1 Samuel 14

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 One day, Jonathan son of Saul said to his armour-bearer, 'Come on, let us go across to the Philistineoutpost over on the other side.' But he did not inform his father.	1 One day Jonathan, son of Saul, said to his armor-bearer, "Come let us go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not inform his father.
2 Saul was on the outskirts of Geba, sitting under the pomegranate tree that stands near the threshing-floor; the force with him numbered about six hundred men.	2 (Saul's command post was under the pomegranate tree near the threshing floor on the outskirts of Geba; those with him numbered about six hundred men.
3 Ahijah son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh,was carrying the ephod. The force did not know that Jonathan had left.	3 Ahijah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, who was the son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD at Shiloh, was wearing the ephod.) Nor did the soldiers know that Jonathan had gone.
4 In the pass that Jonathan was trying to cross to reach the Philistine outpost, there is a rocky spur onone side and a rocky spur on the other; one is cal ed Bozez, the other Seneh.	4 Flanking the ravine through which Jonathan intended to get over to the Philistine outpost there was a rocky crag on each side, one called Bozez, the other Seneh.
5 The first spur stands to the north facing Michmash, the other to the south facing Geba.	5 One crag was to the north, toward Michmash, the other to the south, toward Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, 'Come on, let us go across to these uncircumcised people'soutpost; perhaps Yahweh wil do something for us, for Yahweh is free to grant deliverance through a few men,just as much as through many.'	6 Jonathan said to his armor-bearer: "Come let us go over to that outpost of the uncircumcised. Perhaps the LORD will help us, because it is no more difficult for the LORD to grant victory through a few than through many."
7 His armour-bearer replied, 'Do exactly as you think. I am with you; our hearts are as one.'	7 His armor-bearer replied, "Do whatever you are inclined to do; I will match your resolve."
8 Jonathan then said, 'Look, we will go across to these people and let ourselves be seen.	8 Jonathan continued: "We shall go over to those men and show ourselves to them.
9 If they say, "Do not move until we come to you," we shal stay where we are and not go up to them.	9 If they say to us, 'Stay there until we can come to you,' we shall stop where we are; we shall not go up to them.
10 But if they say, "Come up to us," we shal go up, for that wil be the sign for us that Yahweh has given them into our power.'	10 But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we shall go up, because the LORD has delivered them into our grasp. That will be our sign."
11 When the two of them let themselves be seen by the Philistine outpost, the Philistines said, 'Look,the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding.'	11 Accordingly, the two of them appeared before the outpost of the Philistines, who said, "Look, some Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding."
12 The men of the outpost then hailed Jonathan and his armour-bearer. 'Come up to us,' they said, 'wehave something to tel you.' Jonathan then said to his armour-bearer, 'Fol ow me up; Yahweh has given theminto the power of Israel.'	12 The men of the outpost called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. "Come up here," they said, "and we will teach you a lesson." So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the grasp of Israel."
13 Jonathan clambered up on hands and feet, with his armour-bearer behind him; the Philistines fel atJonathan's onslaught, and his armour-bearer, coming behind, finished them off.	13 Jonathan clambered up with his armor-bearer behind him; as the Philistines turned to flee him, he cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed him and finished them off.
14 This first kil ing made by Jonathan and his armour-bearer accounted for about twenty men . . .	14 In this first exploit Jonathan and his armor-bearer slew about twenty men within half a furlong.
15 There was panic in the camp, in the field and throughout the army; outpost and raiding company toowere panic-stricken; the earth quaked: it was a panic from Yahweh.	15 Then panic spread to the army and to the countryside, and all the soldiers, including the outpost and the raiding parties, were terror-stricken. The earth also shook, so that the panic was beyond human endurance.
16 Saul's look-out men in Geba of Benjamin could see the camp scattering in all directions.	16 The lookouts of Saul in Geba of Benjamin saw that the enemy camp had scattered and were running about in all directions.
17 Saul then said to the force that was with him, 'Cal the roll and see who has left us.' So they cal edthe rol , and Jonathan and his armour-bearer were missing.	17 Saul said to those around him, "Count the troops and find out if any of us are missing." When they had investigated, they found Jonathan and his armor-bearer missing.
18 Saul then said to Ahijah, 'Bring the ephod,' since he was the man who carried the ephod in Israel.	18 Saul then said to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here." (Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites at that time.)
19 But while Saul was speaking to the priest, the turmoil in the Philistine camp grew worse and worse;and Saul said to the priest, 'Withdraw your hand.'	19 While Saul was speaking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp kept increasing. So he said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."
20 Saul and the whole force with him then formed up and advanced to where the fighting was going on:and there they al were, drawing their swords on one another in wild confusion.	20 And Saul and all his men shouted and rushed into the fight, where the Philistines, wholly confused, were thrusting swords at one another.
21 Those Hebrews who had earlier taken service with the Philistines and had accompanied them intocamp, now defected to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.	21 In addition, the Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines and had gone up with them to the camp, turned to join the Israelites under Saul and Jonathan.
22 Similarly, all those Israelites who had been hiding in the highlands of Ephraim, hearing that thePhilistines were on the run, chased after them and joined in the fight.	22 Likewise, all the Israelites who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim, on hearing that the Philistines were fleeing, pursued them in the rout.
23 That day Yahweh gave Israel the victory. The fighting reached the other side of Beth-Horon.	23 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day. The battle continued past Beth-horon;
24 As the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, Saul pronounced this imprecation over the people,'A curse on anyone who eats food before evening, before I have taken revenge on my enemies!' So none of thepeople so much as tasted food.	24 the whole people, about ten thousand combatants, were with Saul, and there was scattered fighting in every town in the hill country of Ephraim. And Saul swore a very rash oath that day, putting the people under this ban: "Cursed be the man who takes food before evening, before I am able to avenge myself on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.
25 Now there was a honeycomb out in the open.	25 Indeed, there was a honeycomb lying on the ground,
26 The people came to the honeycomb, the honey was dripping out, but no one put a hand to his mouth,the people being in awe of the oath.	26 and when the soldiers came to the comb the swarm had left it; yet no one would raise a hand to his mouth from it, because the people feared the oath.
27 Jonathan, however, not having heard his father bind the people with the oath, reached with the endof the stick which he was carrying, thrust it into the honeycomb and put it to his mouth; whereupon his eyes grewbrighter.	27 Jonathan, who had not heard that his father had put the people under oath, thrust out the end of the staff he was holding and dipped in into the honey. Then he raised it to his mouth and his eyes lit up.
28 One of the people then spoke up. 'Your father', he said, 'has bound the people with this oath: "Acurse on anyone who eats anything today." '	28 At this one of the soldiers spoke up: "Your father put the people under a strict oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who takes food this day!' As a result the people are weak."
29 'My father has brought trouble on the country,' Jonathan replied. 'See how much brighter my eyes arefor having eaten this mouthful of honey.	29 Jonathan replied: "My father brings trouble to the land. Look how bright my eyes are from this small taste of honey I have had.
30 By the same token, if the people had been allowed to eat some of the booty which they had capturedfrom the enemy today, would not the defeat of the Philistines have been all the greater?'	30 What is more, if the people had eaten freely today of their enemy's booty when they came across it, would not the slaughter of the Philistines by now have been the greater for it?"
31 That day the Philistines were beaten from Michmash all the way to Aijalon, until the people wereutterly exhausted.	31 After the Philistines were routed that day from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were completely exhausted.
32 The people flung themselves on the booty and, taking sheep, bul ocks and calves, slaughtered themthere on the ground and ate them with the blood.	32 So they pounced upon the spoil and took sheep, oxen and calves, slaughtering them on the ground and eating the flesh with blood.
33 Saul was informed, 'The people are sinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood!' He said, 'Youhave not kept faith! Roll me a large stone here!'	33 Informed that the people were sinning against the LORD by eating the flesh with blood, Saul said: "You have broken faith. Roll a large stone here for me."
34 Saul then said, 'Scatter among the people and say, "Everyone is to bring his bul ock or his sheep tome here." You wil slaughter them here and eat, and not sin against Yahweh by eating with the blood.' Eachindividual brought what he happened to have that night, and they al slaughtered in the same place.	34 He continued: "Mingle with the people and tell each of them to bring his ox or his sheep to me. Slaughter it here and then eat, but you must not sin against the LORD by eating the flesh with blood." So everyone brought to the LORD whatever ox he had seized, and they slaughtered them there;
35 Saul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar he had built to Yahweh.	35 and Saul built an altar to the LORD--this was the first time he built an altar to the LORD.
36 Saul said, 'Let us go down under cover of dark and plunder the Philistines until dawn; we shal notleave one of them alive.' 'Do whatever you think right,' they replied. But the priest said, 'Let us approach Godhere.'	36 Then Saul said, "Let us go down in pursuit of the Philistines by night, to plunder among them until daybreak and to kill them all off." They replied, "Do what you think best." But the priest said, "Let us consult God."
37 Saul consulted God, 'Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?'But he gave him no reply that day.	37 So Saul inquired of God: "Shall I go down in pursuit of the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the power of Israel?" But he received no answer on this occasion.
38 Saul then said, 'Come forward, al you leaders of the people; consider carefully where today's sinmay lie;	38 Saul then said, "Come here, all officers of the army. We must investigate and find out how this sin was committed today.
39 for as Yahweh lives who gives victory to Israel, even if the sin lies with Jonathan my son, he shal beput to death.' But not one out of al the people answered.	39 As the LORD lives who has given victory to Israel, even if my son Jonathan has committed it, he shall surely die!" But none of the people answered him.
40 He then said to al Israel, 'Stand on one side, and I and Jonathan my son wil stand on the other.' Andthe people replied to Saul, 'Do as you think right.'	40 So he said to all Israel, "Stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other." The people responded, "Do what you think best."
41 Saul then said, 'Yahweh, God of Israel, why did you not answer your servant today? Yahweh, God ofIsrael, if the fault lies with me or with my son Jonathan, give urim: if the fault lies with your people Israel, givethummim.' Jonathan and Saul were indicated and the people went free.	41 And Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel: "Why did you not answer your servant this time? If the blame for this resides in me or my son Jonathan, LORD, God of Israel, respond with Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were designated, and the people went free.
42 Saul said, 'Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,' and Jonathan was indicated.	42 Saul then said, "Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was designated.
43 'I only tasted a mouthful of honey off the end of the stick which I was carrying. But I am ready to die.'	43 Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." Jonathan replied, "I only tasted a little honey from the end of the staff I was holding. Am I to die for this?"
44 Saul said, 'May God bring unnameable il s on me, and worse ones too, if you do not die, Jonathan!'	44 Saul said, "May God do thus and so to me if you do not indeed die, Jonathan!"
45 But the people said to Saul, 'Must Jonathan die after winning this great victory for Israel? We wilnever al ow that! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head shal fal to the ground, for his deeds today havebeen done with the help of God.' And so the people ransomed Jonathan and he was not put to death.	45 But the army said to Saul: "Is Jonathan to die, though it was he who brought Israel this great victory? This must not be! As the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for God was with him in what he did today!" Thus the soldiers were able to rescue Jonathan from death.
46 Saul decided not to pursue the Philistines, and the Philistines retired to their own territory.	46 After that Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, who returned to their own territory.
47 Saul consolidated his rule over Israel and made war on al his enemies on al fronts: on Moab, theAmmonites, Edom, the king of Zobah and the Philistines; whichever way he turned, he was victorious.	47 After taking over the kingship of Israel, Saul waged war on all their surrounding enemies--Moab, the Ammonites, Aram, Beth-rehob, the king of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he was successful
48 He did great deeds of valour; he defeated the Amalekites and delivered Israel from those who usedto pil age him.	48 and fought bravely. He defeated Amalek and delivered Israel from the hands of those who were plundering them.
49 Saul's sons were: Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were: the elder,Merab, and the younger, Michal.	49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; his two daughters were named, the elder, Merob, and the younger, Michal.
50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of his army commander wasAbner son of Ner, Saul's uncle.	50 Saul's wife, who was named Ahinoam, was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of his general was Abner, son of Saul's uncle, Ner;
51 Kish father of Saul, and Ner father of Abner were the sons of Abiel.	51 Kish, Saul's father, and Ner, Abner's father, were sons of Abiel.
52 There was fierce warfare with the Philistines throughout Saul's life. Any strong or valiant man whocaught Saul's eye, he recruited into his service.	52 An unremitting war was waged against the Philistines during Saul's lifetime. When Saul saw any strong or brave man, he took him into his service.