Yonatan Akokodurusɛm
1Da bi, Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ aberante a ɔsoa nʼakode se, “Bra na yɛnkɔ baabi a Filistifo no apee so wɔ hɔ no.” Yonatan anka nʼadwene ankyerɛ nʼagya. 2Saa bere no na Saulo ne ne mmarima ahansia no akyere nsraban wɔ Gibea nkwantia wɔ atoaa dua a ɛwɔ Migron no ase. 3(Onipa a na ɔka Saulo mmarima no ho no ne Ahiya a ɔyɛ Awurade sɔfo a na ɔhyɛ sirikyi asɔfotade no. Na Ahiya yɛ Ahitub babarima a ɔyɛ Ikabod nua. Na saa Ahitub no nso yɛ Pinehas babarima a na ɔyɛ Eli nena nso. Na Eli yɛ Awurade sɔfo a na ɔsom wɔ Silo.) Na obiara nnim sɛ Yonatan afi Israel nsraban mu hɔ.
4Ansa na Yonatan beduu Filistifo nsraban mu no, na ɛsɛ sɛ osian fa abotan mmepɔw abien bi a wɔfrɛ no Boses ne Sene no ntam. 5Ɔbotan a etweri hɔ a na ɛwɔ atifi fam no, na ɛkyerɛ Mikmas anim, na nea ɛwɔ anafo fam no nso ɛkyerɛ Geba anim.
6Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ aberante a ɔyɛ nʼakodekurafo no se, “Ma yentwa mu nkɔ abosonsomfo no nkyɛn. Ebia, Awurade bɛboa yɛn, efisɛ biribiara ntumi nsiw Awurade kwan. Obetumi adi ɔko mu nkonim a ɛmfa ho sɛ nʼakofo dɔɔso anaa wosua.”
7Aberante no kae se, “Yɛ nea wugye di sɛ eye biara. Gyinae biara a wubesi no, metaa wʼakyi pintinn.”
8Yonatan kae se, “Eye, yebetwa mu akɔ hɔ, na yɛama wɔahu yɛn. 9Na sɛ wɔka se, ‘Munnyina faako a moadu hɔ ara na anyɛ saa a, yebekum mo’ a, ɛno de, yebegyina a yɛrenkɔ wɔn nkyɛn. 10Na sɛ wɔka se, ‘Momforo mmra mmɛko’ a, ɛno de, yɛbɛforo akɔ soro. Ɛbɛyɛ Awurade nsɛnkyerɛnne sɛ ɔbɛboa yɛn, ama yɛadi wɔn so nkonim.” 11Bere a Filistifo no huu sɛ wɔreba no, wɔteɛɛ mu se, “Monhwɛ o! Hebrifo no na wɔreweawea afi wɔn abon mu no!”
12Na wɔteɛɛ mu frɛɛ Yonatan se, “Foro bra ha na yɛnkyerɛ wo nyansa!” Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ nʼakodekurafo no se, “Bra; foro di mʼakyi na Awurade bɛboa yɛn, ama yɛadi wɔn so nkonim.”
13Enti wɔde wɔn nsa abien ne wɔn anan foroe, na Yonatan ne nʼakodekurafo no kunkum Filistifo no benkum ne nifa. 14Wokunkum mmarima bɛyɛ aduonu maa wɔn amu no dedaa asase a ne trɛw bɛyɛ sɛ eka fa so. 15Ɛhɔ ara, ehu bɔɔ Filistifo asraafo no wɔ nsraban no mu ne akono hɔ nyinaa, na ɛkaa afowfo no mpo. Ɛhɔ ara asase wosow maa obiara koma tui.
Israel Di Filistifo So Nkonim
16Saulo awɛmfo a wɔwɔ Gibea no huu biribi a ɛyɛ wɔn nwonwa. Ɛno ara ne sɛ, Filistifo asraafo no abɔ ahwete mmaa nyinaa. 17Afei, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ mmarima a wɔka ne ho no se, “Monhwɛ asraafo no mu nhwɛ sɛ obi nni hɔ ana.” Wɔhwehwɛ huu sɛ Yonatan ne nʼakodekurafo no na na wonni hɔ.
18Saulo ka kyerɛɛ Ahiya se, “Kɔfa Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no bra.” (Saa bere no na ɛwɔ Israelfo nkyɛn.) 19Bere a Saulo rekasa akyerɛ ɔsɔfo no, na basabasa a asi Filistifo nsraban no mu no ano den ara na ɛreyɛ. Enti Saulo ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfo no se, “Gyae! Ma yɛnkɔ.”
20Afei, Saulo ne ne mmarima ahansia no kaa wɔn ho ntɛm so fii akono hɔ kohuu sɛ, Filistifo no atwa wɔn ho rekunkum wɔn ho wɔn ho. Na ɛhɔ nyinaa ayɛ kitikiti ne basabasa nko ara. 21Mpo, Hebrifo a na wɔdɔm Filistifo asraafo no kɔdɔm Saulo, Yonatan ne Israelfo nkae no. 22Saa ara na mmarima a na wɔakɔtetɛw wɔ mmepɔw mu no huu sɛ Filistifo no reguan no, bɛkaa ho taa wɔn bi. 23Enti Awurade gyee Israel da no. Na ɔko no kɔɔ so ara traa Bet-Awen.
Saulo Ntamhunu
24Afei, saa da no na Israelfo no abrɛbrɛ, efisɛ na Saulo ama wɔaka ntam se, “Nnome mmra obiara a obedidi ansa na onwini atɔ, anaasɛ ansa matɔ mʼatamfo no so were.” Enti obiara amfa hwee anka nʼano da mu no nyinaa, 25ɛwɔ mu, wohuu sɛ ɛwo kyɛm da fam wɔ kwae no ase. 26Wɔamfa wɔn nsa anso ɛwo no mu mpo, efisɛ na wɔn nyinaa suro ntam a wɔaka no. 27Nanso na Yonatan de, ɔntee nʼagya ntam no ho hwee. Ɔde abaa bi nuu ɛwo kyɛm no mu, dii ɛwo no bi. Odi wiee no, ne ho bae no. 28Nanso mmarima no mu baako huu no, ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wʼagya maa asraafo no kaa ntam a emu yɛ den sɛ, obiara a obedidi nnɛ no, nnome bɛba ne so. Ɛno nti, na obiara ahodwow no.”
29Na Yonatan teɛɛ mu se, “Mʼagya de ɔhaw abɛto yɛn nyinaa so. Mmara a ɛte sɛɛ no pira yɛn. Monhwɛ sɛ ɛwo kakra a midii yi, me ho asisi me ho so. 30Sɛ mmarima no nyaa kwan dii nnuan a wohuu wɔ yɛn atamfo no nkyɛn a, anka mo ara mubehu wɔn dodow a yebekum aka ho.”
31Nanso ɔkɔm no nyinaa akyi, wɔtaa Filistifo no da mu no nyinaa fi Mikmas, kosii Ayalon. Na afei, wɔbrɛbrɛɛ mmoroso. 32Anwummere no, wɔtow guu asade no so, faa nguan, anantwi ne anantwi mma. Wokunkum wɔn, wee wɔn nam ne wɔn mogya nyinaa frae. 33Afei, obi ka kyerɛɛ Saulo se, “Hwɛ! Mmarima no reyɛ bɔne atia Awurade, efisɛ wɔrewe nam a mogya fra mu.”
Na Saulo kae se, “Ɛyɛ bɔne pa ara. Mumpirew ɔbo kɛse bi mmɛto ha. 34Na afei monkɔ mmarima no mu nkɔka nkyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Momfa anantwi no ne nguan no mmra ha mmekum wɔn na monsɔn wɔn mogya mfi wɔn mu. Monnnwe nam a mogya da so wɔ mu mmfa so nyɛ bɔne ntia Awurade.’ ”
Enti anadwo no, asraafo no de wɔn anantwi bae, bekunkum wɔn wɔ hɔ. 35Na Saulo sii afɔremuka wɔ hɔ, de maa Awurade, nea edi kan a osii.
36Na Saulo kae se, “Momma yɛnkɔ Filistifo no so anadwo yi, na yɛnkɔsɛe wɔn ara nkosi ahemadakye a yɛrennyaw wɔn mu baako koraa.” Na wobuae se, “Biribiara a wugye di sɛ eye no, yɛbɛyɛ.”
Nanso ɔsɔfo no kae se, “Momma yenni kan mmisa Awurade ansa.” 37Enti Saulo bisaa Awurade se, “Menkɔ so ntaa Filistifo no? Na wobɛboa yɛn ama yɛadi wɔn so ana?” Nanso Awurade amma wɔn mmuae biara saa da no.
38Enti Saulo ka kyerɛɛ ntuanofo no se, “Biribi atɔ kyima, enti mehwehwɛ mʼasahene nyinaa. Ɛsɛ sɛ yehu bɔne a yɛayɛ nnɛ. 39Mede Awurade a oyii Israel din ka ntam sɛ nea wayɛ bɔne no bewu, mpo sɛ ɔyɛ me babarima Yonatan!” Na mmarima no mu baako mpo antumi anka hwee.
40Afei, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ Israelfo no nyinaa se, “Munnyina nohɔ; me ne me babarima Yonatan nso begyina ha.” Nnipa no penee so.
41Enti Saulo bɔɔ Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, mpae se, “Ao Awurade Israel Nyankopɔn, yɛsrɛ wo kyerɛ yɛn nea odi fɔ ne nea odi bem. Mene Yonatan di fɔ anaasɛ bɔne no wɔ nkurɔfo no mu? Mfomso no bɛtɔɔ Yonatan ne Saulo so, na nnipa no dii bem.” 42Na Saulo kae se, “Mommɔ me ne me babarima Yonatan so ntonto.” Na ntonto no bɔɔ Yonatan sɛ odi fɔ.
43Saulo bisaa Yonatan se, “Ka nea woayɛ kyerɛ me.”
Yonatan gye too mu se, “Mede ɛwo kakra kaa mʼano. Ɛyɛ kakraa bi a na ɛwɔ abaa bi ti so. Na eyi yɛ owu asɛm?”
44Saulo kae se, “Yiw, Yonatan, ɛsɛ sɛ wuwu. Sɛ woanwu wɔ saa asɛm yi ho a, Onyankopɔn nka me na minwu.”
45Ɛhɔ ara na nnipa no sɔre teɛɛ mu ka kyerɛɛ Saulo se, “Enti ɛfata sɛ Yonatan a ogyee Israel nnɛ no wu ana? Onyame mpa ngu. Bere dodow no a Awurade te ase yi, ne tinwi baako koraa ho nka, efisɛ Onyankopɔn afa ne so ayɛ anwonwade nnɛ.” Enti nnipa no gyee Yonatan, na wɔankum no.
46Na Saulo frɛɛ asraafo no sɛ wɔnntaa Filistifo no bio. Enti Filistifo no san kɔɔ fie.
Saulo Akodi Mu Nkonimdi
47Saulo nyaa Israel ahengua no so tenae a ɔhaw biara mma no, ɔko tiaa nʼatamfo wɔ afanan nyinaa. Ɔko tiaa Moab, Amon, Edom Soba ne Filistifo ahemfo. Na baabiara a ɔkɔe no, odii nkonim. 48Ɔkoo mmarima so, dii Amalekfo so, gyee Israelfo fii wɔn afowfo nyinaa nsam.
49Na Saulo mmabarima ne Yonatan, Iswi ne Malki-Sua na ne mmabea baanu nso ne Merab a ɔyɛ panyin ne Mikal nso a ɔyɛ akumaa. 50Na Saulo yere din de Ahinoam a na ɔyɛ Ahimaas ba. Na ne sahene din de Abner a na ɔyɛ Saulo agya nua Ner babarima. 51Na Saulo agya Kis ne Abner agya Ner yɛ anuanom a wɔyɛ Abiel mma.
52Bere a Saulo dii ade nyinaa, na Filistifo taa ne Israelfo di ako. Enti bere biara a Saulo behu aberante biara a ne koko yɛ duru na ɔwɔ ahoɔden no, ɔtwe no de no fra nʼasraafo mu.
1One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father.
2Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, 3among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No-one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5One cliff stood to the north towards Michmash, the other to the south towards Geba.
6Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’
7‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armour-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.’
8Jonathan said, ‘Come on, then; we will cross over towards them and let them see us. 9If they say to us, “Wait there until we come to you,” we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10But if they say, “Come up to us,” we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.’
11So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. ‘Look!’ said the Philistines. ‘The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.’ 12The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, ‘Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.’
So Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, ‘Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’
13Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14In that first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.14:14 Or about 2,000 square metres
Israel routs the Philistines
15Then panic struck the whole army – those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties – and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.14:15 Or a terrible panic
16Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. 17Then Saul said to the men who were with him, ‘Muster the forces and see who has left us.’ When they did, it was Jonathan and his armour-bearer who were not there.
18Saul said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ark of God.’ (At that time it was with the Israelites.)14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint ‘Bring the ephod.’ (At that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites.) 19While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, ‘Withdraw your hand.’
20Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. 21Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. 23So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Jonathan eats honey
24Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!’ So none of the troops tasted food.
25The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no-one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.14:27 Or his strength was renewed; similarly in verse 29 28Then one of the soldiers told him, ‘Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food today!” That is why the men are faint.’
29Jonathan said, ‘My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?’
31That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. 32They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. 33Then someone said to Saul, ‘Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.’
‘You have broken faith,’ he said. ‘Roll a large stone over here at once.’ 34Then he said, ‘Go out among the men and tell them, “Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.” ’
So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.
36Saul said, ‘Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.’
‘Do whatever seems best to you,’ they replied.
But the priest said, ‘Let us enquire of God here.’
37So Saul asked God, ‘Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?’ But God did not answer him that day.
38Saul therefore said, ‘Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. 39As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.’ But not one of them said a word.
40Saul then said to all the Israelites, ‘You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.’
‘Do what seems best to you,’ they replied.
41Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault,14:41 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have ‘Why… at fault. respond with Thummim.’ Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42Saul said, ‘Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.’ And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’
So Jonathan told him, ‘I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!’
44Saul said, ‘May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.’
45But the men said to Saul, ‘Should Jonathan die – he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.’ So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
47After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings14:47 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint king of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.14:47 Hebrew; Septuagint he was victorious 48He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul’s family
49Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his elder daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. 50His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle. 51Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
