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1 Samuel 14
1599 Geneva Bible
1 Samuel 14
1599 Geneva Bible
14 14 Jonathan and his armor bearer put the Philistines to flight. 24 Saul bindeth the people by an oath, not to eat till evening. 32 The people eat with the blood. 38 Saul would put Jonathan to death. 45 The people deliver him.
1 Then on a day Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, [a]Come and let us go over toward the Philistines garrison, that is yonder on the other side, but he told not his father.
2 And Saul tarried in the border of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, which was in Migron, and the people that were with him, were about six hundred men.
3 And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, (A)Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the Lord’s Priest in Shiloh, and wore an Ephod: and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4 ¶ Now in the way whereby Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines garrison, there was a [b]sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: the name of the one was called Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The one rock stretched from the North toward Michmash, and the other was from the South toward Gibeah.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these [c]uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work with us: for it is [d]not hard to the Lord (B)to save with many, or with few.
7 And he that bare his armor, said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: go where it pleaseth thee: behold, [e]I am with thee as thine heart desireth.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we go over unto those men, and will show ourselves unto them.
9 [f]If they say on this wise to us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and not go up to them.
10 But if they say, 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.
11 So they both showed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, See, the Hebrews come out of the [g]holes wherein they had hid themselves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, Come up to us: for we will show you a thing. Then Jonathan said unto his armor bearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 So Jonathan went up upon [h]his hands and upon his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and some fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer slew others after him.
14 So the [i]first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, as it were within half an acre of land which two oxen plow.
15 And there was a fear in the host, and in the field, and among all the people: the garrison also, and they that went out to spoil, were afraid themselves: and the earth [j]trembled: for it was stricken with fear by God.
16 ¶ Then the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw: and behold, the multitude was discomfited, and smitten as they went.
17 Therefore said Saul unto the people that were with him, Search now, and see, who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18 And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the Ark of God (for the Ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel)
19 ¶ And while Saul talked unto the Priest, the noise that was in the host of the Philistines, spread farther abroad, and increased: therefore Saul said unto the Priest, [k]Withdraw thine hand.
20 And Saul was assembled with all the people that were with him, and they came to the battle: and behold, (C)every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
21 Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines beforetime, and were come with them into all parts of the host, even they also turned to be with the [l]Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Also all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines were fled, they followed after them in the battle.
23 And so the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle continued unto Beth Aven.
24 And at that time the men of Israel were pressed with hunger: for Saul charged the people with an oath, saying, [m]Cursed be the man that eateth [n]food till night, that I may be avenged of mine enemies: so none of the people tasted any sustenance.
25 And all they of the land came to a wood, where honey lay upon the ground.
26 And the people came into the wood, and behold, the honey dropped, and no man moved his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the [o]oath.
27 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 honey comb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his [p]eyes received sight.
28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father made the people to swear, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth sustenance this day: and the people were [q]faint.
29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath [r]troubled the land: see now how mine eyes are made clear, because I have tasted a little of this honey:
30 How much more, if the people had eaten today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31 ¶ And they smote the Philistines that day, from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were exceeding faint.
32 So the people turned to the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves and slew them on the ground, and the people did eat them (D)with the blood.
33 Then men told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have trespassed: [s]roll a great stone unto me this day.
34 Again Saul said, Go abroad among the people, and bid them bring me 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 the people brought every man his ox in his hand that night, and slew them there.
35 Then Saul made an altar unto the Lord, and that [t]was the first altar that he made unto the Lord.
36 ¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning shine, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever thou thinkest best. Then said the Priest, Let us [u]draw near hither unto God.
37 So Saul asked of God, saying, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? But he answered him not at that time.
38 ¶ And Saul said, (E)All [v]ye chief of the people, come ye hither, and know, and see by whom this sin is done this day.
39 For as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be done by Jonathan my son, he shall die the death. But none of all the people answered him.
40 Then he said 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 thou thinkest best.
41 Then Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give [w]a perfect lot. And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.
42 And Saul said, Cast lot between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I tasted a little honey with the end of the rod, that was in mine hand, and lo, I must die.
44 Again Saul answered, God do so and more also, unless thou die the death, Jonathan.
45 And the people said unto Saul, [x]Shall Jonathan die, who hath so mightily delivered 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 delivered Jonathan that he died not.
46 Then Saul came up from the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 ¶ So Saul held 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 went, he [y]handled them as wicked men.
48 He gathered also an host and smote [z]Amalek, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, [aa]and Jishui, and Malchishua: and the names of his two daughters, the elder was called Merab, and the younger was named [ab]Michal.
50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of his chief captain was [ac]Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51 And Kish was Saul’s father: and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and [ad]whomsoever Saul saw to be a strong man, and meet for the war, he took him unto him.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 14:1 By this example God would declare to Israel that the victory did not consist in multitude or armor, but only came of his grace.
- 1 Samuel 14:4 Or, like a tooth.
- 1 Samuel 14:6 To wit, the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 14:6 Or, none can let the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 14:7 I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
- 1 Samuel 14:9 This he spake by the spirit of prophecy, forasmuch hereby God gave him assurance of the victory.
- 1 Samuel 14:11 Thus they spake contemptuously and by derision.
- 1 Samuel 14:13 That is, he crept up, or went up with all haste.
- 1 Samuel 14:14 The second was when they slew one another, and the third when the Israelites chased them.
- 1 Samuel 14:15 In that the insensible creatures tremble for fear of God’s judgment, it declareth how terrible his vengeance shall be against his enemies.
- 1 Samuel 14:19 Let the Ephod alone: for I have no leisure now to ask counsel of God, Num. 27:21.
- 1 Samuel 14:21 Though before for fear of the Philistines they declared themselves as enemies to their brethren.
- 1 Samuel 14:24 Such was his hypocrisy and arrogancy, that he thought to attribute to his policy that which God had given by the hand of Jonathan.
- 1 Samuel 14:24 Hebrew, bread.
- 1 Samuel 14:26 That is, the punishment, if they break their oath.
- 1 Samuel 14:27 Which were dim before for weariness and hunger.
- 1 Samuel 14:28 Or, weary.
- 1 Samuel 14:29 By making this cruel law.
- 1 Samuel 14:33 That the blood of the beast that shall be slain, may be pressed out upon it.
- 1 Samuel 14:35 Or, of that stone began he to build an altar.
- 1 Samuel 14:36 To ask counsel of him.
- 1 Samuel 14:38 Hebrew, corners.
- 1 Samuel 14:41 Cause the lot to fall on him that hath broken the oath: but he doth not consider his presumption in commanding the same oath.
- 1 Samuel 14:45 The people thought it their duty to rescue him, who of ignorance had but broken a rash law, and by whom they had received so great a benefit.
- 1 Samuel 14:47 Or, overcame them.
- 1 Samuel 14:48 As the Lord had commanded, Deut. 25:17.
- 1 Samuel 14:49 Called also Abinadab, 1 Sam. 31:2.
- 1 Samuel 14:49 Which was the Wife of David, 1 Sam. 18:27.
- 1 Samuel 14:50 Whom Joab the captain of David slew, 2 Sam. 3:27.
- 1 Samuel 14:52 As Samuel had forewarned, 1 Sam. 8:11.
1 Samuel 14
New International Version
1 Samuel 14
New International Version
14 1 One 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.
2 Saul was staying(A) on the outskirts of Gibeah(B) under a pomegranate tree(C) in Migron.(D) With him were about six hundred men, 3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s(E) brother Ahitub(F) son of Phinehas, the son of Eli,(G) the Lord’s priest in Shiloh.(H) No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4 On each side of the pass(I) 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 Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.(J)
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised(K) men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing(L) can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many(M) or by few.(N)”
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 on, then; we will cross over toward them 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(O) that the Lord has given them into our hands.(P)”
11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews(Q) are crawling out of the holes they were hiding(R) 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.(S)”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand(T) 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(U) struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding(V) parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.[a]
16 Saul’s lookouts(W) 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(X) the ark(Y) of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)[b] 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest,(Z) “Withdraw your hand.”
20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking(AA) each other with their swords. 21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went(AB) over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden(AC) in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. 23 So on that day the Lord saved(AD) Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.(AE)
Jonathan Eats Honey
24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath,(AF) 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.
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 dipped it into the honeycomb.(AG) He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.[c] 28 Then 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.”
29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble(AH) for the country. See how my eyes 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 Mikmash(AI) to Aijalon,(AJ) they were exhausted. 32 They pounced on the plunder(AK) and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.(AL) 33 Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood(AM) 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(AN) in it.’”
So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar(AO) to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.
36 Saul 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(AP) of God here.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer(AQ) 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(AR) today. 39 As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives,(AS) even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan,(AT) he must die.”(AU) 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,[d] respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42 Saul said, “Cast the lot(AV) between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”(AW)
So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey(AX) with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”
44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(AY) if you do not die, Jonathan.(AZ)”
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(BA) of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued(BB) 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,(BC) the Ammonites,(BD) Edom,(BE) the kings[e] of Zobah,(BF) and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.[f] 48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites,(BG) delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul’s Family
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua.(BH) The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.(BI) 50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner(BJ) son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.(BK) 51 Saul’s father Kish(BL) 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(BM) him into his service.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 14:15 Or a terrible panic
- 1 Samuel 14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint “Bring the ephod.” (At that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites.)
- 1 Samuel 14:27 Or his strength was renewed; similarly in verse 29
- 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
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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