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.
Jonatans heltedåd og filistrenes nederlag
1En dag sagde Jonatan til den unge mand, som bar hans våben: „Kom, lad os snige os over til filistrenes udpost på den anden side af bjergpasset.” Men han sagde ikke til sin far, at han tog af sted.
2Saul og hans 600 mænd lå i lejr ved granatæbletræet på bakken14,2 På hebraisk: Gibea, som betyder bakke eller høj. Her kan det næppe henvise til byen af samme navn. ved Migron. 3Blandt mændene var også præsten Ahija, som bar den hellige efod. Hans far var Ahitub, Ikabods bror, hans farfar var Pinehas, og hans oldefar var Eli, som havde været Herrens præst i Shilo.
Ingen havde lagt mærke til, at Jonatan havde forladt lejren. 4For at nå frem til filistrene måtte Jonatan igennem et pas, som lå i en kløft med et stort klippefremspring på hver side. De to klippeformationer var kendt under navnene Botzetz og Sene. 5Den ene lå mod nord i retning af Mikmas, og den anden mod syd i retning af Geba.
6„Kom, lad os gå over til de uomskårne og ugudelige filistre,” sagde Jonatan til sin våbenbærer. „Måske vil Herren hjælpe os. Herren kan give os sejr, hvad enten vi er mange eller få.”
7„Gør, som du vil!” svarede våbendrageren. „Jeg går med dig, lige meget hvad du finder på.”
8-10„Godt, så hør her,” fortsatte Jonatan. „Vi sørger for, at de opdager os, når vi går derover. Hvis de siger: ‚Bliv stående, vi kommer ned til jer,’ så går vi ikke derop. Men hvis de siger: ‚Kom herop!’ så går vi derop, for så er det et signal fra Herren om, at han vil give os sejr.”
11Da filistrene nu fik øje på dem, råbte de til hinanden: „Se! Nogle af hebræerne er krøbet frem fra deres skjulesteder.” 12Så råbte de til Jonatan: „Kom herop, så skal vi give jer en lærestreg.”
„Følg efter mig!” sagde Jonatan til våbendrageren. „For Herren vil give Israels folk sejren.”
13Så klatrede de op ad skrænten på hænder og fødder, og Jonatan huggede filistrene ned, mens våbendrageren fulgte i hælene på ham og dræbte dem, Jonatan havde såret. 14Under dette første slag dræbte de 20 filistre på et ca. 2000 kvadratmeter stort areal. 15Samtidig sendte Gud et jordskælv, som skabte rædsel og panik blandt filistrene, både i selve lejren og udenfor blandt udkigsposterne og kampstyrkerne. 16Sauls udkigsposter i Geba14,16 På hebraisk: Benjamins Gibea/Geba/høj. Se noterne til 10,5 og 13,2. lagde mærke til den forvirring, der opstod i fjendens rækker.
17„Find ud af, om nogen af vores mænd har forladt lejren,” befalede Saul, og det viste sig, at Jonatan og hans våbendrager manglede. 18„Hent den hellige vest frem!” råbte Saul til præsten Ahija. På den tid var det nemlig Ahija, der havde ansvar for den hellige vest,14,18 I denne hellige vest, som på hebraisk hedder efod, blev de to hellige lodder, Urim og Tummim, opbevaret. Dem brugte den øverste præst til at finde Guds vilje ved lodkastning. Oversættelsen her bygger på Septuaginta. Den masoretiske tekst taler om at bringe arken frem. som man brugte, når man ville spørge Herren til råds. 19Men mens Saul talte med Ahija, blev tumulten og støjen i filistrenes lejr værre og værre. „Lad det bare være!” råbte Saul til ham. 20Så kastede Saul og hans 600 mænd sig ind i kampen, og forvirringen var så stor blandt filistrene, at de rask væk huggede hinanden ned. 21De hebræere, der før kæmpede på filistrenes side, gjorde nu mytteri og gik over på israelitternes side. 22Til sidst kom resten af de israelitiske soldater frem fra deres skjulesteder i bjergene og deltog i forfølgelsen af de flygtende filistre. 23Den dag frelste Herren Israel, og israelitterne forfulgte filistrene helt til den anden side af Bet-Aven.
Sauls dumhed
24-26Israelitterne var helt udmattede, fordi Saul havde erklæret: „Forbandet være den, som tager sig tid til at spise noget i dag, for jeg vil have fuldstændig hævn over mine fjender.” De var alle så bange for forbandelsen, at ingen turde spise noget hele dagen, ikke engang den smule honning, de fandt rundt omkring, 27Men Jonatan, der ikke havde hørt sin fars erklæring, stak sin stav i en bikage og fiskede lidt honning frem, og da han havde spist honningen, følte han sig stærk igen. 28En af mændene, som så ham gøre det, sagde: „Din far tog hele hæren i ed og sagde: ‚Forbandet være den, som spiser noget i dag.’ Det er derfor, vi alle er så udmattede.”
29„Sådan en befaling skader os kun,” udbrød Jonatan. „Se bare, hvor frisk jeg er nu efter at have spist en smule honning. 30Forestil jer, hvor mange flere fjender vi kunne have dræbt, hvis vores mænd havde spist noget af den mad, de fandt i fjendens lejr. Men nu slipper filistrene væk i stedet.”
31Efter at have kæmpet mod filistrene hele dagen fra Mikmas til Ajjalon, var krigerne så udmattede og sultne, 32at de kastede sig over krigsbyttet og begyndte at slagte får og geder, køer og kalve på den bare jord og spise kødet uden først at lade blodet løbe fra. 33Da Saul blev underrettet om, at hans hær havde syndet imod Herren ved at spise kød med blodet i, sagde han: „Det er forfærdeligt! Folket overtræder jo Guds bud! Skynd jer og rul en stor sten herhen! 34Gå så ud til krigerne og giv dem ordre til at føre køerne, gederne og fårene hertil, så vi kan slagte dem her og lade blodet løbe fra. I må ikke synde imod Herren!” I nattens løb kom krigerne med det kvæg, de havde taget i krigsbytte, og det blev slagtet efter forskrifterne. 35Der byggede Saul et alter for Herren. Det var første gang han byggede et alter.
36Bagefter opfordrede Saul sine mænd til at genoptage forfølgelsen. „Lad os forfølge filistrene hele natten og udrydde dem rub og stub,” sagde han.
„Som du vil,” svarede de. Men præsten Ahija indvendte: „Lad os først spørge Gud til råds.”
37Så spurgte Saul Gud: „Skal vi forfølge filistrene? Vil du fortsat hjælpe os med at slå dem?” Men Herren gav ikke noget svar.
38Da sammenkaldte Saul alle sine officerer og sagde til dem: „Der er noget galt, siden Gud ikke svarer os. Vi må finde ud af, hvilken synd der er begået i dag. 39Jeg sværger ved Gud på, at om så synderen er min egen søn Jonatan, skal han dø.” Men ingen turde fortælle ham sagens rette sammenhæng.
40Saul forlangte nu, at de skulle stille sig på den ene side, mens han selv og Jonatan stillede sig på den anden side. Det gjorde de. 41Så bad han denne bøn: „Herre, Israels Gud, vis os nu, hvem der har skylden. Er det Jonatan og mig, eller ligger skylden hos hæren?” Da faldt det hellige lod på Saul og Jonatan, mens hæren gik fri.
42„Okay,” fortsatte Saul, „så kast lod mellem mig og Jonatan.” Da faldt loddet på Jonatan.
43„Sig mig, hvad du har gjort,” forlangte Saul.
„Jeg spiste lidt honning fra spidsen af min stav,” svarede Jonatan. „Så lad mig da dø.”
44„Jeg har svoret en ed,” svarede Saul. „Derfor skal du dø for din ulydighed.”
45Men de omkringstående protesterede: „Ikke tale om! Det er jo Jonatan, vi kan takke for den sejr, vi har vundet i dag. Vi sværger ved den levende Gud, at vi ikke vil tillade, at der krummes et hår på hans hoved, for det var ved Guds hjælp, at han vandt sejren for os i dag.” Derved reddede mændene Jonatan fra at blive henrettet.
46Da opgav Saul at genoptage forfølgelsen, og filistrene vendte hjem til deres eget land.
Sauls militære sejre
47Nu da Saul havde styrket sin position som konge i Israel, førte han krig mod sine fjender i alle retninger: moabitterne og ammonitterne mod øst, edomitterne mod syd, Zobas konger14,47 Zoba er et område beboet af aramæere (syrere), jf. 2.Sam. 10,8, 1.Krøn. 19,6. mod nord og filistrene mod vest. Hvor som helst han kom frem, vandt han sejr over sine fjender. 48Han udførte store heltegerninger ved blandt andet at besejre amalekitterne og dermed frelse Israels folk fra deres plageånder.
49Saul havde sønnerne Jonatan, Jishvi og Malkishua, og døtrene Merab og Mikal. 50Sauls kone hed Ahinoam og var en datter af Ahima’atz. Sauls hærfører var hans fætter Abner, en søn af hans farbror, Ner. 51Ner og Sauls far, Kish, var altså brødre, og deres far hed Abiel.
52Krigen mod filistrene stod på, så længe Saul levede. Hver gang Saul så en tapper og stærk ung mand, hvervede han ham til sin hær.
