1 Samuel 14

One day Jonathan, Saul's son, said to the young man who carried his weapons, "Come on, let's cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

1Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

NoteThe Philistines were a people settled in five cities on the coastal plain southwest of Israel; through this period they dominated the hill country and controlled the working of iron. A "garrison" or outpost was a small forward post of soldiers holding a strategic point, here, one side of a steep pass.

2Saul was staying at the far edge of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree at Migron. The troops with him numbered about six hundred men.

2And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

NoteGibeah was Saul's home town and his base as king. The six hundred men are what is left of his army: chapter 13 describes most of his troops slipping away in fear. Migron's location is unknown; the pomegranate tree is named as a landmark, the way a place might be called "the big oak."

3Ahiah was with him, wearing an ephod. Ahiah was the son of Ahitub, who was the brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the LORD's priest at Shiloh. The troops did not know Jonathan had gone.

3And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

NoteAn ephod was a priestly garment. In passages like this one it goes with the priest's role in getting answers from God, since the sacred lots (see verse 41) were carried in it. Ahiah's family line is traced back to Eli, the priest at Shiloh, where Israel's tent-shrine and the ark stood until the Philistines captured the ark a generation earlier. Ichabod was Ahiah's uncle, born as that disaster broke; his name means roughly "no glory" or "the glory has gone."

4On each side of the narrow pass Jonathan meant to cross to reach the Philistine outpost stood a steep cliff. One was named Bozez, and the other Seneh.

4And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

NoteThe pass is the deep ravine between Michmash and Geba, with cliffs on either side. Bozez and Seneh are the local names of the two crags; their meanings are uncertain, possibly "shining" and "thorny."

5One cliff stood on the north side, facing Michmash, and the other on the south side, facing Geba.

5The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

NoteGeba is a town distinct from Saul's Gibeah, and the King James prints Gibeah here. The two names are easily confused and old copies vary between them.

6Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, "Come on, let's cross over to the outpost of these men who are not circumcised. Maybe the LORD will act for us. Nothing can stop the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

NoteCircumcision marked Israelite men; the Philistines did not practice it, and "the uncircumcised" was a contemptuous nickname for them, roughly "these outsiders."

7His armor-bearer answered, "Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead. I am with you completely."

7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

8Then Jonathan said, "Here is the plan. We will cross over to those men and let them see us.

8Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

9If they say, 'Wait there until we come to you,' then we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

9If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10But if they say, 'Come on up to us,' then we will go up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has handed them over to us."

10But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

NoteAgreeing in advance that a particular event will count as an answer was a recognized way of putting a decision to God. Jonathan lets the Philistines' own words decide whether he attacks.

11So the two of them let the Philistine outpost see them. The Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are crawling out of the holes where they were hiding."

11And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

NoteChapter 13 describes Israelites hiding from Philistine raiding parties in caves, thickets and pits. The taunt assumes these two men are frightened stragglers creeping out of hiding.

12The men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up here to us, and we will teach you something." Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up behind me, for the LORD has handed them over to Israel."

12And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

Note"We will show you a thing" is a taunt, we'll teach you a lesson. It is also a challenge to climb the cliff, which is exactly what Jonathan wanted to hear.

13So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer came behind him and finished them off.

13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

14In that first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men, in a space of about half an acre, the size a pair of oxen could plow.

14And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

NoteThe Hebrew measure is obscure: literally something like "half a furrow of a yoke of field," that is, the strip of ground a pair of oxen would plow. It describes a small patch of fighting ground rather than an exact area.

15Then fear spread through the Philistine army in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The men at the outposts and the raiding parties shook with fear too, and the ground shook. It was a terror sent by God.

15And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

NoteThe Hebrew says "a trembling of God." That can mean a panic sent by God, or simply an enormous panic, since "of God" was also used as an intensifier. The wording leaves both open.

16Saul's lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin watched, and they saw the Philistine crowd breaking up and scattering in every direction.

16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

17Then Saul said to the troops with him, "Count the men and find out who has left us." When they counted, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing.

17Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

18Saul said to Ahiah, "Bring the ark of God here." At that time the ark of God was with the Israelites.

18And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

NoteThe ark was the gilded chest holding the tablets of the covenant, treated as the sign of God's presence and sometimes carried out with the army. The ancient Greek translation reads "ephod" here instead of "ark", the priestly item used for consulting God, which fits Saul's words to the priest in the next verse.

19While Saul was still speaking to the priest, the uproar in the Philistine camp kept growing louder. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

19And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

Note"Withdraw your hand" means stop the consultation. The priest was in the middle of the procedure for seeking an answer from God; Saul breaks it off to attack at once.

20Then Saul and all the troops with him gathered and went into the battle. They found the Philistines striking one another with their swords, in complete confusion.

20And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

21The Hebrews who had been on the Philistine side before this, and had gone up with them into the camp from the country around, now changed sides and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

21Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

Note"Hebrew" is the term outsiders use for Israelites in these chapters. These men were Israelites who had been serving with the Philistine forces, whether as hired soldiers or as subjects of Philistine control, and who now switch sides.

22In the same way, all the men of Israel who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were running away, and they too joined the chase in the battle.

22Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the fighting moved on past Bethaven.

23So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

NoteBethaven was a place near Bethel, in the hills west of Michmash; the fighting is being driven back down the ridge away from Saul's territory.

24The men of Israel were worn down that day, because Saul had put the troops under an oath: "Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have paid back my enemies." So none of the troops ate anything.

24And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

NoteAn oath of this kind was a formal curse laid on the whole army: whoever broke it called destruction down on himself. Going without food was a recognized way of setting troops apart for a battle understood as sacred, but here it costs the men the strength to pursue.

25All the troops came into a wooded area, and there was honey on the ground.

25And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

NoteWild bees nested in rock crevices and hollow trees; honeycomb could break loose and drip on the ground, free for the taking.

26When the people entered the woods, they saw the honey running out, but no one lifted a hand to his mouth, because they were afraid of the oath.

26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27But Jonathan had not heard his father put the troops under the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth. His eyes brightened.

27But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

Note"His eyes brightened" is a Hebrew way of saying his strength came back. Exhaustion was described as the eyes growing dim.

28Then one of the soldiers spoke up: "Your father made the troops swear a strict oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats any food today.' That is why the men are worn out."

28Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.

29Jonathan said, "My father has brought trouble on the land. Look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

29Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30How much better it would have been if the troops had eaten freely today from the goods they took from their enemies. Wouldn't the Philistine losses have been far greater?"

30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

31That day the Israelites struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the troops were completely worn out.

31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

NoteAijalon lies roughly fifteen to twenty miles west of Michmash, down out of the hills toward the plain, a long day's running fight.

32So the people rushed at the goods they had taken. They grabbed sheep, cattle, and calves, killed them on the ground, and ate the meat with the blood still in it.

32And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

NoteIsraelite law forbade eating meat with the blood still in it: the blood was held to be the life of the animal and belonged to God, so it had to be drained out at slaughter. Killing animals on the bare ground in haste left the blood in the meat.

33Someone told Saul, "Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it." Saul said, "You have broken faith. Roll a large stone over here to me right now."

33Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

NoteThe stone gives a raised surface to butcher on, so the blood runs off and drains away instead of collecting under the carcass, a way of making a hasty field slaughter meet the requirement.

34Saul said, "Spread out among the troops and tell them, 'Every man bring me his ox or his sheep, kill it here, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.'" So that night every man brought his ox and killed it there.

34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. It was the first altar he had built to the LORD.

35And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

36Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines tonight and take their goods until morning, and let's not leave one of them alive." The troops answered, "Do whatever you think is best." But the priest said, "Let's come to God here first."

36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.

NoteThe priest is proposing that they put the question to God before marching, through the formal procedure of inquiry rather than acting on Saul's word alone.

37So Saul asked God, "Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?" But God gave him no answer that day.

37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

NoteInquiry of this kind was a yes-or-no question put through the priest, most likely answered by the sacred lots. No answer at all was itself read as a signal that something was wrong.

38So Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the troops. Let's find out what sin has been committed today.

38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

39As surely as the LORD lives, the one who saves Israel, even if it is my own son Jonathan, he must die." But not one of the men said a word.

39For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

Note"As the LORD lives" was the strongest form of oath, staking the speaker's own standing on carrying out what he swears.

40Then Saul said to all Israel, "You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side." The troops answered Saul, "Do whatever you think is best."

40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

41So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Give a clear answer." Saul and Jonathan were picked out, and the troops were cleared.

41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

NoteThe Hebrew text here is very short, literally something like "give a flawless answer." The ancient Greek and Latin versions preserve a longer sentence: "If this guilt is in me or in my son Jonathan, give Urim; if it is in your people Israel, give Thummim." Urim and Thummim were the two sacred lots carried by the priest, used to get one of two answers to a question. The rendering follows the short Hebrew.

42Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was picked out.

42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

NoteCasting lots meant drawing or throwing marked objects to settle a question; the result was taken as God's answer, not chance.

43Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." Jonathan told him, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff in my hand. And now I must die."

43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.

44Saul answered, "May God punish me terribly if you do not die, Jonathan."

44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

NoteLiterally "God do so to me, and more also", a set formula in which the speaker calls down punishment on himself if he fails to do what he has just sworn.

45But the troops said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die, the man who won this great victory for Israel? Never. As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God's help." So the troops rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

Note"Not one hair of his head will fall" is an idiom for complete safety. The word translated "rescued" is one normally used for buying someone back or paying a ransom; the text does not say whether anything was actually given in Jonathan's place.

46Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their own land.

46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

47So Saul took firm hold of the kingship over Israel and fought his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he beat them.

47So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

NoteMoab, Ammon and Edom were neighboring kingdoms east and southeast of the Jordan; Zobah was an Aramean kingdom well to the north. The list sketches fighting on every frontier at once.

48He gathered an army and defeated the Amalekites, and he rescued Israel from the raiders who had been robbing them.

48And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

NoteThe Amalekites were nomadic raiders of the southern desert margins, remembered as long-standing enemies who attacked Israel on the way out of Egypt.

49Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua. His two daughters were Merab, the older one, and Michal, the younger.

49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

NoteOther lists of Saul's sons give different names (Abinadab, and Ishbosheth or Esh-baal) and ancient copies vary. Men of this period often bore more than one name form.

50Saul's wife was named Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was Abner, son of Ner, who was Saul's uncle.

50And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

NoteThe Hebrew leaves it open whether "Saul's uncle" describes Abner or his father Ner. The next verse, making Kish and Ner both sons of Abiel, points to Ner as the uncle and Abner as Saul's cousin.

51Kish was Saul's father, and Ner, Abner's father, was the son of Abiel.

51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52The fighting against the Philistines was fierce for as long as Saul lived. Whenever Saul saw a strong or brave man, he took him into his own service.

52And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

NoteSaul is building a permanent royal force, drafting promising fighters into his own service rather than calling up farmers only when war came, a new thing in Israel.