1 Samuel Chapter 14
Jonathan Defeats the Philistines
1 One day Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, “Let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” He didn’t tell his father, 2 who was staying with about 600 men on the outskirts of Gibeah around the pomegranate tree in Migron. 3 Among Saul’s men was Ahijah wearing an ephod—Ben-Ahitub (Ichabod’s brother) Ben-Phinehas Ben-Eli, Yahveh’s priest at Shiloh. The people didn’t know Jonathan had gone. 4 Between the passes Jonathan was planning to use to cross over to the Philistines outpost, there were steep cliffs on two sides named Bozez and Seneh. 5 One went up to the north toward Michmash, the other one on the south toward Geba.
1 Sam 14:1-5
6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Let’s go over to those uncircumcised Philistines. Maybe Yahveh will work for us. He’s not limited to saving by many or few.”
7 “Do what you want. I’m with you.”
8 Jonathan said,
“We’ll go let them know we’re here. 9 If they say, ‘Wait till we come to you,’ we’ll stay put. 10 If they say, ‘Come on up,’ we’ll go up. Yahveh will deliver them to us. That will be our sign.”
11 When they let the outpost know they were there, they said, “The Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding.” 12 The men in the outpost shouted, “Come on up! We’ll show you a thing or two!” Jonathan told his armor bearer, “Come on; Yahveh will deliver them to Israel.” 13 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet with his armor bearer behind him, and they fell to Jonathan. His armor bearer killed some behind him. 14 That first slaughter was about 20 men on a half-acre. 15 There was panic in the camp, in the field, and among the people. Even the garrison and raiding parties trembled, and the ground shook. 1 Sam 14:6-15
16 Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah saw the camp scattering, running here and there. 17 Saul told the people with him, “Count and see who’s not here.” They counted, and Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing. 18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s Ark here.” At that time, it was with the people in Israel. 19 While he was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp grew, so Saul told the priest not to worry about it then. 20 Saul and his people rallied and joined the battle. The Philistines were killing one another in total chaos. 21 The Hebrews that had been going around with the Philistine camp joined the people with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When people hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also chased them in the battle. 23 Yahveh delivered Israel that day, and the battle spread past Beth-aven.
1 Sam 14:16-23
Saul’s Rash Vow
24 The men in Israel were totally exhausted because Saul had put them under oath, “Accursed is the man that eats before evening, until I’ve avenged myself of my enemies.” So nobody had eaten anything. 25-26 When they went into the forest, they’d found honeycomb on the ground, but nobody put any in his mouth out of respect for the oath. 27 But Jonathan hadn’t heard about his father’s oath. He dipped the end of his staff in the honeycomb, and put some in his mouth, and he was refreshed. 28 One of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, ‘The man that eats today is under a curse.’” The people were exhausted. 29 Jonathan said,
“My father has created a problem. See how I’ve been refreshed because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more if the people had eaten freely from the spoils! As it is, the slaughter among the Philistines wasn’t that great.”
1 Sam 14:24-30
31 They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were completely exhausted. 32 After dark, they rushed ravenously on the spoil, butchered sheep, cattle, and calves on the ground, and ate them with the blood. 33 People told Saul, “They’re sinning against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood.”
He said,
“You’ve acted deviously. Roll a large rock to me. 34 Go out among the people and tell them to bring their ox or sheep, butcher it here and eat. Don’t sin by eating the meat with the blood.’”
The people that night brought their cattle or sheep and butchered them there. 35 Saul built an altar to Yahveh, his first.
1 Sam 14:31-35
36 Then Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines at night and take spoil till daylight. Don’t leave one survivor.”
They said, “Do what you like.”
So the priests said, “Let’s draw near to God here.”
37 Saul asked God, “Should we go down after the Philistines? Will you give them to Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.
38 Saul said,
“Come here, you chiefs of the people, and find out how this sin happened today. 39 As sure as Yahveh lives who delivers Israel, even if it’s Jonathan, he’ll die.”
But none of the people answered.
40 Then he said to them, “You’re on one side; Jonathan and I are on the other.”
The people said, “Do what you like.”
41 Saul told Yahveh, “Give a clear answer.” The lot fell on Jonathan and Saul.
42 Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan.” The lot fell on Jonathan.
43 He said to Jonathan, “What did you do?”
Jonathan told him, “I tasted some honey with the end of my staff. So kill me!”
44 Saul said, “God do this to me and more also because you’ll surely die, Jonathan.”
45 But the people said to Saul,
“Does Jonathan have to die who brought about this great deliverance? Far from it! As sure as Yahveh lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground; he’s worked with God today.”
The people rescued him. 46 Saul quit chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went home.
1 Sam 14:36-46
Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies
47 When Saul took over the kingship, he fought Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. He inflicted punishment wherever he went. 48 He acted bravely and defeated the Amalekites and delivered Israel from plunderers.
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua.
His daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal.
50 His wife was Ahinoam Bat-Ahimaaz.
The general of his army was Abner Ben-Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51 His father was Kish;
Ner was son of Abiel.
52 During Saul’s whole life, he was constantly at war with the Philistines. Whenever he saw a strong or brave man, he’d attach him to his staff.
1 Sam 14:47-52