141 Now the day came that Jonathan , the son of Saul , said to the young man who was carrying his armor , "Come and let us cross over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side ." But he did not tell his father . 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron . And the people who were with him were about six hundred men , 3 and Ahijah , the son of Ahitub , Ichabod's brother , the son of Phinehas , the son of Eli , the priest of the Lord at Shiloh , was wearing an ephod . And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone . 4 Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines' garrison , there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side , and the name of the one was Bozez , and the name of the other Seneh . 5 The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash , and the other on the south opposite Geba . 6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor , "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few ." 7 His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart ; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire ." 8 Then Jonathan said , " Behold , we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9 "If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you'; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10 "But if they say , 'Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands ; and this shall be the sign to us." 11 When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines , the Philistines said , "Behold , Hebrews are coming out of the holes where e they have hidden themselves." 12 So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said , "Come up to us and we will tell you something ." And Jonathan said to his armor bearer , "Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel ." 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet , with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan , and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land . 15 And there was a trembling in the camp , in the field , and among all the people . Even the garrison and the raiders trembled , and the earth quaked so that it became a great trembling .
16 Now Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked , and behold , the multitude melted away ; and they went here and there. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number now and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered , behold , Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18 Then Saul said to Ahijah , " Bring the ark of God here ." For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel . 19 While Saul talked to the priest , the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased ; so Saul said to the priest , "Withdraw your hand ." 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle ; and behold , every man's sword was against his fellow , and there was very great confusion . 21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously , who went up with them all around in the camp , even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan . 22 When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled , even they also pursued them closely in the battle . 23 So the Lord delivered Israel that day , and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven .
24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day , for Saul had put the people under oath , saying , "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening , and until I have avenged myself on my enemies ." So none e of the people tasted food . 25 All the people of the land entered the forest , and there was honey on the ground e . 26 When the people entered the forest , behold , there was a flow of honey ; but no man put his hand to his mouth , for the people feared the oath . 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath ; therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb e , and put his hand to his mouth , and his eyes brightened . 28 Then one of the people said , "Your father strictly put the people under oath , saying , 'Cursed be the man who eats food today .' " And the people were weary . 29 Then Jonathan said , " My father has troubled the land . See now , how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey . 30 "How much e more e , if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found ! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great ." 31 They struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon . And the people were very weary . 32 The people rushed greedily upon the spoil , and took sheep and oxen and calves e , and slew them on the ground ; and the people ate them with the blood . 33 Then they told Saul , saying , "Behold , the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood ." And he said , "You have acted treacherously ; roll a great stone to me today ." 34 Saul said , "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep , and slaughter it here and eat ; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood .' " So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there . 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord ; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord .
36 Then Saul said , "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light , and let us not leave a man of them." And they said , "Do whatever seems good to you." So the priest said , "Let us draw near to God here ." 37 Saul inquired of God , "Shall I go down after the Philistines ? Will You give them into the hand of Israel ?" But He did not answer him on that day . 38 Saul said , " Draw near here , all you chiefs of the people , and investigate and see how this sin has happened today . 39 "For as the Lord lives , who delivers Israel , though e it is in Jonathan my son , he shall surely e 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 Jonathan my son will be on the other side ." And the people said to Saul , "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord , the God of Israel , " Give a perfect lot." And Jonathan and Saul were taken , but the people escaped . 42 Saul said , "Cast lots 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 and said , " I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand . Here I am, I must die !" 44 Saul said , " May God do this to me and more also , for you shall surely die , Jonathan ." 45 But the people said to Saul , "Must Jonathan die , who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel ? Far from it! As the Lord lives , not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground , for he has worked with God this day ." So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die . 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines , and the Philistines went to their own place .
47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel , he fought against all his enemies on every side , against Moab , the sons of Ammon , Edom , the kings of Zobah , and the Philistines ; and wherever e he turned , he inflicted punishment . 48 He acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites , and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua ; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab and the name of the younger Michal . 50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz . And the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner , Saul's uncle . 51 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 mighty man or any valiant man , he attached him to his staff.
