Jonathan Attacks the Philistines
23
Now a detachemnt of Philistnes had gone out to the pass at Micmash.
1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor,
"Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side."
But he did not tell his fater.
2
Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron.
With him were about six hundred men,
3
among 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.
4
On 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.
5
One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to th south toward Geba.
6
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost
of those uncircumcised fellows. 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."
8
Jonathan said,
"Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us.
9
If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,'
we will stay where we are and not go up to them.
10
But 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."
11
So 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."
12
The 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."
13
Jonathan 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.
14
In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men
in an area of about half an acre.
Israel Routs the Philistines
15
Then 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.
16
Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.
17
Then 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.
18
Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.)
19
While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumilt in the Philistine camp increased
more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."
20
Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle.
They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with ther swords.
21
Those 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.
22
When 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.
23
So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Jonathan Eats Honey
24
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound
the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed be any man who eats food before
evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!"
So none of the troops tasted fod.
25
The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.
26
When 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.
27
But 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 dpped it into
the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28
Then one of the soldiers told him, "Your father bounf the army under a strict oath,
saying, 'Cursed be any man who eats food today! That is why the men are faint."
29
Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the country.
See how my eyes are brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.
30
How 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?"
31
That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Micmash
to Aijalon, they were exhausted.
32
They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves,
they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.
33
Then someone said to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD
by eating meat tht has blood in it." "You have broken faith," he said.
"Roll a large stone over here at once."
34
Then 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 bought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.
35
Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this.
36
Saul said, "Let us go down after te 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."
37
So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them
into Israel's hand?" But God did not answer him that day.
38
Saul therefore said, "Come here, all you who are leaders of the army,
and let us find out what sin has been committed today.
39
As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if it lies with my son Jonathan,
he must die." But not one of the men said a word.
40
Saul 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," the men replied.
41
Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Give me the right answer."
And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.
42
Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son."
And Jonathan was taken.
43
Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him,
"I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now must I die?"
44
Saul said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,
if you do not die, Jonathan."
45
But 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.
46
Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
47
After Saul had assuned rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every
side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines.
Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.
48
He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands
of those who had plundered them.
Saul's Family
49
Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter
was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.
50
His wife's name was Ahinoam dughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander
of Saul's army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle.
51
Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52
Al 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.
