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1 Samuel 14:38-52
New American Standard Bible
1 Samuel 14:38-52
New American Standard Bible
38 Then Saul said, “(A)[a]Come here, all you [b]leaders of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. 39 For (B)as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall assuredly die!” But not one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good [c]to you.” 41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “(C)Give a [d]perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people [e]were exonerated. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected by lot.
43 So Saul said to Jonathan, “(D)Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “(E)I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44 And Saul said, “(F)May God do the same to me and more also, for (G)you shall certainly die, Jonathan!” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, he who has [f]brought about this great [g]victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, (H)not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because (I)he has worked with God this day.” So the people [h]rescued Jonathan and he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from [i]pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Constant Warfare
47 Now when Saul had taken control of the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, (J)the sons of Ammon, Edom, (K)the kings of Zobah, and (L)the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he [j]inflicted punishment. 48 And he acted valiantly and [k](M)defeated the Amalekites, and saved Israel from the hands of [l]those who plundered them.
49 Now (N)the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was (O)Merab, and the name of the younger, (P)Michal. 50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And (Q)the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 (R)Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any warrior or any valiant man, he [m](S)attached him to his staff.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 14:38 Lit Approach here
- 1 Samuel 14:38 Lit cornerstones
- 1 Samuel 14:40 Lit in your eyes
- 1 Samuel 14:41 I.e., a clear answer
- 1 Samuel 14:41 Lit got out
- 1 Samuel 14:45 Lit worked
- 1 Samuel 14:45 Lit deliverance
- 1 Samuel 14:45 Lit ransomed
- 1 Samuel 14:46 Lit after
- 1 Samuel 14:47 Or condemned
- 1 Samuel 14:48 Lit struck
- 1 Samuel 14:48 Lit its plunderer
- 1 Samuel 14:52 Lit brought him in to himself
1 Samuel 14:38-52
New International Version
1 Samuel 14:38-52
New International Version
38 Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed(A) today. 39 As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives,(B) even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan,(C) he must die.”(D) But not one of them 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,” they replied.
41 Then 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,[a] respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42 Saul said, “Cast the lot(E) between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”(F)
So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey(G) with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”
44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(H) if you do not die, Jonathan.(I)”
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(J) of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued(K) 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 assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab,(L) the Ammonites,(M) Edom,(N) the kings[b] of Zobah,(O) and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.[c] 48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites,(P) delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul’s Family
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua.(Q) The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.(R) 50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner(S) son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.(T) 51 Saul’s father Kish(U) and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took(V) him into his service.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 14:41 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have “Why … at fault.
- 1 Samuel 14:47 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint king
- 1 Samuel 14:47 Hebrew; Septuagint he was victorious
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
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