1One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-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 toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
6Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward 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 armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-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 armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
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 armor-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 Mikmash 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 inquire 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 will 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 older 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.
約拿單攻打非利士人
1一天，掃羅的兒子約拿單對為他拿兵器的年輕人說：「來吧，我們去非利士的駐軍那裡。」但他沒有告訴父親。 2那時掃羅正待在基比亞邊界米磯崙的石榴樹下，跟隨他的大約有六百人， 3其中有穿著以弗得的祭司亞希亞，即亞希突的兒子。亞希突是示羅耶和華祭司以利的孫子，非尼哈的兒子，以迦博的哥哥。沒有人留意到約拿單出去了。 4約拿單到非利士駐軍那裡需要經過一個隘口，隘口兩邊的山峰一個叫播薛，一個叫西尼， 5北面的山峰面對密抹，南面的山峰面對迦巴。
6約拿單對拿兵器的年輕人說：「我們去那些未受割禮之人的軍營，也許耶和華會幫助我們。祂使人得勝不在於人數多少。」 7拿兵器的人答道：「就照你的意思，我會一心追隨你。」 8約拿單說：「我們去他們那邊，故意讓他們發現。 9如果他們說，『站住，等我們去你們那裡！』我們就待在原地，不去他們那裡。 10但如果他們說，『你們來我們這裡！』我們就去，因為那表示耶和華已經把他們交在我們手裡了。」 11非利士的駐軍看見二人走近，就說：「看！希伯來人從躲藏的洞裡爬出來了！」 12駐軍對約拿單和拿兵器的人大喊：「上來，我們要教訓教訓你們。」約拿單就對拿兵器的人說：「跟著我爬上去，耶和華已經把他們交在以色列人手裡了。」 13於是，約拿單就爬上去擊殺非利士人，拿兵器的人緊隨其後，一同擊殺非利士人。 14他們首次出擊，在半畝大小的區域殺了約二十個非利士人。 15營房、田野的所有非利士人，包括駐軍和突擊隊都非常恐慌。大地震動，眾人恐懼萬分。
16掃羅在便雅憫境內基比亞的哨兵看見非利士軍隊四散奔逃，潰不成軍。 17掃羅對跟隨他的人說：「你們查一查，看誰離開了軍營？」結果發現約拿單和為他拿兵器的人不見了。 18掃羅對亞希亞說：「把上帝的約櫃抬來。」那時上帝的約櫃在以色列人那裡。 19掃羅和祭司說話的時候，非利士人營裡越來越混亂。掃羅對祭司說：「停手吧。」 20他和跟隨他的人聚集起來，衝入戰場，發現非利士人正互相殘殺，亂作一團。 21從前加入非利士軍隊的希伯來人，現在也倒戈加入掃羅和約拿單的以色列軍隊。 22那些躲在以法蓮山區的以色列人聽說非利士人潰逃，都出來緊緊地追殺他們。 23耶和華在那天拯救了以色列人，戰事一直蔓延到伯·亞文。
約拿單誤違父命
24那一天，以色列人很困乏，因為掃羅叫他們起誓：「誰在黃昏前，就是在向敵人報完仇以前吃任何東西，誰就要受咒詛。」於是，以色列人整天都沒有進食。 25眾人進入樹林，見地上有蜂蜜。 26他們在樹林中雖然看見有蜂蜜正在滴落，但沒有人敢伸手取蜂蜜吃，因為他們都怕違背誓言。 27約拿單沒有聽見他父親叫以色列人起誓，他伸出手中的杖蘸蜂房的蜜吃，立刻精神大振。 28有個士兵告訴約拿單，說：「你父親曾叫眾人鄭重起誓，『今天吃東西的人必受咒詛。』所以眾人很疲憊。」 29約拿單說：「我父親使大家受苦了。你們看，我只吃了少許蜂蜜，就精神大振， 30如果大家吃了從敵人那裡奪來的食物，我們就會殲滅更多非利士人。」
31那天，以色列人追殺非利士人，從密抹一直追殺到亞雅崙，眾人疲憊不堪。 32他們匆匆把奪來的牛、羊和牛犢在地上宰了，肉還帶血就吃了。 33有人告訴掃羅，說：「眾人吃了帶血的肉，得罪耶和華了。」掃羅說：「你們犯罪了！現在把一塊大石頭滾到我這裡來， 34再去吩咐大家把牛羊都帶到這裡來宰了吃，不可吃帶血的肉得罪耶和華。」當晚，眾人都把自己的牛羊帶到那裡宰殺。 35掃羅為耶和華築了一座祭壇，這是他第一次為耶和華築壇。
36他對以色列人說：「讓我們連夜追趕非利士人，搶奪他們的財物，直到天亮，把他們全部殲滅。」眾人答道：「就照你的意思。」但祭司說：「讓我們先來求問上帝吧。」 37於是，掃羅求問上帝，說：「我可以去追殺非利士人嗎？你會把他們交在以色列人手裡嗎？」但耶和華那日沒有回答他。 38掃羅說：「你們這些百姓的首領到這裡來，我們要查出今天究竟誰犯了罪， 39我憑拯救以色列的永活的耶和華起誓，就是我兒子約拿單犯了罪，他也要死！」眾人都默不作聲。 40掃羅對以色列眾人說：「你們站在這邊，我和我的兒子約拿單站在那邊。」眾人答道：「就照你的意思。」 41掃羅向以色列的上帝耶和華禱告說：「請你把實情告訴我吧。」抽籤的結果是約拿單和掃羅犯了罪，民眾都是無辜的。 42掃羅和約拿單二人再抽籤，結果抽出了約拿單。 43掃羅對約拿單說：「告訴我，你做了什麼事？」約拿單說：「我確實用手中的杖蘸了一點蜂蜜吃，這樣我就要死嗎？」 44掃羅說：「約拿單啊，你必須死。否則，願上帝重重地懲罰我。」 45但眾人對掃羅說：「今天約拿單給以色列人帶來這麼大的勝利，難道要他死嗎？絕不可以！我們憑永活的耶和華起誓，絕不可動他一根頭髮，因為他今天的行動有上帝的幫助。」眾人就這樣救了約拿單的性命。 46掃羅便停止了追擊，非利士人也回本地去了。
47掃羅統治以色列後，常常攻打四圍的摩押人、亞捫人、以東人、瑣巴的諸王和非利士人等仇敵，無往而不勝。 48他奮勇殺敵，打敗了亞瑪力人，從掠奪者手中救出以色列人。
49他的兒子是約拿單、亦施韋和麥基舒亞，長女叫米拉，次女叫米甲。 50他的妻子名叫亞希暖，是亞希瑪斯的女兒。掃羅軍隊的元帥叫押尼珥，是他叔叔尼珥的兒子。 51掃羅的父親基士和押尼珥的父親尼珥都是亞別的兒子。 52掃羅一生常和非利士人激烈交戰。他遇見英勇的壯士，都會徵募到自己麾下。
