1 Samuel

Now 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.

1One day Jonathan, King Saul's son, spoke to the young man who carried his weapons. "Come. Let's cross over to the Philistine camp on the other side." But Jonathan did not tell his father.

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;

2Saul was staying at the far edge of Gibeah, under a pomegranate tree in Migron. About six hundred men were with him.

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.

3Ahiah was there too. He was a priest, a man who served God for the people, and he wore an ephod. He came from the family of Eli, the priest at Shiloh. The men did not know that Jonathan had left.

NoteAn ephod was a special piece of clothing worn by a priest when he served God.

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.

4Jonathan had to pass between two tall, sharp rocks to reach the Philistine camp. One rock was called Bozez. The other was called Seneh.

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

5One rock stood on the north side, facing Michmash. The other stood on the south side, facing Gibeah.

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.

6Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, "Come. Let's cross over to the camp of these men who do not belong to God's people. Maybe the LORD will help us. Nothing can stop the LORD from saving. He does not need a big army."

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

7The young man said, "Do whatever you think is right. Go ahead. I am with you all the way."

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

8Jonathan said, "Here is what we will do. We will cross over and let those men see us.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

12The soldiers called out to Jonathan and his helper, "Come up here, and we will teach you a lesson!" Jonathan said to his helper, "Follow me up. The LORD has handed them over to Israel."

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.

13Jonathan climbed up using his hands and his feet, and his helper came after him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his helper struck them down behind him.

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.

14In that first fight, Jonathan and his helper killed about twenty men. It happened in a small space, about half an acre.

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.

15Fear spread through the whole Philistine army, in the camp and in the fields. Even the soldiers on guard and the raiding parties shook with fear. The ground shook too. It was a very great fear.

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

16Saul's watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked out. They saw the Philistine crowd breaking apart and running every way.

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.

17Saul said to his men, "Count everyone. Find out who is missing." They counted, and Jonathan and his helper were gone.

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.

18Saul said to Ahiah, "Bring the ark of God here." The ark was a holy chest, and at that time it was with the people of Israel.

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.

19While Saul was still talking to the priest, the noise in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul told the priest, "Never mind. Stop."

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.

20Saul and all his men gathered and went to the battle. They found the Philistines fighting each other with their own swords. Everything was in a mess.

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.

21Some Hebrew men had been on the Philistine side before this. Now they changed sides and joined Saul and Jonathan.

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.

22Other men of Israel had been hiding in the hills of Ephraim. When they heard the Philistines were running away, they joined the chase.

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

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

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.

24The men of Israel had a hard day. Saul had made them promise, "Anyone who eats before evening will be under a curse. First I must pay back my enemies." So no one ate anything.

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

25All the men came into a forest. There was honey on the ground.

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.

26When they walked in, they saw the honey dripping. But no one put a hand to his mouth. They were afraid of the promise they had made.

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.

27Jonathan had not heard his father give that order. So he reached out the stick in his hand and dipped it in the honey. He ate some, and he felt strong again.

NoteThe KJV says "his eyes were enlightened." That means his strength came back and he felt awake again, not that he could suddenly see.

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.

28One of the soldiers told him, "Your father made everyone promise not to eat today. Anyone who eats is under a curse. That is why the men are so weak."

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.

29Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the whole land. Look how much better I feel after just a little honey.

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?

30Think how much better it would be if the men had eaten food taken from the enemy today. We would have beaten the Philistines even worse."

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

31That day Israel fought the Philistines all the way from Michmash to Aijalon. By then the men were very weak.

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.

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

NoteGod's law told Israel to drain the blood out of an animal before eating it. Eating meat with the blood still in it broke that rule.

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.

33Someone told Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD. They are eating meat with the blood in it." Saul said, "You have done wrong. Roll a big stone over here right now."

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.

34Saul said, "Go tell everyone to bring me his ox or his sheep. Kill it here, then eat it. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood in it." That night every man brought his animal and killed it there.

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

35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD, a stone place for giving gifts to God. This was the first altar he ever built.

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.

36Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines tonight. We will take their things until morning and leave none of them alive." The men said, "Do whatever you think is best." But the priest said, "Let's ask God first."

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.

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

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

38Saul said, "All you leaders, come here. Let's find out what sin was done today.

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.

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

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.

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

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

41Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Show us the true answer." The lot pointed to Saul and Jonathan, and the other men were shown to be clear.

NoteTo "cast lots" was to use marked stones or sticks to get a yes or no answer. Israel used this way to ask God questions.

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

42Saul said, "Now choose between me and my son Jonathan." The lot pointed to Jonathan.

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.

43Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you did." Jonathan said, "I only tasted a little honey off the end of my stick. And now I must die?"

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

44Saul said, "May God punish me if I do not keep my word. You must die, Jonathan."

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.

45But the men said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die? He is the one who saved Israel today. No! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall. God helped him do this." So the men saved Jonathan, and he did not die.

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

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

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.

47Saul now ruled as king over Israel. He fought his enemies on every side. He fought Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere he went, he beat them.

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

48He gathered an army and beat the Amalekites. He saved Israel from the people who had been robbing them.

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:

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

52There was hard fighting against the Philistines all through Saul's life. Whenever Saul saw a strong or brave man, he took him into his army.