Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines 1 UDB One day, Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, "Come with me; we will go over to where the Philistine soldiers have put up their tents." So they went, but Jonathan did not tell his father what they were going to do. BSB BSB: One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
2 UDB On that day, Saul and the six hundred soldiers who were with him were sitting around a pomegranate tree at a place where the people threshed grain, near Gibeah. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men,
3 UDB Ahijah the priest was also there, one of those who wore the sacred apron. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, who was a brother of Ichabod. Ichabod and Ahitub were the sons of Phinehas son of Eli, who had been Yahweh's priest at Shiloh. Now no one knew that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. BSB BSB: including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.
4 UDB Jonathan planned that he and the young man would go through a narrow pass to get to where the Philistine army was. The cliff on one side of the pass was named Bozez, and the other cliff was named Seneh. BSB BSB: Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.
5 UDB One cliff faced north toward Mikmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward the town of Geba. BSB BSB: One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.
6 UDB Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, "Come with me. We will go to where those pagans have set up their tents. Perhaps Yahweh will help us. It does not matter whether we are only two men or many people; nothing can stop Yahweh from enabling us to defeat them." BSB BSB: Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 UDB The young man who was carrying Jonathan's weapons said, "Do what you think is the best thing for us to do. I will be helping you." BSB BSB: His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 UDB Then Jonathan said, "Very well, come with me. We will cross the valley to where the Philistine army is and allow them to see us. BSB BSB: “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them.
9 UDB If they then say to us, 'You two stay there until we come down to you,' we will stay there and not go up to them. BSB BSB: If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them.
10 UDB But if they say to us, 'Come up here,' that will show us that Yahweh will enable us to defeat them. Then we will go up and fight them." BSB BSB: But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.”
11 UDB When the two of them crossed the valley, the Philistine soldiers saw them coming. They said, "Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes in which they have been hiding!" BSB BSB: So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”
12 UDB Then the Philistine soldiers who were closest to Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons said, "Come up here, and we will teach you something about how to fight!" Jonathan said to the young man who was with him, "Come behind me and climb up, because Yahweh is going to help us to defeat them!" BSB BSB: So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
13 UDB So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and his feet because it was very steep. The young man climbed up following him. As Jonathan climbed, he struck and killed many Philistine soldiers, and the young man who was with him killed many more as he followed behind Jonathan. BSB BSB: So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.
14 UDB In that first battle, the two of them killed about twenty Philistine soldiers in an area that was a half-hectare. BSB BSB: In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre of land.
15 UDB Then all the other Philistine soldiers—the ones in the camp and the ones who had been attacking the Israelite towns and the ones who were out in the field much closer—panicked. Then God caused the ground to shake, and they all became terrified. BSB BSB: Then panic struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God.
16 UDB Saul's lookouts were in the town of Gibeah in the region of the tribe of Benjamin. They saw that the soldiers of the Philistine army were running away in all directions. BSB BSB: Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,
17 UDB Saul realized that some of his soldiers must have attacked the Philistine army. So he said to the soldiers who were with him, "Check to see if any of our men are not here." So they checked and found out that Jonathan and the man who carried his weapons were gone. BSB BSB: Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
18 UDB So Saul said to Ahijah the priest, "Bring the sacred chest here." For the Israelite people had been carrying the sacred chest with them. BSB BSB: Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
19 UDB But while Saul was talking to the priest, he saw that the Philistine soldiers were becoming more panicked. So Saul said to Ahijah, "Do not bring the sacred chest at this time." BSB BSB: While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
20 UDB Then Saul gathered his men and they went toward the battle. They found that the Philistine soldiers were so confused that they were striking each other with their swords. BSB BSB: Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.
21 UDB Before that, some of the Hebrew men had deserted their army and gone to join with the Philistine army. But now those men revolted and joined with Saul and Jonathan and the other Israelite soldiers. BSB BSB: And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 UDB Some of the Israelite soldiers had previously run away and hidden in the mountains where the tribe of Ephraim lived. But when they heard that the Philistine soldiers were running away, they came down and joined the other Israelite soldiers and pursued the Philistine soldiers. BSB BSB: When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit.
23 UDB So Yahweh rescued the Israelites on that day. The Israelite soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond the town of Beth Aven. BSB BSB: So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
Jonathan Eats the Honey 24 UDB Before Saul’s soldiers went to the battle, Saul declared to them solemnly, “I do not want any of you to eat any food before this evening, before we have defeated all of our enemies. If anyone eats anything, Yahweh will curse him.” So none of the Israelite soldiers ate any food, and they became weak because they were very hungry. BSB BSB: Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
25 UDB The Israelite army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey. BSB BSB: Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
26 UDB They were afraid to eat any because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food. BSB BSB: And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.
27 UDB But Jonathan did not hear that his father had bound the people by a solemn promise. Jonathan had left the camp very early in the morning, and when he saw a honeycomb, he dipped the end of his walking stick into it and ate some honey. After he ate the honey, he felt stronger. BSB BSB: Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28 UDB But one of the Israelite soldiers saw him and said to him, "Your father solemnly declared to us that Yahweh would curse anyone who ate any food today. So now we are very tired and weak from being hungry because we obeyed him." BSB BSB: Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”
29 UDB Jonathan exclaimed, "My father had caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed I am after eating a little honey! BSB BSB: “My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 UDB If he had permitted all of us to eat from the food we took from our enemies while we were pursuing them, we would have been able to kill many more of their soldiers!" BSB BSB: How much better it would have been if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been much greater?”
31 UDB The Israelites pursued and killed Philistine soldiers all that day, from Mikmash town west to Aijalon. But they continued to become weaker from being hungry. BSB BSB: That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were very faint.
32 UDB They had taken many sheep and cattle that the Philistine soldiers had abandoned. Now, because they were extremely hungry, they butchered some of those animals and ate the meat without draining the blood from the animals. BSB BSB: So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it.
33 UDB One of the soldiers told Saul, "Look! The men are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat that still has blood in it!" Saul replied to the men who were near him, "They have disobeyed Yahweh! Roll a large stone over here!" BSB BSB: Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”
34 UDB After they did that, he said to those men, "Go and tell all the soldiers that each of them must bring an ox or a sheep to me and kill it here on this stone and drain the blood before he eats any of the meat. They should not sin against Yahweh by eating meat from some animal without draining its blood." So that night all the soldiers brought animals and slaughtered them there. Then Saul built an altar to worship Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.
35 UDB That was the first time that he built an altar for Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.
36 UDB Then Saul said to the Israelite soldiers, "Let us chase the Philistine soldiers tonight. We can attack them all night. We will not allow any of them to escape alive." The Israelite soldiers answered, "We will do whatever you think is the best thing for us to do." But the priest said, "We should ask Yahweh what he thinks we should do." BSB BSB: And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”
The People Save Jonathan 37 UDB So Saul asked God, "Should we chase the Philistine soldiers? Will you enable us to defeat them?" But God did not answer Saul that day. BSB BSB: So Saul 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.
38 UDB Then Saul summoned all the leaders of his army. He said to them, "I am sure that God has not answered me because someone has sinned. We must find out what sin someone has committed. BSB BSB: Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
39 UDB Yahweh has rescued us from the Philistine army. Just as surely as Yahweh is alive, whoever has sinned must be executed. Even if it is my son Jonathan who has sinned, he must be executed." His men knew who was guilty, but none of them said anything to Saul. BSB BSB: As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!” But not one of the troops said a word.
40 UDB Then Saul said to all the Israelite soldiers, "You stand on one side. My son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side." His men replied, "Do whatever you think is best." BSB BSB: Then Saul said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied.
41 UDB Then Saul prayed to Yahweh, the Israelites' God, "Tell me who is guilty and who is not guilty." Then the priest cast lots, and they indicated that it was either Jonathan or Saul who was the guilty one and that the other men were not guilty. BSB BSB: So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.
42 UDB Then Saul said to the priest, "Throw the stones again to indicate which of us two is guilty." So he did, and the stones indicated that Jonathan was the guilty one. BSB BSB: Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.
43 UDB Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done that was wrong." Jonathan replied, "I ate a little bit of honey. It was only a little bit that was on the end of my stick. Do I deserve to be executed because of doing that?" BSB BSB: “Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him. So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”
44 UDB Saul replied, "Yes, you must be executed! I hope that God will strike me and kill me if you are not executed for having done that!" BSB BSB: And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”
45 UDB But the Israelite soldiers said to Saul, "Jonathan has won a great victory for all of us Israelites. Should he be executed for eating some honey? Certainly not! Just as surely as Yahweh lives, we will not allow you to injure him in any manner, because today God helped Jonathan to kill many soldiers of the Philistine army!" So by saying that, the Israelite soldiers rescued Jonathan, and he was not executed. BSB BSB: But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
46 UDB Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistine army, so the Philistine soldiers returned to their homes. BSB BSB: Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.
Saul’s Victories 47 UDB After Saul became the ruler, he fought against enemies on every side. He fought against the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever the Israelite army fought, they defeated their enemies. BSB BSB: After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.
48 UDB Saul's army fought bravely and defeated the very tall descendants of Amalek. His army rescued the Israelites from those who had plundered them. BSB BSB: He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.
49 UDB Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ish-Bosheth, and Malki-Shua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal. BSB BSB: Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter).
50 UDB Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul's army was Abner son of Saul's uncle Ner. BSB BSB: His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
51 UDB Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were both sons of Abiel. BSB BSB: Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 UDB All the time that Saul was alive, his army fought against the Philistine army. And whenever Saul saw a young man who was brave and strong, he forced him to join his army. BSB BSB: And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.
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