1 Samuel 14

Now 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.

One day, Jonathan, Saul's son, turned to his young armor-bearer and said, "Let's cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he didn't tell his father about this.

And 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;

Saul and his band of about six hundred men lingered at the farthest edge of Gibeah, under a pomegranate tree in Migron.

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’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.

With them was Ahiah, wearing the sacred ephod, a descendant of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh. Unbeknownst to the people, Jonathan had quietly slipped away.

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.

Jonathan was trying to reach the Philistines' camp, but his path was blocked by two jagged rocks. One was called Bozez, the other Seneh.

The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

One faced north, towards Michmash, while the other looked south, towards Gibeah.

And 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.

Jonathan turned to his young armor bearer with a determined look, "Let's go to the enemy's camp. Perhaps God will fight for us. After all, God's power to save isn't limited by numbers."

And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

His loyal companion assured him, "Follow your heart, change your path if you must. Remember, I stand by your side, guided by your heart's desires."

Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

Jonathan declared, "Let's cross over toward these men and let them see us."

If 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.

If they ask us to wait for them, we'll stay put and won't approach them.

But 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.

If they invite us to join them, we'll go, knowing that God has given us victory over them. This will be our sign.

And 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.

Both of them revealed their presence to the Philistine guards. The Philistines exclaimed, "Look, the Hebrews are emerging from their hiding places!"

And 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.

The soldiers called out to Jonathan and his aide, inviting them with a challenge. Jonathan, full of faith, turned to his aide and said, "Follow me. God has given us victory over them for Israel."

And 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.

Jonathan bravely ascended, using his hands and feet, followed closely by his loyal armorbearer. They were met with resistance, but their opponents crumbled before Jonathan's might. His armorbearer, too, fought fiercely, eliminating those who threatened them.

And 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.

In their first fierce battle, Jonathan and his aide bravely took down nearly twenty men, all within a small patch of land, no larger than what a pair of oxen could plow.

And 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.

Everyone, everywhere was shaking with fear - the soldiers, the raiders, even the earth itself. It was an intense, all-encompassing terror.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

Saul's guards in Gibeah of Benjamin watched in shock as the crowd dissolved into chaos, attacking each other in a frenzy.

Then 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.

Saul turned to his people, his voice heavy with concern, "Count our numbers, see who's missing." After a tense count, they realized, Jonathan and his armorbearer were nowhere to be found.

And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

Saul pleaded with Ahiah, "Please bring God's ark here." At that time, God's ark was with the people of Israel.

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.

As Saul was deep in conversation with the priest, the clamor from the Philistine camp grew louder and more intense. Feeling the tension rise, Saul turned to the priest and urgently said, "Pull back your hand."

And 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.

Saul and his men gathered and went into battle. There they found the Philistines in total chaos, every man turning his sword against his neighbor.

Moreover 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.

Even the Hebrews, who had previously sided with the Philistines, left their camp and joined their fellow Israelites, standing with Saul and Jonathan.

Likewise 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.

When the men of Israel, who were hiding in Mount Ephraim, heard that the Philistines were retreating, they too joined the fight with renewed courage and determination.

So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

On that day, the LORD, in His great mercy, delivered Israel. The conflict then moved on, sweeping towards Bethaven.

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.

That day, the men of Israel were in distress. Saul had bound them with an oath: "Cursed be anyone who eats any food before evening, until I have taken revenge on my enemies." So no one dared to eat, their hunger growing with each passing hour.

And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

Everyone from the region journeyed to the forest, where they found honey sweetly glistening on the earth.

And 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.

As the crowd entered the forest, they saw honey dripping from the trees. Yet, no one dared to taste it, their fear of breaking the oath held them back.

But 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.

Jonathan, unaware of his father's command to the people, innocently reached out with his staff, dipping it into a honeycomb. As he tasted the honey, a sudden clarity filled his eyes.

Then 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.

One person from the crowd spoke up, "Your father made us swear not to eat today, cursing anyone who did. And now, we're all weak from hunger."

Then 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.

Jonathan spoke up, "My father has caused chaos in our land. Look, I beg you, see how my eyes have brightened, all because I tasted a bit of this honey."

How 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?

Imagine how much better it would have been if the troops had eaten freely today from the spoils of our enemies! Wouldn't we have struck down far more of the Philistines?

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

That day, they overpowered the Philistines, from Michmash to Aijalon. Yet, the people were utterly exhausted.

And 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.

Overwhelmed by greed, the crowd descended on the loot, seizing sheep, oxen, and calves. They slaughtered them right there on the ground, and in their haste, they consumed the meat, still dripping with blood.

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.

They informed Saul, "Look, the people are sinning against God by eating with the blood." Saul responded, "You've crossed a line. Bring me a large stone today."

And 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.

Saul commanded, "Spread out among the people. Tell them to bring their oxen and sheep to me. Slaughter them here for food, but make sure to drain the blood, as eating it would be a sin against God." That night, everyone complied, bringing their oxen and slaughtering them there.

And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

Saul, filled with reverence, constructed his very first altar for the LORD, a symbol of his devotion and faith.

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.

Saul passionately urged, "Let's ambush the Philistines under the cover of darkness, plunder them till dawn, and leave no man standing." They agreed, saying, "Do what you think is best." Then, the priest suggested, "Let's approach God for guidance."

And 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.

Saul, in his desperation, sought God's guidance, "Should I pursue the Philistines? Will you grant Israel victory?" But that day, God remained silent.

And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

Saul pleaded, "Come closer, leaders of the people. Recognize and understand the sin committed today."

For, 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.

Truly, God, the savior of Israel, lives. Even if it involves my son Jonathan, he will face death. Yet, among everyone present, no one dared to respond.

Then 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.

He addressed everyone in Israel, "You stand on one side, while me and my son Jonathan will stand on the other." The people responded to Saul, "Do what you believe is right."

Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Give us a true answer by the lot." The lot fell on Saul and Jonathan, and the people were cleared.

And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

Saul demanded, "Let fate decide between me and my son Jonathan." And so, Jonathan was chosen.

Then 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.

Saul asked Jonathan, "What have you done?" Jonathan confessed, "I merely tasted a bit of honey on my staff's end. Now, it seems, I face death."

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

Saul replied with a heavy heart, "May God punish me severely if you don't face death, Jonathan."

And 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.

The people pleaded with Saul, "Should Jonathan, our savior, die? Absolutely not! By God's grace, he won't be harmed. He has been God's instrument today." So, they saved Jonathan from death.

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, who returned to their homeland.

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.

Saul claimed Israel's throne, bravely battling foes from every direction - Moab, Ammon's offspring, Edom, Zobah's kings, and the Philistines. Wherever he faced, he caused them distress.

And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

He rallied an army, defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from those who oppressed them.

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

Saul had three sons: Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua. He also had two daughters, the elder named Merab and the younger, Michal.

And 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.

Saul's wife was the lovely Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. His army was led by the brave Abner, his uncle Ner's son.

And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.

And 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.

Saul's reign was marked by relentless battles against the Philistines. Whenever Saul spotted a man of strength or courage, he would recruit him, always ready for the fight.