the spoils ^H7998 of their enemies ^H340 which ^H834 they found ^H4672! For now ^H6258 the defeat ^H4347 among the Philistines ^H6430 has not been ^H7235 great ^H7235.”

31 They attacked ^H5221 the Philistines ^H6430 that day ^H3117 from Michmash ^H4363 to Aijalon ^H357. But the people ^H5971 were very ^H3966 tired ^H5888. 32 So the people ^H5971 loudly ^H5860 rushed ^H5860 upon the spoils ^H7998, and took ^H3947 sheep ^H6629, oxen ^H1241, and calves ^H1121 H1241, and slaughtered ^H7819 them on the ground ^H776; and the people ^H5971 ate ^H398 them with the blood ^H1818. 33 Then observers informed ^H5046 Saul ^H7586, saying ^H559, “Look ^H2009, the people ^H5971 are sinning ^H2398 against the LORD ^H3068 by eating ^H398 meat with the blood ^H1818.” And he said ^H559, “You have acted ^H898 treacherously ^H898; roll ^H1556 a large ^H1419 rock ^H68 to me today ^H3117.” 34 Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559, “Disperse ^H6327 yourselves ^H6327 among the people ^H5971 and say ^H559 to them, ‘Each ^H376 one ^H376 of you bring ^H5066 me his ox ^H7794 or his sheep ^H7716, and slaughter ^H7819 it here ^H2088 and eat ^H398; and do not sin ^H2398 against the LORD ^H3068 by eating ^H398 it with the blood ^H1818.’” So all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 brought ^H5066 them that night ^H3915, each ^H376 one ^H376 his ox ^H7794 [fn]with him, and they slaughtered ^H7819 them there ^H8033. 35 And Saul ^H7586 built ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 to the LORD ^H3068; it was ^H2490 the first ^H2490 altar ^H4196 that he built ^H1129 to the LORD ^H3068.

36 Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559, “Let’s go ^H3381 down ^H3381 after ^H310 the Philistines ^H6430 by night ^H3915 and take ^H962 plunder ^H962 among them until ^H5704 the morning ^H1242 light ^H216, and let’s not leave ^H7604 a man ^H376 among them alive ^H7604.” And they said ^H559, “Do ^H6213 whatever ^H3605 seems good ^H2896 [fn]to you.” So the priest ^H3548 said ^H559, “Let’s approach ^H7126 God ^H430 here ^H1988.” 37 So Saul ^H7586 inquired ^H7592 of God ^H430: “Shall I go ^H3381 down ^H3381 after ^H310 the Philistines ^H6430? Will You hand ^H5414 H3027 them over ^H5414 to Israel ^H3478?” But He did not answer ^H6030 him on that day ^H3117. 38 Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559, “[fn]Come ^H5066 here ^H1988, all ^H3605 you [fn]leaders ^H6438 of the people ^H5971, and investigate ^H3045 and see ^H7200 how ^H4100 this ^H2088 sin ^H2403 has happened ^H1961 today ^H3117. 39 For as the LORD ^H3068 lives ^H2416, who saves ^H3467 Israel ^H3478, even ^H3588 if ^H518 it is in my son ^H1121 Jonathan ^H3083, he shall assuredly ^H3588 H4191 die ^H4191!” But not one ^H369 of all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 answered ^H6030 him. 40 Then he said ^H559 to all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478, “You shall be on one ^H259 side ^H5676, and I and my son ^H1121 Jonathan ^H3083 will be on the other ^H259 side ^H5676.” And the people ^H5971 said ^H559 to Saul ^H7586, “Do ^H6213 what ^H2896 seems good ^H2896 [fn]to you.” 41 Therefore, Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to the LORD ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, “Give ^H3051 a [fn]perfect ^H8549 lot.” And Jonathan ^H3083 and Saul ^H7586 were selected ^H3920 by ^H3920 lot ^H3920, but the people ^H5971 [fn]were exonerated ^H3318. 42 Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559, “Cast ^H5307 lots between ^H996 me and my son ^H1121 Jonathan ^H3083.” And Jonathan ^H3083 was selected ^H3920 by ^H3920 lot ^H3920.

43 So Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to Jonathan ^H3083, “Tell ^H5046 me what ^H4100 you have done ^H6213.” And Jonathan ^H3083 told ^H5046 him, and said ^H559, “I did indeed ^H2938 taste ^H2938 a little ^H4592 honey ^H1706 with the end ^H7097 of the staff ^H4294 that was in my hand ^H3027. Here ^H2009 I am, I must die ^H4191!” 44 And Saul ^H7586 said ^H559, “May God ^H430 do ^H6213 the same ^H3541 to me and more ^H3254 also ^H3541, for you shall certainly ^H4191 die ^H4191, Jonathan ^H3083!” 45 But the people ^H5971 said ^H559 to Saul ^H7586, “Must Jonathan ^H3083 die ^H4191, he who ^H834 has [fn]brought ^H6213 about ^H6213 this ^H2088 great ^H1419 [fn]victory ^H3444 in Israel ^H3478? Far ^H2486 from it! As the LORD ^H3068 lives ^H2416, not even a hair ^H8185 of his head ^H7218 shall fall ^H5307 to the ground ^H776, because ^H3588 he has worked ^H6213 with God ^H430 this ^H2088 day ^H3117.” So the people ^H5971 [fn]rescued ^H6299 Jonathan ^H3083 and he did not die ^H4191. 46 Then Saul ^H7586 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 from [fn]pursuing ^H310 the Philistines ^H6430, and the Philistines ^H6430 went ^H1980 to their own place ^H4725.

Constant Warfare

47 Now when Saul ^H7586 had taken ^H3920 control ^H3920 of the kingdom ^H4410 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478, he fought ^H3898 against all ^H3605 his enemies ^H340 on every ^H5439 side ^H5439, against Moab ^H4124, the sons ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983, Edom ^H123, the kings ^H4428 of Zobah ^H6678, and the Philistines ^H6430; and wherever ^H3605 H834 he turned ^H6437, he [fn]inflicted ^H7561 punishment ^H7561.

48 And he acted ^H6213 valiantly ^H2428 and [fn]defeated ^H5221 the Amalekites ^H6002, and saved ^H5337 Israel ^H3478 from the hands ^H3027 of [fn]those who plundered ^H8154 them.

49 Now the sons ^H1121 of Saul ^H7586 were Jonathan ^H3083, Ishvi ^H3440, and Malchi-shua ^H4444; and the names ^H8034 of his two ^H8147 daughters ^H1323 were these: the name ^H8034 of the firstborn ^H1067 was Merab ^H4764, and the name ^H8034 of the younger ^H6996, Michal ^H4324. 50 And the name ^H8034 of Saul’s ^H7586 wife ^H802 was Ahinoam ^H293 the daughter ^H1323 of Ahimaaz ^H290. And the name ^H8034 of the commander ^H8269 of his army ^H6635 was Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner ^H5369, Saul’s ^H7586 uncle ^H1730. 51 Kish ^H7027 was the father ^H1 of Saul ^H7586, and Ner ^H5369 the father ^H1 of Abner ^H74 was the son ^H1121 of Abiel ^H22.

52 Now the war ^H4421 against ^H5921 the Philistines ^H6430 was severe ^H2389 all ^H3605 the days ^H3117 of Saul ^H7586; and when Saul ^H7586 saw ^H7200 any ^H3605 warrior ^H1368 H376 or any ^H3605 valiant ^H2428 man ^H1121, he [fn]attached ^H622 him to his staff.