1Siku moja Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwambia kijana mbeba silaha wake, akasema, “Njoo, tuwavukie Wafilisti kwenye doria upande ule mwingine.” Lakini hakumwambia baba yake.
214:2 Amu 4:5; 1Sam 13:15; Kut 28:33; Isa 10:28Sauli alikuwa akikaa kwenye viunga vya Gibea chini ya mkomamanga huko Migroni. Alikuwa pamoja na watu kama 600, 314:3 Mwa 35:18; 1Sam 22:11; 1:3; Za 78:60; 1Sam 4:21; 2:28; 4:21; Kut 28:30; 1Sam 2:28; 22:18miongoni mwao alikuwepo Ahiya, ambaye alikuwa amevaa kisibau. Alikuwa mwana wa Ikabodi, nduguye Ahitubu mwana wa Finehasi, mwana wa Eli, kuhani wa Bwana huko Shilo. Hakuna yeyote aliyekuwa na habari kwamba Yonathani alikuwa ameondoka.
414:4 1Sam 13:23Kila upande wa njia ambayo Yonathani alikusudia kupita ili kuvuka kufikia doria ya Wafilisti kulikuwepo na jabali; moja lilikuwa linaitwa Bosesi, na jingine Sene. 514:5 Yos 18:24Jabali moja lilisimama kaskazini kuelekea Mikmashi na jingine upande wa kusini kuelekea Geba.
614:6 Amu 14:3; 1Sam 17:26; 31:4; Yer 9:26; Eze 28:10; 1Sam 13:22; 1Fal 19:12; Mt 19:26; Ebr 11:34; Amu 7:4; Za 33:16; 1Sam 17:46-47Yonathani akamwambia kijana wake mbeba silaha, “Njoo, tuvukie doria ya wale jamaa wasiotahiriwa. Huenda Bwana atatenda kwa ajili yetu. Hakuna chochote kitakachoweza kumzuia Bwana kuokoa, kwamba ni kwa wingi au kwa uchache.”
7Mbeba silaha wake akamwambia, “Fanya yale yote uliyo nayo katika moyo wako. Songa mbele; moyo wangu na roho yangu viko pamoja nawe.”
8Yonathani akasema, “Basi njoo; tutavuka kuwaelekea hao watu na kuacha watuone. 9Kama wakituambia, ‘Subirini hapo mpaka tuje kwenu,’ tutakaa pale tulipo na hatutakwea kwao. 1014:10 Mwa 24:1, 14; Yos 2:24; Amu 6:36-37; 1Sam 10:7; 2Sam 5:24; Isa 7:11-14Lakini kama watasema, ‘Pandeni mje kwetu,’ tutakwea, kwa sababu hiyo itakuwa ishara yetu kwamba Bwana amewatia mikononi mwetu.”
1114:11 Mwa 14:13; 1Sam 13:6Basi wote wawili wakajionyesha kwa doria ya Wafilisti. Wafilisti wakasema, “Tazama! Waebrania wanatambaa toka mashimoni walimokuwa wamejificha.” 1214:12 Amu 8:16; 1Sam 17:46; 2Sam 5:24; 1Sam 17:43-44Watu wa kwenye doria wakawapigia kelele Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake, wakisema, “Njooni, pandeni kwetu nasi tutawakomesha.”
Basi Yonathani akamwambia mbeba silaha wake, “Panda nyuma yangu; Bwana amewatia mikononi mwa Israeli.”
13Yonathani akapanda juu, akitumia mikono yake na miguu, pamoja na mbeba silaha wake papo hapo nyuma yake. Wafilisti wakaanguka mbele ya Yonathani, naye mbeba silaha wake akamfuata akiwaua nyuma yake. 14Katika hilo shambulio la kwanza, Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake waliua kama watu ishirini kwenye eneo kama la nusu eka.
Israeli Wawafukuza Wafilisti
1514:15 Mwa 35:5; Kut 14:24; 19:16; 2Fal 7:5-7; 1Sam 13:17; Amu 7:21; Ay 18:11; Za 48:5-6Kisha fadhaa ikawapata jeshi lote, wale waliokuwa kambini na shambani, wale waliokuwa katika doria na makundi ya washambuliaji, nayo nchi ilitetemeka. Ilikuwa ni hofu ya ghafula iliyotumwa na Mungu.
1614:16 2Sam 18:24; 2Fal 9:17; Isa 52:8; Eze 33:2Wapelelezi wa Sauli huko Gibea ya Benyamini wakaona jeshi likitokomea pande zote. 17Ndipo Sauli akawaambia watu wale waliokuwa pamoja naye, “Kagueni jeshi mkaone ni nani ameondoka katikati yetu.” Walipokagua, akawa ni Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake ambao hawakuwepo.
1814:18 1Sam 30:7; Amu 18:5Sauli akamwambia Ahiya, “Leta Sanduku la Mungu.” (Wakati huo lilikuwa kwa Waisraeli.) 1914:19 Hes 27:21; Yos 9:14; Za 106:13Wakati Sauli alipokuwa akisema na kuhani, makelele katika kambi ya Wafilisti yakaongezeka zaidi na zaidi. Hivyo Sauli akamwambia kuhani, “Rudisha mkono wako.”
2014:20 Amu 7:22; Eze 38:21; Zek 14:13; 2Nya 20:23Kisha Sauli na watu wake wote wakakusanyika na kwenda vitani. Wakawakuta Wafilisti wakiwa wamechanganyikiwa kabisa, wakitiana panga kila mmoja na wenzake. 2114:21 1Sam 29:4Wale Waebrania ambao walishakuwa pamoja na Wafilisti, na waliokuwa wamepanda pamoja nao katika kambi zao, wakaenda upande wa Waisraeli waliokuwa pamoja na Sauli na Yonathani. 2214:22 1Sam 13:6; Isa 9:19-21Waisraeli wote waliokuwa wamejificha katika nchi ya milima ya Efraimu waliposikia kuwa Wafilisti wamekimbia, wakajiunga vitani na kuwafuata kwa bidii. 2314:23 Kut 14:30; Yos 7; 2; 1Sam 13:5; Za 44:6-7; Isa 63:9; Za 17:7Hivyo Bwana akawaokoa Waisraeli siku ile, navyo vita vilienea hadi kupita Beth-Aveni.
Yonathani Ala Asali
2414:24 Yos 6:26; Law 27:29; Hes 21:2; Kum 27:15-26; Amu 11:30; 21:1-5; Mit 11:9Basi watu wa Israeli walikuwa katika dhiki siku ile, kwa sababu Sauli alikuwa amewafunga watu kwa kiapo, akisema, “Alaaniwe mtu yeyote ambaye atakula chakula kabla ya jioni, kabla sijalipiza kisasi juu ya adui zangu!” Kwa hiyo hakuna mtu yeyote katika jeshi aliyeonja chakula.
2514:25 Kum 9:28; Mt 3:5; Kut 3:8; Hes 13:27Jeshi lote liliingia mwituni, na huko kulikuwepo na asali ardhini. 26Walipoingia mwituni, wakaona asali ikitiririka, hata hivyo hakuna mtu yeyote aliyetia mkono wake kinywani, kwa sababu waliogopa kiapo. 2714:27 Za 19:10; Mit 16:24; 24:13Lakini Yonathani alikuwa hajasikia kuwa baba yake alikuwa amewafunga watu kwa kiapo, hivyo akainyoosha ncha ya fimbo iliyokuwa mkononi mwake na kuichovya katika sega la asali. Akainua mkono wake na kuutia kinywani mwake, nayo macho yake yakawa maangavu. 28Kisha mmoja wa askari wake akamwambia, “Baba yako alilifunga jeshi kwa kiapo kikali, akisema, ‘Alaaniwe mtu yeyote alaye chakula leo!’ Ndiyo sababu watu wanalegea.”
2914:29 Yos 7:25; 1Fal 18:18Yonathani akasema, “Baba yangu ameitaabisha nchi. Ona jinsi nilivyopata nguvu mpya nilipoonja asali hii kidogo. 30Ingekuwa bora zaidi mara ngapi kama watu wangalikula leo baadhi ya nyara walizoteka kutoka kwa adui zao. Je, mauaji ya Wafilisti yasingekuwa makubwa zaidi?”
3114:31 Yos 10:12Siku ile baada ya Waisraeli kuwaua Wafilisti kutoka Mikmashi mpaka Aiyaloni, walikuwa wamechoka. 3214:32 1Sam 15:19; Es 9:10; Mwa 9:4; Law 3:17; Kum 12:16Watu wakarukia zile nyara, wakichukua kondoo, ngʼombe na ndama, wakawachinja hapo juu ya nchi na kuwala, pamoja na damu. 3314:33 Mwa 9:4Kisha mtu mmoja akamwambia Sauli, “Tazama, watu wanatenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana kwa kula nyama yenye damu.”
Akasema, “Mmevunja uaminifu. Livingirisheni jiwe kubwa hapa mara moja.” 3414:34 Law 19:26Kisha Sauli akasema, “Nendeni miongoni mwa watu, mwaambie, ‘Kila mmoja wenu aniletee ngʼombe wake na kondoo, mwachinjie hapa na mle. Msitende dhambi dhidi ya Bwana kwa kula nyama ikiwa na damu ndani yake.’ ”
Hivyo kila mmoja akaleta ngʼombe wake jioni ile na kumchinja hapo. 3514:35 1Sam 7:17; Amu 21:4; 2Sam 24:25Ndipo Sauli akamjengea Bwana madhabahu, na ndiyo ilivyokuwa mara yake ya kwanza kujenga madhabahu.
3614:36 Mwa 25:22; Amu 18:5; Mal 2:7; Yak 4:8Sauli akasema, “Tuteremke tufuatie Wafilisti usiku na kuwateka nyara mpaka mapambazuko, nasi tusiache hata mmoja wao hai.”
Wakajibu, “Fanya lolote lile uonalo jema zaidi kwako.”
Lakini kuhani akasema, “Tuulize kwa Mungu mahali hapa.”
3714:37 1Sam 28:6, 15; 2Sam 22:42; Za 18:41Basi Sauli akamuuliza Mungu, akisema, “Je, niteremke kuwafuatia Wafilisti? Je, utawatia mikononi mwa Israeli?” Lakini Mungu hakumjibu siku ile.
3814:38 Yos 7:11; 1Sam 10:19Kwa hiyo Sauli akasema, “Njooni hapa, ninyi nyote ambao ni viongozi wa jeshi, na tutafute ni dhambi gani imefanywa leo. 3914:39 Hes 14:21; 2Sam 12:5; Ay 19:25; Za 18:46; 42:2; Yos 7:15Kwa hakika kama Bwana aiokoaye Israeli aishivyo, hata kama itakuwa juu ya mwana wangu Yonathani, ni lazima afe.” Lakini hakuna mtu yeyote aliyesema neno.
40Kisha Sauli akawaambia Waisraeli wote, “Ninyi simameni huko; mimi na mwanangu Yonathani tutasimama hapa.”
Watu wakajibu, “Fanya lile unaloona jema zaidi kwako.”
4114:41 Mdo 1:24; Mit 16:33; Yos 7:16; 1Sam 10:20-21Kisha Sauli akamwomba Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, akisema, “Nipe jibu lililo sawa.” Yonathani na Sauli wakatolewa kwa kura, nao watu wakawa salama. 4214:42 Yon 1:7Sauli akasema, “Pigeni kura kati yangu na mwanangu Yonathani.” Kura ikamwangukia Yonathani.
4314:43 Yos 7:19Basi Sauli akamwambia Yonathani, “Niambie ni nini ulichokifanya.”
Hivyo Yonathani akamwambia, “Nilionja tu asali kidogo kwa ncha ya fimbo yangu. Je, sasa ni lazima nife?”
4414:44 Rut 1:17Sauli akasema, “Mungu na anishughulikie kwa ukali zaidi kama wewe Yonathani hutakufa.”
4514:45 1Fal 1:52; Mt 10:30; 2Sam 14:11; Lk 21:18; Isa 13:3; 2Kor 6:1Lakini watu wakamwambia Sauli, “Je, Yonathani atakufa, yeye ambaye ameleta wokovu huu mkubwa Israeli? Hasha! Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, hakuna hata unywele wa kichwa chake utakaoanguka juu ya ardhi, kwa kuwa alifanya jambo hili leo kwa msaada wa Mungu.” Basi watu wakamwokoa Yonathani, wala hakuuawa.
46Kisha Sauli akaacha kuwafuata Wafilisti, nao wakajiondoa na kurudi katika nchi yao.
4714:47 Mwa 19:37-38; 2Sam 12:31; 8:3; 10:6; 23:36Baada ya Sauli kujitwalia utawala katika Israeli, alipigana dhidi ya adui zake kila upande: Moabu, Waamoni, Edomu, wafalme wa Soba, na Wafilisti. Popote alipogeukia, aliwashinda. 4814:48 Mwa 36:12; Hes 13:29; Amu 3:13; 1Sam 15:2, 7; 27:8; 28:18; 30:13; 2Sam 1:13; 1Nya 4:43Akapigana kishujaa na kuwashinda Waamaleki, akiikomboa Israeli kutoka mikono ya wale waliokuwa wamewateka nyara.
Jamaa Ya Sauli
4914:49 1Sam 31:2; 1Nya 8:33; Mwa 29:26; 1Sam 18:17-20Wana wa Sauli walikuwa Yonathani, Ishvi na Malki-Shua. Jina la binti yake mkubwa lilikuwa Merabu, naye mdogo aliitwa Mikali. 5014:50 2Sam 2:8; 3:6; 1Fal 2:5; 1Sam 10:14Jina la mkewe Sauli aliitwa Ahinoamu binti wa Ahimaasi. Jina la jemadari wa jeshi la Sauli aliitwa Abneri mwana wa Neri, naye Neri alikuwa babaye mdogo Sauli. 5114:51 1Sam 9:1Babaye Sauli yaani, Kishi na Neri baba yake Abneri walikuwa wana wa Abieli.
5214:52 1Sam 8:11Siku zote za utawala wa Sauli zilikuwa za vita vikali dhidi ya Wafilisti, na wakati wowote Sauli alimwona mtu mwenye nguvu au shujaa, alimchukua kwa utumishi wake.
1One day Jonathan, the son of Saul, spoke to the young man carrying his armor. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go over to the Philistine army camp on the other side of the pass.” But he didn’t tell his father about it.
2Saul was staying just outside Gibeah. He was under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about 600 men with him. 3Ahijah was one of them. He was wearing a sacred linen apron. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub. Ahitub was the son of Eli’s son Phinehas. Eli had been the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4Jonathan planned to go across the pass to reach the Philistine camp. But there was a cliff on each side of the pass. One cliff was called Bozez. The other was called Seneh. 5One cliff stood on the north side of the pass toward Mikmash. The other stood on the south side toward Geba.
6Jonathan spoke to the young man carrying his armor. He said, “Come on. Let’s go over to the camp of those fellows who aren’t circumcised. Perhaps the Lord will help us. If he does, it won’t matter how many or how few of us there are. That won’t keep the Lord from saving us.”
7“Go ahead,” the young man said. “Do everything you have in mind. I’m with you all the way.”
8Jonathan said, “Come on, then. We’ll go across the pass toward the Philistines and let them see us. 9Suppose they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you.’ Then we’ll stay where we are. We won’t go up to them. 10But suppose they say, ‘Come up to us.’ Then we’ll climb up. That will show us that the Lord has handed them over to us.”
11So Jonathan and the young man let the soldiers in the Philistine camp see them. “Look!” said the Philistines. “Some of the Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” 12The men in the Philistine camp shouted to Jonathan and the young man carrying his armor. They said, “Come on up here. We’ll teach you a thing or two.”
So Jonathan said to the young man, “Climb up after me. The Lord has handed them over to Israel.”
13Using his hands and feet, Jonathan climbed up. The young man was right behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines. The young man followed him and killed those who were still alive. 14In that first attack, Jonathan and the young man killed about 20 men. They did it in an area of about half an acre.
Israel Chases the Philistines Away
15Then panic struck the whole Philistine army. It struck those who were in the camp and those in the field. It struck those who were at the edge of the camp. It also struck those who were in the groups that had been sent out to attack Israel. The ground shook. It was a panic that God had sent.
16Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin saw what was happening. They saw the Philistine army melting away in all directions. 17Then Saul spoke to the men with him. He said, “Bring the troops together. See who has left our camp.” When they did, they discovered that Jonathan and the young man carrying his armor weren’t there.
18Saul said to Ahijah the priest, “Bring the ark of God.” At that time it was with the Israelites. 19While Saul was talking to the priest, the noise in the Philistine camp got louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you are doing.”
20Then Saul and all his men gathered together. They went to the battle. They saw that the Philistines were in total disorder. They were striking one another with their swords. 21At an earlier time some of the Hebrews had been on the side of the Philistines. They had gone up with them to their camp. But now they changed sides. They joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22Some of the Israelites had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim. They heard that the Philistines were running away. They quickly joined the battle and chased after them. 23So on that day the Lord saved Israel. And the fighting continued on past Beth Aven.
Jonathan Eats Honey
24The Israelites became very hungry that day. That’s because Saul had forced the army to make a promise. He had said, “None of you must eat any food before evening comes. You must not eat until I’ve paid my enemies back for what they did. If you do, may you be under a curse!” So none of the troops ate any food at all.
25The whole army entered the woods. There was honey on the ground. 26When they went into the woods, they saw the honey dripping out of a honeycomb. No one put any of the honey in his mouth. They were afraid of the curse that would come if they broke their promise. 27But Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father had forced the army to make a promise. Jonathan had a long stick in his hand. He reached out and dipped the end of it into the honeycomb. He put some honey in his mouth. It gave him new life. 28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the army to make a promise that everyone must obey. He said, ‘None of you must eat any food today. If you do, may you be under a curse!’ That’s why the men are weak and ready to faint.”
29Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how I gained new life after I tasted a little of this honey. 30Our soldiers took food from their enemies today. Suppose they had eaten some of it. How much better off they would have been! Even more Philistines would have been killed.”
31That day the Israelites struck down the Philistines. They killed them from Mikmash to Aijalon. By that time they were tired and worn out. 32They grabbed what they had taken from their enemies. They killed some of the sheep, cattle and calves right there on the ground. They ate the meat while the blood was still in it. 33Then someone said to Saul, “Look! The men are sinning against the Lord. They’re eating meat that still has blood in it.”
Saul said to them, “You have broken your promise. Roll a large stone over here at once.” 34He continued, “Go out among the men. Tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep. Kill them here and eat them. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.’ ”
So that night everyone brought the ox he had taken and killed it there. 35Then Saul built an altar to honor the Lord. It was the first time he had done that.
36Saul said, “Let’s go down and chase after the Philistines tonight. Let’s not leave even one of them alive. Let’s take everything they have before morning.”
“Do what you think is best,” they replied.
But the priest said, “Let’s ask God for advice first.”
37So Saul asked God, “Should I go down and chase after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God didn’t answer him that day.
38Saul said to the leaders of the army, “Come here. Let’s find out what sin has been committed today. 39The Lord is the one who rescues Israel. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that the sinner must die. He must die even if he’s my son Jonathan.” But no one said anything.
40Then Saul said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there. I and my son Jonathan will stand over here.”
“Do what you think is best,” they replied.
41Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel. He said, “Why haven’t you answered your servant today? If I or my son Jonathan is to blame, answer with Urim. But if the Israelites are to blame, answer with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen by casting lots. The other men were cleared of blame. 42Saul said, “Cast the lot to find out whether I or my son Jonathan is to blame.” And Jonathan was chosen.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told him, “I used the end of my stick to get a little honey and taste it. And now do I have to die?”
44Saul said, “Jonathan, I must certainly put you to death. If I don’t, may God punish me greatly.”
45But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan be put to death? Never! He has saved Israel in a wonderful way. He did it today with God’s help. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that not even one hair on Jonathan’s head will fall to the ground.” So the men rescued Jonathan. He wasn’t put to death.
46Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines. They went back to their own land.
47After Saul became the king of Israel, he fought against Israel’s enemies who were all around them. He went to war against Moab, Ammon and Edom. He fought against the kings of Zobah and the Philistines. No matter where he went, he punished his enemies. 48He fought bravely. He won the battle over the Amalekites. He saved Israel from the power of those who had carried off what belonged to Israel.
Saul’s Family
49Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. Saul’s older daughter was named Merab. His younger daughter was named Michal. 50Saul’s wife was named Ahinoam. She was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was named Abner. He was the son of Ner. Ner was Saul’s uncle. 51Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52As long as Saul was king, he had to fight hard against the Philistines. So every time Saul saw a strong or brave man, he took him into his army.
