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.

1 وفي ذات يوم قال يوناثان بن شاول للغلام حامل سلاحه تعال نعبر الى حفظة الفلسطينيين الذين في ذلك العبر. ولم يخبر اباه.2 وكان شاول مقيما في طرف جبعة تحت الرمانة التي في مغرون والشعب الذي معه نحو ست مئة رجل.3 واخيّا بن اخيطوب اخي ايخابود بن فينحاس بن عالي كاهن الرب في شيلوه كان لابسا افودا. ولم يعلم الشعب ان يوناثان قد ذهب.4 وبين المعابر التي التمس يوناثان ان يعبرها الى حفظة الفلسطينيين سن صخرة من هذه الجهة وسنّ صخرة من تلك الجهة واسم الواحدة بوصيص واسم الاخرى سنه.5 والسن الواحد عمود الى الشمال مقابل مخماس والآخر الى الجنوب مقابل جبع.6 فقال يوناثان للغلام حامل سلاحه تعال نعبر الى صف هؤلاء الغلف لعل الله يعمل معنا لانه ليس للرب مانع عن ان يخلص بالكثير او بالقليل.7 فقال له حامل سلاحه اعمل كل ما بقلبك. تقدم. هانذا معك حسب قلبك.8 فقال يوناثان هوذا نحن نعبر الى القوم ونظهر انفسنا لهم.9 فان قالوا لنا هكذا. دوموا حتى نصل اليكم. نقف في مكاننا ولا نصعد اليهم.10 ولكن ان قالوا هكذا. اصعدوا الينا. نصعد. لان الرب قد دفعهم ليدنا وهذه هي العلامة لنا.11 فاظهرا انفسهما لصف الفلسطينيين. فقال الفلسطينيون هوذا العبرانيون خارجون من الثقوب التي اختبأوا فيها.12 فاجاب رجال الصف يوناثان وحامل سلاحه وقالوا اصعدا الينا فنعلمكما شيئا. فقال يوناثان لحامل سلاحه اصعد ورائي لان الرب قد دفعهم ليد اسرائيل.13 فصعد يوناثان على يديه ورجليه وحامل سلاحه وراءه. فسقطوا امام يوناثان وكان حامل سلاحه يقتّل وراءه.14 وكانت الضربة الاولى التي ضربها يوناثان وحامل سلاحه نحو عشرين رجلا في نحو نصف تلم فدان ارض.15 وكان ارتعاد في المحلّة في الحقل وفي جميع الشعب. الصفّ والمخرّبون ارتعدوا هم ايضا ورجفت الارض فكان ارتعاد عظيم16 فنظر المراقبون لشاول في جبعة بنيامين واذا بالجمهور قد ذاب وذهبوا متبدّدين.17 فقال شاول للشعب الذي معه عدّوا الآن وانظروا من ذهب من عندنا. فعدّوا وهوذا يوناثان وحامل سلاحه ليسا موجودين.18 فقال شاول لاخيّا قدم تابوت الله. لان تابوت الله كان في ذلك اليوم مع بني اسرائيل.19 وفيما كان شاول يتكلم بعد مع الكاهن تزايد الضجيج الذي في محلّة الفلسطينيين وكثر. فقال شاول للكاهن كف يدك.20 وصاح شاول وجميع الشعب الذي معه وجاءوا الى الحرب واذا بسيف كل واحد على صاحبه. اضطراب عظيم جدا.21 والعبرانيون الذين كانوا مع الفلسطينيين منذ امس وما قبله الذين صعدوا معهم الى المحلّة من حواليهم صاروا هم ايضا مع اسرائيل الذين مع شاول ويوناثان.22 وسمع جميع رجال اسرائيل الذين اختبأوا في جبل افرايم ان الفلسطينيين هربوا فشدوا هم ايضا وراءهم في الحرب.23 فخلّص الرب اسرائيل في ذلك اليوم. وعبرت الحرب الى بيت آون24 وضنك رجال اسرائيل في ذلك اليوم لان شاول حلّف الشعب قائلا ملعون الرجل الذي ياكل خبزا الى المساء حتى انتقم من اعدائي. فلم يذق جميع الشعب خبزا.25 وجاء كل الشعب الى الوعر وكان عسل على وجه الحقل.26 ولما دخل الشعب الوعر اذا بالعسل يقطر ولم يمدّ احد يده الى فيه لان الشعب خاف من القسم.27 واما يوناثان فلم يسمع عندما استحلف ابوه الشعب فمدّ طرف النشابة التي بيده وغمسه في قطر العسل ورد يده الى فيه فاستنارت عيناه.28 فاجاب واحد من الشعب وقال قد حلّف ابوك الشعب حلفا قائلا ملعون الرجل الذي ياكل خبزا اليوم. فاعيا الشعب.29 فقال يوناثان قد كدّر ابي الارض. انظروا كيف استنارت عيناي لاني ذقت قليلا من هذا العسل.30 فكم بالحري لو اكل اليوم الشعب من غنيمة اعدائهم التي وجدوا. اما كانت الآن ضربة اعظم على الفلسطينيين.31 فضربوا في ذلك اليوم الفلسطينيين من مخماس الى ايلون. واعيا الشعب جدا32 وثار الشعب على الغنيمة فاخذوا غنما وبقرا وعجولا وذبحوا على الارض واكل الشعب على الدم.33 فاخبروا شاول قائلين هوذا الشعب يخطئ الى الرب بأكله على الدم. فقال قد غدرتم. دحرجوا اليّ الآن حجرا كبيرا.34 وقال شاول تفرقوا بين الشعب وقولوا لهم ان يقدموا اليّ كل واحد ثوره وكل واحد شاته واذبحوا ههنا وكلوا ولا تخطئوا الى الرب باكلكم مع الدم. فقدم جميع الشعب كل واحد ثوره بيده في تلك الليلة وذبحوا هناك.35 وبنى شاول مذبحا للرب. الذي شرع ببنيانه مذبحا للرب36 وقال شاول لننزل وراء الفلسطينيين ليلا وننهبهم الى ضوء الصباح ولا نبق منهم احدا. فقالوا افعل كل ما يحسن في عينيك. وقال الكاهن لنتقدم هنا الى الله.37 فسأل شاول الله. أأنحدر وراء الفلسطينيين. أتدفعهم ليد اسرائيل. فلم يجبه في ذلك اليوم.38 فقال شاول تقدموا الى هنا يا جميع وجوه الشعب واعلموا وانظروا بماذا كانت هذه الخطية اليوم.39 لانه حيّ هو الرب مخلّص اسرائيل ولو كانت في يوناثان ابني فانه يموت موتا. ولم يكن من يجيبه من كل الشعب.40 فقال لجميع اسرائيل انتم تكونون في جانب وانا ويوناثان ابني في جانب. فقال الشعب لشاول اصنع ما يحسن في عينيك.41 وقال شاول للرب اله اسرائيل هب صدقا. فأخذ يوناثان وشاول. اما الشعب فخرجوا.42 فقال شاول القوا بيني وبين يوناثان ابني. فأخذ يوناثان.43 فقال شاول ليوناثان اخبرني ماذا فعلت. فاخبره يوناثان وقال ذقت ذوقا بطرف النشابة التي بيدي قليل عسل فهانذا اموت.44 فقال شاول هكذا يفعل الله وهكذا يزيد انك موتا تموت يا يوناثان.45 فقال الشعب لشاول أيموت يوناثان الذي صنع هذا الخلاص العظيم في اسرائيل. حاشا. حيّ هو الرب لا تسقط شعرة من راسه الى الارض لانه مع الله عمل هذا اليوم. فافتدى الشعب يوناثان فلم يمت.46 فصعد شاول من وراء الفلسطينيين وذهب الفلسطينيون الى مكانهم47 واخذ شاول الملك على اسرائيل وحارب جميع اعدائه حواليه موآب وبني عمون وادوم وملوك صوبة والفلسطينيين وحيثما توجه غلب.48 وفعل ببأس وضرب عماليق وانقذ اسرائيل من يد ناهبيه.49 وكان بنو شاول يوناثان ويشوي وملكيشوع واسما ابنتيه اسم البكر ميرب واسم الصغيرة ميكال.50 واسم امرأة شاول اخينوعم بنت اخيمعص. واسم رئيس جيشه ابينير بن نير عم شاول.51 وقيس ابو شاول ونير ابو ابنير ابنا ابيئيل.52 وكانت حرب شديدة على الفلسطينيين كل ايام شاول. واذا رأى شاول رجلا جبارا او ذا بأس ضمّه الى نفسه