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 Et accidit quadam die ut diceret Jonathas filius Saul ad adolescentem armigerum suum : Veni, et transeamus ad stationem Philisthinorum, qu est trans locum illum. Patri autem suo hoc ipsum non indicavit. 2 Porro Saul morabatur in extrema parte Gabaa sub malogranato, qu erat in Magron : et erat populus cum eo quasi sexcentorum virorum. 3 Et Achias filius Achitob fratris Ichabod filii Phinees, qui ortus fuerat ex Heli sacerdote Domini in Silo, portabat ephod. Sed et populus ignorabat quo isset Jonathas. 4 Erant autem inter ascensus per quos nitebatur Jonathas transire ad stationem Philisthinorum, eminentes petr ex utraque parte, et quasi in modum dentium scopuli hinc et inde prrupti : nomen uni Boses, et nomen alteri Sene : 5 unus scopulus prominens ad aquilonem ex adverso Machmas, et alter ad meridiem contra Gabaa. 6 Dixit autem Jonathas ad adolescentem armigerum suum : Veni, transeamus ad stationem incircumcisorum horum, si forte faciat Dominus pro nobis : quia non est Domino difficile salvare, vel in multis, vel in paucis. 7 Dixitque ei armiger suus : Fac omnia qu placent animo tuo : perge quo cupis, et ero tecum ubicumque volueris. 8 Et ait Jonathas : Ecce nos transimus ad viros istos. Cumque apparuerimus eis, 9 si taliter locuti fuerint ad nos : Manete donec veniamus ad vos : stemus in loco nostro, nec ascendamus ad eos. 10 Si autem dixerint : Ascendite ad nos : ascendamus, quia tradidit eos Dominus in manibus nostris : hoc erit nobis signum. 11 Apparuit igitur uterque stationi Philisthinorum : dixeruntque Philisthiim : En Hebri egrediuntur de cavernis in quibus absconditi fuerant. 12 Et locuti sunt viri de statione ad Jonathan et ad armigerum ejus, dixeruntque : Ascendite ad nos, et ostendemus vobis rem. Et ait Jonathas ad armigerum suum : Ascendamus : sequere me : tradidit enim Dominus eos in manus Isral. 13 Ascendit autem Jonathas manibus et pedibus reptans, et armiger ejus post eum. Itaque alii cadebant ante Jonathan, alios armiger ejus interficiebat sequens eum. 14 Et facta est plaga prima qua percussit Jonathas et armiger ejus, quasi viginti virorum in media parte jugeri quam par boum in die arare consuevit. 15 Et factum est miraculum in castris per agros : sed et omnis populus stationis eorum qui ierant ad prdandum, obstupuit, et conturbata est terra : et accidit quasi miraculum a Deo. 16 Et respexerunt speculatores Saul qui erant in Gabaa Benjamin, et ecce multitudo prostrata, et huc illucque diffugiens. 17 Et ait Saul populo qui erat cum eo : Requirite, et videte quis abierit ex nobis. Cumque requisissent, repertum est non adesse Jonathan et armigerum ejus. 18 Et ait Saul ad Achiam : Applica arcam Dei. (Erat enim ibi arca Dei in die illa cum filiis Isral.) 19 Cumque loqueretur Saul ad sacerdotem, tumultus magnus exortus est in castris Philisthinorum : crescebatque paulatim, et clarius resonabat. Et ait Saul ad sacerdotem : Contrahe manum tuam.20 Conclamavit ergo Saul, et omnis populus qui erat cum eo, et venerunt usque ad locum certaminis : et ecce versus fuerat gladius uniuscujusque ad proximum suum, et cdes magna nimis. 21 Sed et Hebri qui fuerant cum Philisthiim heri et nudiustertius, ascenderantque cum eis in castris, reversi sunt ut essent cum Isral qui erant cum Saul et Jonatha. 22 Omnes quoque Isralit qui se absconderant in monte Ephraim, audientes quod fugissent Philisthi, sociaverunt se cum suis in prlio. Et erant cum Saul quasi decem millia virorum. 23 Et salvavit Dominus in die illa Isral : pugna autem pervenit usque ad Bethaven. 24 Et viri Isral sociati sunt sibi in die illa : adjuravit autem Saul populum, dicens : Maledictus vir qui comederit panem usque ad vesperam, donec ulciscar de inimicis meis. Et non manducavit universus populus panem : 25 omneque terr vulgus venit in saltum, in quo erat mel super faciem agri. 26 Ingressus est itaque populus saltum, et apparuit fluens mel, nullusque applicuit manum ad os suum : timebat enim populus juramentum.27 Porro Jonathas non audierat cum adjuraret pater ejus populum : extenditque summitatem virg quam habebat in manu, et intinxit in favum mellis : et convertit manum suam ad os suum, et illuminati sunt oculi ejus. 28 Respondensque unus de populo, ait : Jurejurando constrinxit pater tuus populum, dicens : Maledictus vir qui comederit panem hodie. (Defecerat autem populus.) 29 Dixitque Jonathas : Turbavit pater meus terram : vidistis ipsi quia illuminati sunt oculi mei, eo quod gustaverim paululum de melle isto : 30 quanto magis si comedisset populus de prda inimicorum suorum, quam reperit ? nonne major plaga facta fuisset in Philisthiim ? 31 Percusserunt ergo in die illa Philisthos a Machmis usque in Ajalon.Defatigatus est autem populus nimis : 32 et versus ad prdam tulit oves, et boves, et vitulos, et mactaverunt in terra : comeditque populus cum sanguine. 33 Nuntiaverunt autem Sauli dicentes quod populus peccasset Domino, comedens cum sanguine. Qui ait : Prvaricati estis : volvite ad me jam nunc saxum grande. 34 Et dixit Saul : Dispergimini in vulgus, et dicite eis ut adducat ad me unusquisque bovem suum et arietem, et occidite super istud, et vescimini, et non peccabitis Domino comedentes cum sanguine. Adduxit itaque omnis populus unusquisque bovem in manu sua usque ad noctem : et occiderunt ibi. 35 dificavit autem Saul altare Domino, tuncque primum cpit dificare altare Domino.36 Et dixit Saul : Irruamus super Philisthos nocte, et vastemus eos usque dum illucescat mane, nec relinquamus ex eis virum. Dixitque populus : Omne quod bonum videtur in oculis tuis, fac. Et ait sacerdos : Accedamus huc ad Deum. 37 Et consuluit Saul Dominum : Num persequar Philisthiim ? si trades eos in manus Isral ? Et non respondit ei in die illa. 38 Dixitque Saul : Applicate huc universos angulos populi : et scitote, et videte per quem acciderit peccatum hoc hodie. 39 Vivit Dominus salvator Isral, quia si per Jonathan filium meum factum est, absque retractione morietur. Ad quod nullus contradixit ei de omni populo. 40 Et ait ad universum Isral : Separamini vos in partem unam, et ego cum Jonatha filio meo ero in parte altera. Responditque populus ad Saul : Quod bonum videtur in oculis tuis, fac.41 Et dixit Saul ad Dominum Deum Isral : Domine Deus Isral, da indicium : quid est quod non responderis servo tuo hodie ? si in me, aut in Jonatha filio meo, est iniquitas hc, da ostensionem : aut si hc iniquitas est in populo tuo, da sanctitatem. Et deprehensus est Jonathas et Saul : populus autem exivit. 42 Et ait Saul : Mittite sortem inter me et inter Jonathan filium meum. Et captus est Jonathas. 43 Dixit autem Saul ad Jonathan : Indica mihi quid feceris. Et indicavit ei Jonathas, et ait : Gustans gustavi in summitate virg qu erat in manu mea, paululum mellis, et ecce ego morior. 44 Et ait Saul : Hc faciat mihi Deus, et hc addat, quia morte morieris, Jonatha. 45 Dixitque populus ad Saul : Ergone Jonathas morietur, qui fecit salutem hanc magnam in Isral ? hoc nefas est : vivit Dominus, si ceciderit capillus de capite ejus in terram, quia cum Deo operatus est hodie. Liberavit ergo populus Jonathan, ut non moreretur. 46 Recessitque Saul, nec persecutus est Philisthiim : porro Philisthiim abierunt in loca sua.47 Et Saul, confirmato regno super Isral, pugnabat per circuitum adversum omnes inimicos ejus, contra Moab, et filios Ammon, et Edom, et reges Soba, et Philisthos : et quocumque se verterat, superabat. 48 Congregatoque exercitu, percussit Amalec, et eruit Isral de manu vastatorum ejus. 49 Fuerunt autem filii Saul, Jonathas, et Jessui, et Melchisua : et nomina duarum filiarum ejus, nomen primogenit Merob, et nomen minoris Michol. 50 Et nomen uxoris Saul Achinoam filia Achimaas : et nomen principis militi ejus Abner filius Ner, patruelis Saul. 51 Porro Cis fuit pater Saul, et Ner pater Abner, filius Abiel. 52 Erat autem bellum potens adversum Philisthos omnibus diebus Saul. Nam quemcumque viderat Saul virum fortem, et aptum ad prlium, sociabat eum sibi.