Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

1One day Jonathan (YHWH has given) son of Saul (desired) said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine (immigrants) outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.

2Meanwhile, Saul (desired) was staying under the pomegranate tree (around the rock of Rimmon)a in Migron (precipice) on the outskirts of Gibeah (hill). And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men, 3including Ahijah (brother of Yah), who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s (no glory) brother Ahitub (my brother is goodness) son of Phinehas (mouth of brass), the son of Eli (ascension) the priest of the LORD {YHWH} in Shiloh (place of rest). But the troops did not know that Jonathan (YHWH has given) had left.

4Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan (YHWH has given) intended to cross to reach the Philistine (immigrants) outpost. One was named Bozez (surpassing white) and the other Seneh (thorny). 5One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash (hidden), and the other to the south toward Geba (hill).

6Jonathan (YHWH has given) said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD {YHWH} will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

8“Very well,” said Jonathan (YHWH has given), “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. 9If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you⁺,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them. 10But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD {YHWH} has delivered them into our hands.”

11So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines (immigrants), who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews (those from beyond) are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”

12So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan (YHWH has given) and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you⁺ a lesson!”

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD {YHWH} has delivered them into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God).”

13So Jonathan (YHWH has given) 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. 14In that first assault, Jonathan (YHWH has given) and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre \half a yoke/b of land.

15Then 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 (and a terrible panic spread).c

16Now when Saul’s (desired) watchmen at Gibeah (hill) in Benjamin (son of the right hand) looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction (melting away and going here and there),d 17Saul (desired) 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 (YHWH has given) and his armor-bearer were not there.

18Then Saul (desired) said to Ahijah (brother of Yah), “Bring the ark of God {Elohim}.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)e 19While Saul (desired) was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine (immigrants) camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

20Then Saul (desired) 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. 21And the Hebrews (those from beyond) who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines (immigrants) now went over to the Israelites (God prevails) who were with Saul (desired) and Jonathan (YHWH has given). 22When all the Israelites (God prevails) who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful) heard that the Philistines (immigrants) were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit.

23So the LORD {YHWH} saved Israel (he wrestles with God) that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven (house of wickedness).

Jonathan Eats the Honey

24Now the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) were in distress that day, for Saul (desired) 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.

25Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26And 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.

27Jonathan, however (YHWH has given), 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 (his strength was renewed).f 28Then 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“My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan (YHWH has given) replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How 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 (immigrants) have been much greater?”

31That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines (immigrants) from Michmash (hidden) to Aijalon (field of deer), the people were very faint. 32So 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.

33Then someone reported to Saul (desired): “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD {YHWH} by eating meat with the blood still in it.”

“You⁺ have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” 34Then he (desired) 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 {YHWH} by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”

So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there. 35Then Saul (desired) built an altar to the LORD {YHWH}; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.

36And Saul (desired) said, “Let us go down after the Philistines (immigrants) 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 {Elohim} here.”

The People Save Jonathan

37So Saul (desired) inquired of God {Elohim}, “Shall I go down after the Philistines (immigrants)? Will You give them into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God)?”

But God did not answer him that day.

38Therefore Saul (desired) said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today. 39As surely as the LORD {YHWH} who saves Israel (he wrestles with God) lives, even if it is my son Jonathan (YHWH has given), he must die!”

But not one of the troops said a word.

40Then Saul said to all Israel (he wrestles with God), “You⁺ stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan (YHWH has given) will stand on the other side.”

“Do what seems good to you,” the troops (desired) replied.

41So Saul (desired) said to the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), “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 [“Give a perfect lot.”].”g And Jonathan (YHWH has given) and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

42Then Saul (desired) said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan (YHWH has given).” And Jonathan was selected.

43“Tell me what you have done,” Saul (desired) commanded him (YHWH has given).

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?”

44And Saul (desired) declared, “May God {Elohim} punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan (YHWH has given), do not surely die!”

45But the people said to Saul (desired), “Must Jonathan (YHWH has given) die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel (he wrestles with God)? Never! As surely as the LORD {YHWH} 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. 46Then Saul (desired) gave up his pursuit of the Philistines (immigrants), and the Philistines returned to their own land.

Saul’s Victories

47After Saul (desired) had assumed the kingship over Israel (he wrestles with God), he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites (of his father), the Ammonites (tribal), the Edomites (red), the kings [king]h of Zobah (station), and the Philistines (immigrants). Wherever he turned, he routed them (he inflicted punishment on them).i 48He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley), delivering Israel (he wrestles with God) from the hands of its plunderers.

49Now the sons of Saul (desired) were Jonathan (YHWH has given), Ishvi (he resembles me), and Malchishua (my king is wealth). His two daughters were named Merab (increase) (his firstborn) and Michal (who is like God) (his younger daughter). 50His (desired) wife’s name was Ahinoam (my brother is delight) daughter of Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath). The name of the commander of his army was Abner (my father is a lamp), the son of Saul’s uncle Ner (lamp). 51Saul’s (desired) father Kish (bent) and Abner’s (my father is a lamp) father Ner (lamp) were sons of Abiel (God is my father).

52And the war with the Philistines (immigrants) was fierce for all the days of Saul (desired). So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.