1 Sucedeu que, um dia, disse Jônatas, filho de Saul, ao seu jovem escudeiro: Vem, passemos à guarnição dos filisteus, que está do outro lado. Porém não o fez saber a seu pai. 2 Saul se encontrava na extremidade de Gibeá, debaixo da romeira em Migrom; e o povo que estava com ele eram cerca de seiscentos homens. 3 Aías, filho de Aitube, irmão de Icabô, filho de Fineias, filho de Eli, sacerdote do Senhor em Siló, trazia a estola sacerdotal. O povo não sabia que Jônatas tinha ido. 4 Entre os desfiladeiros pelos quais Jônatas procurava passar à guarnição dos filisteus, deste lado havia uma penha íngreme, e do outro, outra; uma se chamava Bozez; a outra, Sené. 5 Uma delas se erguia ao norte, defronte de Micmás; a outra, ao sul, defronte de Geba.

6 Disse, pois, Jônatas ao seu escudeiro: Vem, passemos à guarnição destes incircuncisos; porventura, o Senhor nos ajudará nisto, porque para o Senhor nenhum impedimento há de livrar com muitos ou com poucos. 7 Então, o seu escudeiro lhe disse: Faze tudo segundo inclinar o teu coração; eis-me aqui contigo, a tua disposição será a minha. 8 Disse, pois, Jônatas: Eis que passaremos àqueles homens e nos daremos a conhecer a eles. 9 Se nos disserem assim: Parai até que cheguemos a vós outros; então, ficaremos onde estamos e não subiremos a eles. 10 Porém se disserem: Subi a nós; então, subiremos, pois o Senhor no-los entregou nas mãos. Isto nos servirá de sinal. 11 Dando-se, pois, ambos a conhecer à guarnição dos filisteus, disseram estes: Eis que já os hebreus estão saindo dos buracos em que se tinham escondido.

12 Os homens da guarnição responderam a Jônatas e ao seu escudeiro e disseram: Subi a nós, e nós vos daremos uma lição. Disse Jônatas ao escudeiro: Sobe atrás de mim, porque o Senhor os entregou nas mãos de Israel. 13 Então, trepou Jônatas de gatinhas, e o seu escudeiro, atrás; e os filisteus caíram diante de Jônatas, e o seu escudeiro os matava atrás dele. 14 Sucedeu esta primeira derrota, em que Jônatas e o seu escudeiro mataram perto de vinte homens, em cerca de meia jeira de terra. 15 Houve grande espanto no arraial, no campo e em todo o povo; também a mesma guarnição e os saqueadores tremeram, e até a terra se estremeceu; e tudo passou a ser um terror de Deus.

16 Olharam as sentinelas de Saul, em Gibeá de Benjamim, e eis que a multidão se dissolvia, correndo uns para cá, outros para lá. 17 Então, disse Saul ao povo que estava com ele: Ora, contai e vede quem é que saiu dentre nós. Contaram, e eis que nem Jônatas nem o seu escudeiro estavam ali. 18 Saul disse a Aías: Traze aqui a arca de Deus (porque, naquele dia, ela estava com os filhos de Israel). 19 Enquanto Saul falava ao sacerdote, o alvoroço que havia no arraial dos filisteus crescia mais e mais, pelo que disse Saul ao sacerdote: Desiste de trazer a arca. 20 Então, Saul e todo o povo que estava com ele se ajuntaram e vieram à peleja; e a espada de um era contra o outro, e houve mui grande tumulto. 21 Também com os filisteus dantes havia hebreus, que subiram com eles ao arraial; e também estes se ajuntaram com os israelitas que estavam com Saul e Jônatas. 22 Ouvindo, pois, todos os homens de Israel que se esconderam pela região montanhosa de Efraim que os filisteus fugiram, eles também os perseguiram de perto na peleja. 23 Assim, livrou o Senhor a Israel naquele dia; e a batalha passou além de Bete-Áven.

24 Estavam os homens de Israel angustiados naquele dia, porquanto Saul conjurara o povo, dizendo: Maldito o homem que comer pão antes de anoitecer, para que me vingue de meus inimigos. Pelo que todo o povo se absteve de provar pão. 25 Todo o povo chegou a um bosque onde havia mel no chão. 26 Chegando o povo ao bosque, eis que corria mel; porém ninguém chegou a mão à boca, porque o povo temia a conjuração. 27 Jônatas, porém, não tinha ouvido quando seu pai conjurara o povo, e estendeu a ponta da vara que tinha na mão, e a molhou no favo de mel; e, levando a mão à boca, tornaram a brilhar os seus olhos. 28 Então, respondeu um do povo: Teu pai conjurou solenemente o povo e disse: Maldito o homem que, hoje, comer pão; estava exausto o povo. 29 Então, disse Jônatas: Meu pai turbou a terra; ora, vede como brilham os meus olhos por ter eu provado um pouco deste mel. 30 Quanto mais se o povo, hoje, tivesse comido livremente do que encontrou do despojo de seus inimigos; porém desta vez não foi tão grande a derrota dos filisteus.

31 Feriram, porém, aquele dia aos filisteus, desde Micmás até Aijalom. O povo se achava exausto em extremo; 32 e, lançando-se ao despojo, tomaram ovelhas, bois e bezerros, e os mataram no chão, e os comeram com sangue. 33 Disto informaram a Saul, dizendo: Eis que o povo peca contra o Senhor, comendo com sangue. Disse ele: Procedestes aleivosamente; rolai para aqui, hoje, uma grande pedra. 34 Disse mais Saul: Espalhai-vos entre o povo e dizei-lhe: Cada um me traga o seu boi, a sua ovelha, e matai-os aqui, e comei, e não pequeis contra o Senhor, comendo com sangue. Então, todo o povo trouxe de noite, cada um o seu boi de que já lançara mão, e os mataram ali. 35 Edificou Saul um altar ao Senhor; este foi o primeiro altar que lhe edificou.

36 Disse mais Saul: Desçamos esta noite no encalço dos filisteus, e despojemo-los, até o raiar do dia, e não deixemos de resto um homem sequer deles. E disseram: Faze tudo o que bem te parecer. 37 Disse, porém, o sacerdote: Cheguemo-nos aqui a Deus. Então, consultou Saul a Deus, dizendo: Descerei no encalço dos filisteus? Entregá-los-ás nas mãos de Israel? Porém aquele dia Deus não lhe respondeu. 38 Então, disse Saul: Chegai-vos para aqui, todos os chefes do povo, e informai-vos, e vede qual o pecado que, hoje, se cometeu. 39 Porque tão certo como vive o Senhor, que salva a Israel, ainda que com meu filho Jônatas esteja a culpa, seja morto. Porém nenhum de todo o povo lhe respondeu. 40 Disse mais a todo o Israel: Vós estareis de um lado, e eu e meu filho Jônatas, do outro. Então, disse o povo a Saul: Faze o que bem te parecer. 41 Falou, pois, Saul ao Senhor, Deus de Israel: Mostra a verdade. Então, Jônatas e Saul foram indicados por sorte, e o povo saiu livre. 42 Disse Saul: Lançai a sorte entre mim e Jônatas, meu filho. E foi indicado Jônatas.

43 Disse, então, Saul a Jônatas: Declara-me o que fizeste. E Jônatas lhe disse: Tão somente provei um pouco de mel com a ponta da vara que tinha na mão. Eis-me aqui; estou pronto para morrer. 44 Então, disse Saul: Deus me faça o que bem lhe aprouver; é certo que morrerás, Jônatas. 45 Porém o povo disse a Saul: Morrerá Jônatas, que efetuou tamanha salvação em Israel? Tal não suceda. Tão certo como vive o Senhor, não lhe há de cair no chão um só cabelo da cabeça! Pois foi com Deus que fez isso, hoje. Assim, o povo salvou a Jônatas, para que não morresse. 46 E Saul deixou de perseguir os filisteus; e estes se foram para a sua terra.

47 Tendo Saul assumido o reinado de Israel, pelejou contra todos os seus inimigos em redor: contra Moabe, os filhos de Amom e Edom; contra os reis de Zobá e os filisteus; e, para onde quer que se voltava, era vitorioso. 48 Houve-se varonilmente, e feriu os amalequitas, e libertou a Israel das mãos dos que o saqueavam.

49 Os filhos de Saul eram Jônatas, Isvi e Malquisua; os nomes de suas duas filhas eram: o da mais velha, Merabe; o da mais nova, Mical. 50 A mulher de Saul chamava-se Ainoã, filha de Aimaás. O nome do general do seu exército, Abner, filho de Ner, tio de Saul. 51 Quis era pai de Saul; e Ner, pai de Abner, era filho de Abiel. 52 Por todos os dias de Saul, houve forte guerra contra os filisteus; pelo que Saul, a todos os homens fortes e valentes que via, os agregava a si.

1 Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father. 2 And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is in Migron: and the people that 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 Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. 4 And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky 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 up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few. 7 And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them. 9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up; for Jehovah hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the sign unto us. 11 And both of them disclosed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armorbearer slew them after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. 15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither. 17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. 18 And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of Israel. 19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand. 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 21 Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp, from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So Jehovah saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food. 25 And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground. 26 And when the people were come unto the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the 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 the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day. And the people were faint. 29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for now hath there been no great slaughter among the Philistines.

31 And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint; 32 and the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this day. 34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah: the same was the first altar that he built unto Jehovah.

36 And 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 whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 38 And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 39 For, as Jehovah liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40 Then said he 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 seemeth good unto thee. 41 Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots 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 did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die. 44 And Saul said, God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 46 Then Saul went up from following 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, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he put them to the worse. 48 And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that despoiled them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 50 and the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul; 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 when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

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 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 Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.

6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. 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 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 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.

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. [^1]

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.) [^2]

19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult 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 their 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 on that day the LORD saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.

24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, 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. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. [^3]

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 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 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 that 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 brought 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 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 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 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 the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die." 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, "respond with Thummim." 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 tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must 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 assumed 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. [^6]

48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.

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 daughter 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 All 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.