1Tsiku lina Yonatani mwana wa Sauli anawuza mnyamata wake womunyamulira zida zake za nkhondo kuti, “Tiye tiwoloke tipite ku kaboma ka Afilisti tsidya ilo.” Koma iye sanawuze abambo ake.
2Sauli ankakhala mʼmalire a Gibeya pa tsinde pa mtengo wamakangadza ku Migironi. Anthu amene anali naye analipo 600. 3Pakati pawo panalinso Ahiya amene ankavala efodi. Iye anali mwana wa Ahitubi, mʼbale wake wa Ikabodi mwana wa Finehasi, mwana wa Eli, wansembe wa Yehova wa ku Silo. Koma palibe amene anadziwa kuti Yonatani wachoka.
4Pa mpata pamene Yonatani ankafuna kudutsa kukafika ku kaboma ka nkhondo ka Afilisti kunali thanthwe lotsetsereka mbali ina ndi lina lotsetsereka mbali inayo. Thanthwe limodzi linkatchedwa Bozezi ndipo linalo linkatchedwa Seni. 5Thanthwe limodzi linali chakumpoto kuyangʼanana ndi Mikimasi, ndipo thanthwe linalo linali chakummwera kuyangʼanana ndi Geba.
6Yonatani anawuza mnyamata wake womunyamulira zida uja kuti, “Tiye tiwoloke tipite ku kaboma ka anthu osachita mdulidwewo. Mwina Yehova adzatigwirira ntchito. Palibe chomuletsa Yehova kutipulumutsa, ngakhale tikhale ambiri kapena ochepa.”
7Mnyamata uja anati, “Chitani chilichonse chimene mtima wanu ukhumba. Ine ndili nanu pamodzi. Chimene mtima wanu ukhumba ndi chomwenso ine ndikhumba.”
8Yonatani anati, “Tiye tsono tiwoloke kupita kumene kuli anthuwo ndi kukadzionetsa kwa iwo. 9Akatiwuza kuti, ‘Imani pomwepo mpaka tikupezeni,’ ife tikangoyima pomwepo osapita kumene kuli iwoko. 10Koma akadzati, ‘Bwerani kuno,’ ndiye ife tikapitedi, chifukwa ichi chidzakhala chizindikiro chakuti Yehova wapereka mʼmanja mwathu.”
11Choncho awiriwa anadzionetsa ku kaboma ka nkhondo ka Afilisti. Tsono Afilistiwo anati, “Taonani! Aheberi akutuluka mʼmaenje mʼmene anabisala.” 12Anthu a ku kaboma kaja anafuwula kwa Yonatani ndi mnyamata wake uja kuti, “Bwerani kuno ndipo tikuphunzitsani phunziro.”
Ndipo Yonatani anati kwa mnyamata wake. “Nditsate pakuti Yehova wapereka Afilistiwa mʼmanja mwa Aisraeli.”
13Choncho Yonatani anakwera mokwawa, ndipo mnyamata wake uja ankamutsata. Tsono Yonatani anathira nkhondo Afilisti aja namawagwetsa, ndipo mnyamata wake uja ankawapha pambuyo pa iyeyo. 14Nthawi yoyambayo Yonatani ndi mnyamata wake uja anapha anthu makumi awiri ndipo anawaphera pa malo ochepa okwanira ngati theka la ekala.
Aisraeli Agonjetsa Afilisti
15Tsono gulu lonse la ankhondo, ndiye kuti iwo amene anali mʼmisasa ndi mʼminda ndiponso iwo amene anali ku kaboma ka ankhondo kaja, onse anagwidwa ndi mantha aakulu. Dzikonso linagwedezeka, choncho anthu anachita mantha koopsa.
16Alonda a Sauli a ku Gibeya dziko la Benjamini atangomwaza maso anangoona chigulu cha asilikali chikumwazikana uku ndi uku. 17Kenaka Sauli anawawuza anthu amene anali naye kuti, “Awerengeni asilikali kuti muona amene wachoka.” Atawawerenga anapeza kuti Yonatani ndi mnyamata wake womunyamulira zida zake za nkhondo palibe.
18Tsono Sauli anawuza Ahiya kuti, “Bwera nalo Bokosi la Mulungulo.” (Nthawi imeneyo nʼkuti efodiyo ili ndi Ahiya pamaso pa Aisraeli). 19Pamene Sauli amayankhula ndi wansembe, phokoso limanka likulirakulira mu msasa wa Afilisti, Kotero Sauli anati kwa wansembe, “Leka kuwombeza.”
20Ndipo Sauli ndi asilikali onse amene anali naye anasonkhana kupita kukamenya nkhondo, ndipo anangoona chisokonezo chachikulu kwambiri. Afilisti akuphana okhaokha. 21Aheberi ena amene kale anali ndi Afilisti mpaka kukakhala ku misasa yawo, iwonso anatembenuka nakhala pamodzi ndi Aisraeli amene ankatsata Sauli ndi Yonatani. 22Ngakhale Aisraeli amene ankabisala ku dziko lamapiri la Efereimu atamva kuti Afilisti akuthawa, nawonso anawathamangitsa Afilistiwo nawathira nkhondo. 23Nkhondo inapitirira mpaka kufika ku Beti-Aveni. Choncho Yehova anapulumutsa Aisraeli tsiku limenelo.
Yonatani Adya Uchi
24Koma asilikali a Israeli anavutika tsiku limenelo, chifukwa Sauli anawalumbirira Aisraeli kuti, “Wotembereredwa munthu aliyense amene adzadya kusanade, ine ndisanalipsire adani anga!” Kotero palibe wankhondo aliyense amene analawa chakudya.
25Gulu lonse la ankhondo linalowa mʼnkhalango mmene munali uchi. 26Atalowa mʼnkhalango, anaona uchi ukukha, koma palibe amene anadya, pakuti ankaopa lumbiro lija. 27Koma Yonatani sanamve kuti abambo ake anawalumbirira anthu aja choncho anatenga ndodo yake imene inali mʼdzanja lake ndipo anayipisa mu chisa cha njuchi. Choncho iye anadya uchiwo ndipo mʼmaso mwake munayera. 28Kenaka mmodzi mwa Asilikali anamuwuza kuti, “Abambo ako alumbirira anthu nati, ‘Wotembereredwa munthu aliyense amene adye chakudya lero.’ Nʼchifukwa chake anthu alefuka.”
29Yonatani anati, “Abambo anga achita chinthu choyipira dziko. Taonani mʼmaso mwanga mwayera chifukwa ndalawa uchiwu pangʼono. 30Zikanakhala zabwino kwambiri anthuwa akanadya lero zofunkha za adani awo. Zikanatero tikanapha Afilisti ochuluka.”
31Tsiku limenelo Aisraeli anapha Afilisti kuchokera ku Mikimasi mpaka ku Ayaloni. Koma Aisraeliwo analefuka kwambiri ndi njala. 32Choncho iwo anathamangira pa zofunkha ndipo anatenga nkhosa, ngʼombe ndi ana angʼombe. Iwo anazipha zonsezi nazidya pamodzi ndi magazi omwe. 33Koma anthu ena anawuza Sauli kuti, “Taona anthu akuchimwira Yehova pakudya nyama yomwe ili ndi magazi.”
Ndipo Sauli anati, “Mwaonetsa kusakhulupirika. Tsopano gubuduzirani mwala waukulu pano.” 34Kenaka Sauli anati, “Mwazikanani pakati pa anthu ndi kukawawuza kuti aliyense abwere ndi ngʼombe yake kapena nkhosa yake, ndipo adzayiphe pomwe pano ndi kuyidya. Musachimwire Yehova pakudya nyama imene ili ndi magazi.”
Kotero aliyense anabwera ndi ngʼombe yake usiku womwewo ndi kuyipha pomwepo. 35Ndipo Sauli anamangira Yehova guwa. Ili linali guwa loyamba limene Sauli anamangira Yehova.
36Sauli anati, “Tiyeni titsatire Afilisti usikuwu ndi kulanda zinthu zawo mpaka mmawa. Tisasiyepo wamoyo ndi mmodzi yemwe.”
Ankhondowo anayankha kuti, “Chitani chilichonse chimene chikukomerani.”
Koma wansembe anati, “Tipemphe uphungu kwa Mulungu poyamba.”
37Choncho Sauli anafunsa Mulungu kuti, “Kodi ndiwatsatire Afilisti? Kodi mukawapereka mʼmanja mwathu?” Koma Mulungu sanamuyankhe tsiku limenelo.
38Choncho Sauli anati, “Bwerani kuno nonse atsogoleri a anthu, ndipo tiyeni tione kuti kodi tchimo limeneli lachitika bwanji lero? 39Pali Yehova amene amapulumutsa Israeli, ngakhale tchimolo litapezeka ndi mwana wanga Yonatani, iye afe ndithu.” Koma palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe mwa anthuwo amene anamuyankha.
40Tsono Sauli anawuza Aisraeli onse kuti, “Inu mukhale mbali imodzi. Ine ndi mwana wanga Yonatani tikhala mbali inayo.”
“Chitani chilichonse chimene chikukomerani.”
41Ndipo Sauli anapemphera kwa Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli kuti, “Chifukwa chiyani simunandiyankhe ine mtumiki wanu lero lino? Ngati tchimoli lipezeka ndi ine kapena ndi Yonatani mwana wanga, Inu Mulungu wa Israeli, aoneke ndi Urimu. Koma ngati wochimwa ndi anthu anu, Aisraeli aoneke Tamimu.” Maere anagwera Sauli ndi Yonatani ndipo anthu anapezeka osalakwa. 42Sauli anati, “Chitani maere pakati pa ine ndi Yonatani mwana wanga.” Ndipo maere anagwera Yonatani.
43Kenaka Sauli anati kwa Yonatani, “Ndiwuze chimene wachita.”
Ndipo Yonatani anamuwuza kuti, “Ine ndinangolawa uchi pangʼono ndi ndodo yangayi. Ndiye ine ndili wokonzeka kufa.”
44Sauli anati, “Mulungu andilange ngakhale kufa kumene, ngati sufa iwe Yonatani.”
45Koma anthuwo anafunsa Saulo kuti, “Kodi Yonatani afe, iye amene wagwira ntchito iyi yayikulu yopulumutsa Aisraeli? Osatheka! Pali Yehova ngakhale tsitsi ndi limodzi lomwe lapamutu pake silidzathothoka, pakuti wachita zimenezi lero ndi thandizo la Mulungu.” Choncho anthuwo anamupulumutsa Yonatani, ndipo sanaphedwe.
46Pambuyo pake Sauli analeka kulondola Afilisti, kenaka anabwerera ku dziko lawo.
47Sauli ali mtsogoleri wa Israeli, anachita nkhondo ndi adani awa omuzungulira: Mowabu, Amoni, Edomu mafumu a ku Zoba ndi Afilisti. Kulikonse kumene ankapita ankawagonjetsa. 48Anachita nkhondo mwamphamvu ndi kugonjetsa Aamaleki. Choncho anapulumutsa Aisraeli mʼmanja mwa anthu amene ankawalanda zinthu zawo.
Banja la Sauli
49Ana aamuna a Sauli anali Yonatani, Isivi ndi Maliki-Suwa. Analinso ndi ana aakazi awiri, dzina la mwana wake wamkulu wamkazi linali Merabi ndipo la mwana wake wamngʼono wamkazi linali Mikala. 50Dzina la mkazi wake linali Ahinoamu. Iyeyu anali mwana wa Ahimaazi. Dzina la mkulu wa ankhondo a Sauli linali Abineri mwana wa Neri, mʼbale wa abambo a Sauli. 51Kisi abambo a Sauli ndi Neri abambo a Abineri anali ana a Abieli.
52Pa moyo wake wonse, Sauli ankakhalira kuchita nkhondo pakati pa Israeli ndi Afilisti. Ndipo Sauli ankati akaona munthu aliyense wamphamvu kapena wolimba mtima ankamulemba ntchito mu gulu lake lankhondo.
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.14.1 it came…: or, there was a day 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; 3And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’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.14.3 Ahiah: called Ahimelech
4¶ 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. 5The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.14.5 forefront: Heb. tooth 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. 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 said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto 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.14.9 Tarry: Heb. Be still 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.14.14 an…: or, half a furrow of an acre of land 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.14.15 a very…: Heb. a trembling of God
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 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. 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.
19¶ 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.14.19 noise: or, tumult 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.14.20 assembled…: Heb. were cried together 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. 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 battle passed over unto Beth-aven.
24¶ 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. 25And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon 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. 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. 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.14.28 faint: or, weary 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 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? 31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. 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.
33¶ Then 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.14.33 transgressed: or, dealt treacherously 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.14.34 with him: Heb. in his hand 35And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.14.35 the same…: Heb. that altar he began to build unto the LORD
36¶ 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. 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. 38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.14.38 chief: Heb. corners 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. 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. 41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.14.41 Give…: or, Shew the innocent14.41 escaped: Heb. went forth 42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 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. 44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely 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. 46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47¶ So 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. 48And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.14.48 gathered…: or, wrought mightily 49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger 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.14.50 Abner: Heb. Abiner 51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of 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.
