Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines 1 UST One day, Saul’ s son Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons,“I want to attack the Philistine soldiers who are staying on the other side of the valley from us, and I want you to help me do that.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he wanted 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 UST Saul was staying in the outskirts of the city of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree in the neighborhood of Migron. He had about 600 soldiers with him. 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 UST Ahijah the priest was also there, wearing a sacred apron. Ahijah’ s father Ahitub was the older brother of Ichabod. Ahijah’ s grandfather was Phinehas, and his great- grandfather was Eli. Eli had been Yahweh’ s priest at Shiloh. None of the soldiers 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 UST Jonathan recognized a route that he and the young man could follow to cross through the valley that was between them and the Philistine army. But they would have to climb over a huge rock when they first went into the valley, and they would have to climb over another huge rock as they came out of it. People called one of the rocks Bozez, and they called the other rock 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 UST Bozez would be at the north end of their route, as they approached Michmash, and Seneh would be at the south end of their route, as they were leaving Geba. BSB BSB: One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.
6 UST 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 to him that there are only two of us, rather than many soldiers. Yahweh can still enable 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 UST The young man who was carrying Jonathan’ s weapons said,“Go ahead and do what you are planning. Go across the valley, and I will come with you and help you do what you want to do.” BSB BSB: His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 UST Then Jonathan said,“Very well then, come with me. As we are crossing the valley to where the Philistine army is, we will allow their soldiers to see us. BSB BSB: “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them.
9 UST If they{ see us and} call out to us,‘You two stay there until we come down to you,’ we will stay where we are and not try to climb up and fight 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 UST But if they{ see us and} call out to us,‘Come up here,’ that will show us that Yahweh is going to enable us to defeat them. In that case, we will climb 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 UST While the two of them were crossing the valley, the Philistine soldiers noticed them coming. They said to each other,“Look! Some Hebrews are crawling out of the holes in which they were 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 UST Then some Philistine soldiers called out to Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons,“Come up here, and we will show you how real soldiers fight!” Jonathan said to the young man who was with him,“{ Because they said that,} now we know that Yahweh is going to help us to defeat them! So let us climb up and fight them. I will go first.” 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 UST So Jonathan climbed up out of the valley to the Philistine camp. He had to use both his hands and his feet because the ground was so steep. The young man climbed up after him. When Jonathan got to the top, he fought all the Philistine soldiers who approached him, and he killed them. The young man followed Jonathan into the camp of the Philistines, and he also fought and killed their soldiers. 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 UST In this initial attack, the two of them killed about 20 soldiers as they advanced about 30 meters into the Philistine camp. BSB BSB: In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre of land.
15 UST This made the other Philistine soldiers in that camp panic.{ When they ran back to the main camp at Michmash and described what happened}, the soldiers in the main camp also panicked.{ When those soldiers told} soldiers in other camps and the groups of soldiers who were making raids, they also panicked. Then God caused the ground to shake, and all of them became even more afraid. 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 UST Saul’ s soldiers in the city of Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin included lookouts.{ When they heard the noise in the Philistine camp,} they looked to see what was happening. They saw that the Philistine army was dispersing and that its soldiers 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 UST { Saul realized that some of his soldiers must have attacked the Philistine army.} So he told his officers,“Check to see which of our soldiers are not here.” So they checked, and they found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons were not there. 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 UST Now the Israelite army had the sacred chest with it at that time. So Saul told Ahijah the priest,“Bring the sacred chest here{ so that I can use it to consult Yahweh}.” BSB BSB: Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
19 UST But while Saul was still talking to Ahijah, the noise coming from the Philistine camp kept getting louder. So Saul told him,“Stop what you are doing.” 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 UST Then Saul gathered his whole army and they went to fight the Philistines. They found that the Philistine army had become so disorganized that its soldiers were killing 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 UST Some of the Hebrew soldiers had earlier deserted their army and joined the Philistine army. They were in different areas throughout the Philistine camp. But now those men helped Saul and Jonathan and the other Israelite soldiers fight against the Philistines. 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 UST Some other Israelite soldiers had also deserted and hidden in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim lived. But when they heard that the Philistine soldiers were running away, they came and joined the other Israelite soldiers and also chased 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 UST So Yahweh rescued the Israelites on that day. The Israelite soldiers chased the Philistines all the way to the city of Beth Aven and beyond it. BSB BSB: So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
Jonathan Eats the Honey 24 UST But{ the Israelites did not win as great a victory as they could have, because} the Israelite soldiers became weak{ from hunger} that day. That was because Saul had made the soldiers swear something. He had made them all say,“May Yahweh make bad things happen to any of us who eats any food before this evening, before we get revenge on our enemies!” So none of the Israelite soldiers ate any food{, and this made them weak}. 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 UST { As} the Israelite troops{ kept pursuing the Philistines, they} went into a forest where bees had made honeycombs in the trees. Honey from those combs was flowing onto the ground. BSB BSB: Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
26 UST When the Israelite troops came into that forest, they saw the honey flowing. But because they were afraid of the curse that Saul had shouted out, none of them ate any of the honey. 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 UST But{ because he had left the camp early that morning,} Jonathan did not know that his father had made the soldiers swear that they would not eat any food before evening. So when he saw a honeycomb in a tree, he reached out with the end of the spear he was holding and collected some honey. He ate that honey, and it was evident from his appearance that afterward 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 UST But one of the Israelite soldiers saw him eating the honey and said to him,“Your father made all the soldiers swear not to eat any food today. So{ none of us has eaten anything, and as a result} we soldiers are weak.” 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 UST Jonathan exclaimed,“My father has made things more difficult for the soldiers in our army! You can tell from my appearance that I feel stronger after eating some of this 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 UST If only he had allowed us today to eat some of the food that we captured from our enemies while we were pursuing them! Then we would have{ felt stronger and} been able to kill many more of those Philistine 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 UST The Israelite soldiers pursued and killed Philistine soldiers all that day, from their camp near Michmash all the way west to the city of Aijalon. But the Israelite soldiers became very weak{ because they had not eaten anything}. BSB BSB: That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were very faint.
32 UST The Israelites had captured many sheep and cattle, including their calves, that the Philistine soldiers had abandoned.{ Because they were extremely hungry,} they acted like wild birds gobbling up the carcass of an animal. They butchered some of those animals right on the ground, and they ate the meat without first 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 UST One of the soldiers told Saul,“Look! The soldiers are eating meat that still has blood in it. Yahweh told us not to do that, so they are sinning!” Saul told all the soldiers,“You are breaking a law that Yahweh gave us when he made his agreement with us! Roll a large stone over here right now!” 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 UST { Some soldiers rolled over a large stone, and then} Saul told his officers,“Go around and tell all of our soldiers that each of them must bring any ox or sheep that they wish to eat here where I am. Each one must slaughter it on this large stone{ and drain the blood. Then} he can eat the meat. They must not sin against Yahweh by eating meat from an animal without draining its blood.” So that evening each of the soldiers led the animals they wanted to eat over to the great stone, and there they slaughtered them{ and drained the blood before eating them}. 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 UST Then Saul built an altar that he dedicated to Yahweh{ as a monument to commemorate this victory over the Philistines}. That was the first time he built something as 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 UST Then Saul said to the Israelite soldiers,“We should chase the Philistine soldiers tonight. We can attack them all night long. 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 Ahijah the priest said,“We should ask God what he wants us to.” 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 UST So{ with Ahijah’ s help,} Saul asked God,“Should we keep chasing the Philistine soldiers? Will you enable us Israelites to defeat them?” But God did not answer Saul when he asked this. 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 UST Then Saul summoned all the leaders of his army. He said to them,“{ Since God has not answered me,} we must carefully investigate how someone committed a sin today. BSB BSB: Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
39 UST I swear by Yahweh, who has just rescued us Israelites, that we will certainly execute whoever has sinned. Even if it is my son Jonathan who has sinned, we will execute him.”{ 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 UST Then Saul told all the Israelite soldiers,“{ Since no one is saying who has sinned,} all of you stand over there, and my son Jonathan and I will stand over here{ and we will cast a lot to find out}.” The soldiers told Saul,“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 UST Then Saul prayed to Yahweh as the God whom the Israelites worshiped,“Please use this lot to show who has sinned.” Then the priest threw a lot, and it indicated that either Jonathan or Saul had sinned, not one of the other Israelite soldiers. 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 UST Then Saul told the priest,“Throw the lot again to indicate which of us has sinned.” So he did, and the lot indicated that Jonathan had sinned. BSB BSB: Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.
43 UST Then Saul said to Jonathan,“Tell me how you sinned.” Jonathan replied,“I ate some honey. It was only a little bit that was on the end of the spear that I was holding. If you feel that you must execute me for doing that, then go ahead.” 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 UST Saul replied,“Yes, I must certainly execute you, Jonathan! I ask God to kill me and do further bad things to me{ if I do not execute you for committing this sin}!” BSB BSB: And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”
45 UST But the Israelite soldiers said to Saul,“Jonathan has led all us Israelites to this great victory! So you must not execute him! That would be very wrong! Since Jonathan led us to this great victory by depending on God’ s help, we swear by Yahweh that we will not allow you to harm him in any way.” By saying that, the Israelite soldiers persuaded Saul not to execute Jonathan. 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 UST Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistine army{, and he returned to his home in the city of Gibeah}. The Philistine soldiers returned to their land. BSB BSB: Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.
Saul’s Victories 47 UST After Saul became the king of Israel, he fought against its enemies on every side. He fought against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever the Israelite army fought, they badly 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 UST Saul’ s army fought bravely and defeated the very tall descendants of Amalek. His army rescued the Israelites from those who had been stealing their crops and animals. BSB BSB: He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.
49 UST { When he became king,} Saul had three sons. Their names were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi- Shua. Saul also had two daughters. Their names were Merab and Michal. Merab was the older sister, and Michal was the younger sister. 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 UST The name of Saul’ s wife was Ahinoam. She was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’ s army was Abner. He was the 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 UST Saul’ s father Kish and Abner’ s father Ner were both sons of a man whose name was Abiel. BSB BSB: Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 UST For the whole time that Saul was alive, his army had to fight hard against the Philistine army. So whenever Saul saw a skillful soldier or a strong man, 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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