| NET Bible | New International 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 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. |
| 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 staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred 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. | 3among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. |
| 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. | 4On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. |
| 5The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba. | 5One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward 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 said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by 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!" | 7"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." |
| 8Jonathan replied, "All right! We'll go over to these men and fight them. | 8Jonathan said, "Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. |
| 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, 'Wait there until we come to you,' 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 to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands." |
| 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." | 11So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. "Look!" said the Philistines. "The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." |
| 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 outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson." So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel." |
| 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 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. |
| 14In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre. | 14In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. |
| 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. | 15Then panic struck the whole army--those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties--and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. |
| 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 lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. |
| 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. | 17Then 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. |
| 18So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring near the ephod," for he was at that time wearing the ephod. | 18Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.) |
| 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 talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw 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 his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. |
| 21The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. | 21Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites 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. | 22When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. |
| 23So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven. | 23So on that day the LORD saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond 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. | 24Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food. |
| 25Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground. | 25The entire army 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. | 26When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared 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 bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand 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 soldiers told him, "Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, 'Cursed be anyone who eats food today!' That is why the men are faint." |
| 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 made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when 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 it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?" |
| 31On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired. | 31That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. |
| 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. | 32They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together 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." | 33Then someone said to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that has blood in it." "You have broken faith," he said. "Roll a large stone over here at once." |
| 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 he said, "Go out among the men and tell them, 'Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with blood still in it.'" So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. |
| 35Then Saul built an altar for the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar for the LORD. | 35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this. |
| 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 us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive." "Do whatever seems best to you," they replied. But the priest said, "Let us inquire of 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. | 37So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?" 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 therefore said, "Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed 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. | 39As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die." But not one of them said a word. |
| 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." | 40Saul then said to all the Israelites, "You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here." "Do what seems best to you," they replied. |
| 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 prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. |
| 42Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!" Jonathan was indicated by lot. | 42Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken. |
| 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!" | 43Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!" |
| 44Saul said, "God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn't die!" | 44Saul said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not 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. | 45But the men said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die--he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God's help." So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death. |
| 46Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home. | 46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land. |
| 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. | 47After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. |
| 48He fought bravely, striking down the Amalekites and delivering Israel from the hand of its enemies. | 48He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered 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 were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was 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. | 50His wife's name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul's army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle. |
| 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. | 52All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service. |
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