Jonathan

2Saul picked three thousand men of Israel to be his soldiers. Two thousand stayed with him at Michmash and in the hills of Bethel. One thousand stayed with his son Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul sent all the other men home.

Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

NoteBenjamin was one of the twelve large family groups of Israel. Saul came from that family.

3Jonathan attacked the camp of Philistine soldiers at Geba. The Philistines soon heard what Jonathan had done. Saul blew a ram's horn all across the land. He said, "Let the Hebrews hear this!"

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

NoteA ram's horn came from a male sheep. People blew it loud to call everyone together. "Hebrews" was another name for the people of Israel. The Philistines were a people who lived nearby and often fought Israel.

4All Israel heard the news. Saul had attacked a Philistine camp. Now the Philistines hated Israel more than ever. So the people came together to join Saul at Gilgal.

And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

NoteGilgal was a town where Israel often came together to meet with God.

5The Philistines gathered to fight Israel. They had thirty thousand chariots, which are carts pulled by horses in war. They had six thousand men riding horses. Their soldiers were like sand on the beach, too many to count. They came and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6The men of Israel saw they were in great danger. They were badly frightened. So they hid in caves, in bushes, among rocks, and down in pits.

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

NoteThese pits were holes dug in the ground. People kept water or grain in them.

7Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan River into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal. All the men with him were shaking with fear.

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

NoteGad and Gilead were lands on the far side of the Jordan River. Going there meant getting far away from the fighting.

15Then Samuel got up and left Gilgal. He went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul counted the men who were still with him. There were about six hundred.

And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

16Saul, his son Jonathan, and their men stayed in Geba of Benjamin. The Philistines stayed camped at Michmash.

And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17Raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three groups. Raiders are fighters who attack and take things. One group went toward Ophrah, in the land of Shual.

And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:

18Another group went toward Beth-horon. The third group went along the edge of the land. That road looks down on the Valley of Zeboim, near the desert.

And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19There was no blacksmith anywhere in Israel. The Philistines had said, "The Hebrews must not make swords or spears."

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

NoteA blacksmith heats metal in a fire and hammers it into tools. With no blacksmith, no one in Israel could make a sword.

20So all the Israelites went down to the Philistines instead. They went to get their farm tools made sharp again. They took plow blades, digging tools, and axes.

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

NoteA plow blade cuts open the dirt so seeds can be planted. A digging tool like this breaks up hard ground.

21They had to pay for each tool that was sharpened. The price was a small weight of silver. Even the long pointed sticks for driving oxen cost money to fix.

Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

NotePeople did not use coins yet. They paid with small pieces of silver, weighed on a scale.

22So on the day of the battle, no soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

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.

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.

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived nearby. They often fought against Israel. A young man who carried a soldier's weapons went with him into battle. He carried the shield and the spare spears.

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

And 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;

NoteA pomegranate tree grows round red fruit. The fruit is full of little juicy seeds.

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

And 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 special vest the priest wore. It held two stones the priest used to ask God questions. Shiloh was the town where God's holy tent stood.

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

And 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 two rocks stood on each side of a narrow path. People gave big rocks names so they could tell others the way.

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

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

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."

And 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.

NoteThe King James Bible calls the Philistines "uncircumcised." Circumcision was a small mark cut on a boy's body. It showed that he belonged to God's people. The Philistines did not have it.

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

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

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

Then 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. We will not climb up.

If 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 up here,' then we will go up. That will be our sign that the LORD has handed them over to us."

But 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.

NoteA sign is something that shows you what to do next. Jonathan asked God for one before he climbed up.

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!"

And 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.

Note"Hebrews" is another name for the people of Israel. Many of them had been hiding in caves and holes in the rocks.

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."

And 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.

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.

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

And 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.

NoteHalf an acre is a small piece of ground. Picture a space about as big as a playground.

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.

And 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.

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

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

NoteWatchmen were men who stood up high and looked out. Their job was to warn everyone if danger came.

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

Then 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." The ark was a holy chest, and at that time it was with the people of Israel.

And 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 a wooden box covered in gold. Inside it were the stone rules God gave to Moses. It was the most holy thing Israel had.

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."

And 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.

NoteThe priest had started asking God a question. Saul told him to stop, because there was no time to wait.

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.

And 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.

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

Moreover 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.

NoteSome men from Israel had been living among the Philistines. They had been fighting on the Philistine side. Now they came back to their own people.

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

Likewise 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.

NoteEphraim was a hilly part of the land of Israel. It had many caves and woods to hide in.

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

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

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.

And 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.

NoteSaul made the men swear a promise to God. A curse was a strong wish that bad things would happen. Breaking such a promise scared people very much.

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

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

NoteWild bees built their nests in the trees. Their honey dripped down onto the ground.

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.

And 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.

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.

But 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.

NoteThe stick was a walking staff. A honeycomb is the waxy house bees build to hold their honey. The King James says "his eyes were enlightened." That was an old way of saying he felt awake and strong again.

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."

Then 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 made trouble for the whole land. Look how much better I feel after just a little honey.

Then 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.

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."

How 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?

NoteFood taken from an enemy after a battle was called spoil. Winning soldiers were allowed to eat it.

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."

And 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 could ask God questions using the stones in his ephod. The answer came back as a yes or a no.

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.

And 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.

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

And 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, the guilty man must die. Even if it is my own son Jonathan." But not one man said a word.

For, 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 liveth" was a way of making a very strong promise. It meant: I really mean this.

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."

Then 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.

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.

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

NoteA lot was a way of choosing, a bit like drawing straws. The priest used special stones to get God's answer.

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

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

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?"

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

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

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.

And 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 old saying. It means nobody will hurt him at all.

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

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

1David finished talking with Saul. Right away Jonathan felt very close to David. He loved David as much as he loved himself.

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

NoteJust before this, David had killed Goliath, a huge Philistine fighter. That is what he and Saul were talking about. Jonathan was King Saul's son.

2That day Saul kept David with him. He would not let David go back home to his father's house.

And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3Jonathan made a promise with David to always be his friend. He did this because he loved David as much as himself.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

NoteA covenant is a very serious promise. People kept it for their whole lives.

4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He gave David his coat too, and his sword, his bow, and his belt.

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

NoteJonathan was a prince, the king's son. Giving away his robe, sword and belt was a big sign of love and trust.

1Saul told his son Jonathan and all his helpers to kill David.

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

NoteSaul was the king of Israel. Jonathan was his son and also David's best friend.

2But Jonathan loved David very much. He warned David, "My father Saul wants to kill you. Please be careful in the morning. Go find a hiding place and stay there.

But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

3I will go out and stand next to my father in the field where you are hiding. I will talk to him about you. Then I will tell you what I find out."

And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

4Jonathan said good things about David to his father Saul. He said, "The king should not do wrong to his servant David. David has done nothing wrong to you. Everything he did helped you.

And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

NoteA servant here means someone who works for the king. David worked for Saul as a soldier and a musician.

5He risked his own life when he killed the Philistine giant. The LORD used him to save all of Israel. You saw it, and you were glad. So why hurt someone who has done nothing wrong? Why kill David for no reason?"

For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived nearby and often fought Israel. The Philistine David killed was Goliath, a giant soldier.

6Saul listened to Jonathan. Saul made a promise: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed."

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

Note"As the LORD liveth" was a strong way to promise. It meant, I truly mean what I am saying.

7Jonathan called David and told him everything. Then Jonathan brought David back to Saul. David served the king just like before.

And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.