| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, "Come on, let's go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us." But he did not let his father know. | 1One day Jonathan told his armor bearer, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine garrison which is on the other side," but he did not tell his father. |
| 2Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron, on the outskirts of Gibeah. The army that was with him numbered about six hundred men. | 2Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Geba under the pomegranate tree which was at Migron, and with him were about 600 men. |
| 3Now Ahijah was carrying an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, who was the brother of Ichabod and a son of Phineas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. The army was unaware that Jonathan had left. | 3Along with him were Ahitub's son Ahijah, Ichabod's brother, who was Phineas' son and a grandson of Eli the priest of the LORD at Shiloh, who was carrying the ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone. |
| 4Now 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. | 4Now in the pass through which Jonathan planned to get across to the Philistine garrison, there was a sharp crag on one side and a sharp crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh. |
| 5The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba. | 5One crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba. |
| 6Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the LORD from delivering, whether by many or by a few." | 6Jonathan told his armor bearer, "Come, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. Perhaps the LORD will work for us, since nothing prevents the LORD from delivering, whether by many or by a few." |
| 7His armor bearer said to him, "Do everything that is on your mind. Do as you're inclined. I'm with you all the way!" | 7His armor bearer told him, "Do whatever you want. Let's move out! I'm right here with you, as you wish." |
| 8Jonathan replied, "All right! We'll go over to these men and fight them. | 8Jonathan said, "Look, we're going over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. |
| 9If they say to us, 'Stay put until we approach you,' we will stay right there and not go up to them. | 9If they say to us, 'Stay there until we come to you,' then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. |
| 10But 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." | 10But if they say, 'Come up and fight us,' then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hands, and this will be the sign for us." |
| 11When they made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, "Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves." | 11When the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding." |
| 12Then 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!" Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up behind me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel!" | 12The men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer: "Come up and fight us, and we will show you something." Jonathan then told his armor bearer, "Follow me, for the LORD has given them into Israel's control." |
| 13Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines, while his armor bearer came along behind him and killed them. | 13Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer who was behind him also killed some. |
| 14In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre. | 14In the initial attack, Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area of about half an acre of land. |
| 15Then fear overwhelmed 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. | 15There was terror in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders were terrified. The earth shook, and there was even greater terror. |
| 16Saul's watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin looked on as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another. | 16Saul's sentries in Gibeah of Benjamin watched as the camp was in disarray, going this way and that. |
| 17So 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, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. | 17Saul told the people who were with him, "Do a roll call and see who has left us." They did a roll call, and Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. |
| 18So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring near the ephod," for he was at that time wearing the ephod. | 18Saul told Ahijah, "Bring the Ark of God here." For at that time the Ark of God was with the Israelis. |
| 19While 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!" | 19While Saul was still speaking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp increased more and more, and Saul told the priest, "Remove your hand." |
| 20Saul and all the army that was with him assembled and marched into battle, where they found the Philistines in total panic killing one another with their swords. | 20Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went into battle. Now the swords of all the Philistines were against each other, and there was very great confusion. |
| 21The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. | 21The Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines, who had gone up with them from the surrounding areas to the camp, even they joined Israel and those who were with Saul and Jonathan. |
| 22When 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. | 22All the Israelis who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, and even they pursued the Philistines in the battle. |
| 23So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven. | 23On that day the LORD delivered Israel, and the battle moved past Beth-aven. |
| 24Now the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had made the army agree to this oath: "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening! I will get my vengeance on my enemies!" So no one in the army ate anything. | 24The men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, and Saul required the army to take an oath: "Cursed is the person who eats food before evening and before I've been avenged of my enemies." So no one tasted food. |
| 25Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground. | 25Later on, all the soldiers entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. |
| 26When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath. | 26The people came into the woods and there was flowing honey, but no one put his hand to his mouth to eat it because the people were afraid due to the oath. |
| 27But Jonathan had not heard about the oath his father had made the army take. He extended the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he ate it, his eyes gleamed. | 27But Jonathan had not heard that his father had required the army to swear an oath, so he stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. He brought it back to his mouth and his eyes brightened. |
| 28Then someone from the army informed him, "Your father put the army under a strict oath saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food today!' That is why the army is tired." | 28Then one of the people responded: "Your father strictly ordered the army to take an oath. That's why he said, 'Cursed is the person who eats food today,' and so the army is exhausted." |
| 29Then Jonathan said, "My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed when I tasted just a little of this honey. | 29Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. |
| 30Certainly if the army had eaten some of the enemies' provisions that they came across today, would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?" | 30How much better if the army had eaten freely today of their enemy's spoil that they found, because the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great." |
| 31On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired. | 31That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the army was very weary. |
| 32So the army rushed greedily on the plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all. | 32The army grabbed the spoil, took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground, and then the army ate them with the blood. |
| 33Now it was reported to Saul, "Look, the army is sinning against the LORD by eating even the blood." He said, "All of you have broken the covenant! Roll a large stone over here to me." | 33Someone reported this to Saul: "Right now the army is sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood." He said, "You have acted treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today." |
| 34Then Saul said, "Scatter out among the army and say to them, 'Each of you bring to me your ox and sheep and slaughter them in this spot and eat. But don't sin against the LORD by eating the blood." So that night each one brought his ox and slaughtered it there. | 34Then Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the soldiers and say to them, 'Let each man bring his ox and his sheep to me, and you are to slaughter them here and eat. But don't sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood.'" So every soldier brought his ox with him that night, and they slaughtered them there. |
| 35Then Saul built an altar for the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar for the LORD. | 35Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. |
| 36Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout them until the break of day. We won't leave any of them alive!" They replied, "Do whatever seems best to you." But the priest said, "Let's approach God here." | 36Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until dawn, and let's not leave a single one of them alive." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you!" But the priest said, "Let's draw near to God here." |
| 37So Saul asked God, "Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. | 37Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day. |
| 38Then Saul said, "All you leaders of the army come here. Find out how this sin occurred today. | 38Saul said, "All you army officers are to come here to find out what constitutes this sin today. |
| 39For as surely as the LORD, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!" But no one from the army said anything. | 39Indeed, as the LORD who delivers Israel lives, even if the sin is with my son Jonathan, he will surely die!" Not a single one of the soldiers answered him. |
| 40Then he said to all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." The army replied to Saul, "Do whatever you think is best." | 40Then he told all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." The people told Saul, "Do what seems good to you." |
| 41Then Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O LORD God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim." Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated. | 41Then Saul told the LORD God of Israel, "Judge us properly." Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the army was cleared. |
| 42Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!" Jonathan was indicated by lot. | 42Saul said, "Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan," and Jonathan was selected. |
| 43So Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." Jonathan told him, "I used the end of the staff that was in my hand to taste a little honey. I must die!" | 43Saul told Jonathan, "Tell me what you've done." So Jonathan spoke to him: "I did taste a little honey from the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I'm ready to die!" |
| 44Saul said, "God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn't die!" | 44Saul said, "May God do this to me and even more, if you don't surely die, Jonathan!" |
| 45But the army said to Saul, "Should Jonathan, who won this great victory in Israel, die? May it never be! As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground! For it is with the help of God that he has acted today." So the army rescued Jonathan from death. | 45Then the army told Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who brought about this great deliverance in Israel? As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, because today he did this with God's help." |
| 46Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home. | 46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their territory. |
| 47After Saul had secured his royal position over Israel, he fought against all their enemies on all sides--the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. In every direction that he turned he was victorious. | 47When Saul became king over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere he turned he was victorious. |
| 48He fought bravely, striking down the Amalekites and delivering Israel from the hand of its enemies. | 48He acted valiantly, defeated Amalek, and delivered Israel from those who had been plundering them. |
| 49The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. He had two daughters; the older one was named Merab and the younger Michal. | 49Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. Of his two daughters, the firstborn was named Merab, and the younger one was named Michal. |
| 50The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the general in command of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle. | 50Saul's wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz, while the commander of his army was Saul's uncle Ner's son Abner. |
| 51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. | 51Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel. |
| 52There was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. So whenever Saul saw anyone who was a warrior or a brave individual, he would conscript him. | 52There was intense fighting against the Philistines during Saul's entire reign, and whenever Saul discovered a strong or valiant warrior, he would enlist him for service. |
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