1 Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that was his armorbearer, Come, let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines that is on the other side. But he did not tell his father.
2 And Saul was sitting at the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men.
3 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabods brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah 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 go over to the Philistines garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The one rock was a pillar northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that was his armorbearer, Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for nothing restrains Jehovah, to save by many or by few.
7 So his armorbearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Turn then; behold, I am with you according to your heart.
8 And Jonathan said, Behold, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.
9 If they say thus to us, Wait until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them.
10 But if they say thus, Come up to us; then we will go up, for Jehovah has delivered them into our hand; and this will be a sign to us.
11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.
12 And the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will teach you something. And Jonathan said to his armorbearer, Come up after me, for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And his armorbearer followed, killing them.
14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within an area of land half the size that a yoke of oxen might plow in a day.
15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold the multitude had melted away; and they went, striking down one another.
17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Number and see who has gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.
18 And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring the ark of God here (for the ark of God was with the sons of Israel that day).
19 And it happened, while Saul spoke to the priest, that the roar in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand.
20 And Saul and all the people with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and behold every mans sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
21 Moreover the Hebrews who had previously retreated from the Philistines into the surrounding areas, they also joined the camp of the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines had fled, they also pursued closely after them in the battle.
23 So Jehovah saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over to Beth Aven.
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food.
25 Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground.
26 And when the people had come into the forest, there was the flowing honey; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.
28 Then one of the people said, Your father adjured the people with an oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats food this day. And the people were faint.
29 And Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I have tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much better if the people had eaten to feed themselves today of the spoils of their enemies which they have found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31 And they drove back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon; and the people were very faint.
32 And the people rushed upon the spoils, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate with the blood.
33 And they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people are sinning against Jehovah to eat with the blood! So he said, You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this moment.
34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Bring me here each man his ox and his sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against Jehovah to eat with the blood. So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there.
35 And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah. This was the first altar that he built unto Jehovah.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatever is good in your eyes. And the priest said, Let us draw near to God here.
37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He did not answer him that day.
38 And Saul said, Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.
39 For as Jehovah lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall be executed to death. But not one of all the people answered him.
40 Then he said to all Israel, You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what is good in your eyes.
41 Therefore Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.
42 And Saul said, Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me. And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jonathan confessed to him, and said, I have tasted to eat a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Behold, I must die!
44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also; for you shall be executed to death, Jonathan.
45 But the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Let it not be! As Jehovah 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 withdrew from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 So when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies all around: against Moab, against the sons of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he condemned them.
48 And he dealt with might and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50 The name of Sauls wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Sauls uncle.
51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 And war with the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant youth, he gathered them to himself.
1 Certo dia, Jônatas, filho de Saul, disse ao seu jovem escudeiro: "Vamos ao destacamento filisteu, do outro lado". Ele, porém, não contou isto a seu pai.
2 Saul estava sentado debaixo de uma romãzeira na fronteira de Gibeá, em Migrom. Com ele estavam uns seiscentos soldados,
3 entre os quais Aías, que levava o colete sacerdotal. Ele era filho de Aitube, irmão de Icabode, filho de Finéias e neto de Eli, o sacerdote do Senhor em Siló. Ninguém sabia que Jônatas havia saído.
4 Em cada lado do desfiladeiro que Jônatas pretendia atravessar para chegar ao destacamento filisteu, havia um penhasco íngreme; um se chamava Bozez; o outro, Sené.
5 Havia um penhasco ao norte, na direção de Micmás, e outro ao sul, na direção de Geba.
6 E Jônatas disse a seu escudeiro: "Vamos ao destacamento daqueles incircuncisos. Talvez o Senhor aja em nosso favor, pois nada pode impedir o Senhor de salvar, seja com muitos ou com poucos".
7 Disse seu escudeiro: "Faze tudo o que tiveres em mente; eu irei contigo".
8 Jônatas disse: "Venha, vamos atravessar na direção dos soldados e deixaremos que nos avistem.
9 Se nos disserem: ‘Esperem aí até que cheguemos perto’, ficaremos onde estivermos e não avançaremos.
10 Mas, se disserem: ‘Subam até aqui’, subiremos, pois este será um sinal para nós de que o Senhor os entregou em nossas mãos".
11 Então os dois se deixaram ver pelo destacamento dos filisteus, que disseram: "Vejam, os hebreus estão saindo dos buracos onde estavam escondidos".
12 E gritaram para Jônatas e seu escudeiro: "Subam até aqui e lhes daremos uma lição". Diante disso, Jônatas disse a seu escudeiro: "Siga-me; o Senhor os entregou nas mãos de Israel".
13 Jônatas escalou, usando as mãos e os pés, e o escudeiro foi logo atrás. Jônatas começou a derrubá-los, e seu escudeiro, logo atrás dele, os matava.
14 Naquele primeiro ataque, Jônatas e seu escudeiro mataram cerca de vinte homens numa pequena área de terra.
15 Então caiu terror sobre todo o exército, tanto sobre os que estavam no acampamento e no campo, como sobre os que estavam nos destacamentos e até mesmo nas tropas de ataque. O chão tremeu e houve um pânico terrível.
16 As sentinelas de Saul em Gibeá de Benjamim viram o exército filisteu se dispersando, correndo em todas as direções.
17 Então Saul disse aos seus soldados: "Contem os soldados e vejam quem está faltando". Quando o fizeram, viram que Jônatas e seu escudeiro não estavam presentes.
18 Saul ordenou a Aías: "Traga a arca de Deus". Naquele tempo ela estava com os israelitas.
19 Enquanto Saul falava com o sacerdote, o tumulto no acampamento filisteu ia crescendo cada vez mais. Então Saul disse ao sacerdote: "Não precisa trazer a arca".
20 Então Saul e todos os soldados se reuniram e foram para a batalha. Encontraram os filisteus em total confusão, ferindo uns aos outros com suas espadas.
21 Alguns hebreus que antes estavam do lado dos filisteus e que com eles tinham ido ao acampamento filisteu, passaram para o lado dos israelitas que estavam com Saul e Jônatas.
22 Quando todos os israelitas que haviam se escondido nos montes de Efraim ouviram que os filisteus batiam em retirada, também entraram na batalha, perseguindo-os.
23 Assim o Senhor concedeu vitória a Israel naquele dia, e a batalha se espalhou para além de Bete-Áven.
24 Os homens de Israel estavam exaustos naquele dia, pois Saul havia lhes imposto um juramento, dizendo: "Maldito seja todo o que comer antes do anoitecer, antes que eu tenha me vingado de meus inimigos! " Por isso ninguém tinha comido nada.
25 O exército inteiro entrou num bosque, onde havia mel no chão.
26 Eles viram o mel escorrendo, contudo ninguém comeu pois temiam o juramento.
27 Jônatas, porém, não sabia do juramento que seu pai havia imposto ao exército de modo que estendeu a ponta da vara que tinha na mão e a molhou no favo de mel. Quando comeu seus olhos brilharam.
28 Então um dos soldados lhe disse: "Seu pai impôs ao exército um juramento severo, dizendo: ‘Maldito seja todo o que comer hoje! ’ Por isso os homens estão exaustos".
29 Jônatas disse: "Meu pai trouxe desgraça para nós. Veja como meus olhos brilham desde que provei um pouco deste mel.
30 Como teria sido bem melhor se os homens tivessem comido hoje um pouco do que tomaram dos seus inimigos. A matança de filisteus não teria sido ainda maior? "
31 Naquele dia, depois de derrotarem os filisteus, desde Micmás até Aijalom, os israelitas estavam completamente exaustos.
32 Eles então se lançaram sobre os despojos e pegaram ovelhas, bois e bezerros, e mataram-nos ali mesmo e comeram a carne com o sangue.
33 E alguém disse a Saul: "Veja, os soldados estão pecando contra o Senhor, comendo carne com sangue". Ele disse: "Vocês foram infiéis. Rolem uma grande pedra até aqui.
34 Saiam entre os soldados e digam-lhes: ‘Cada um traga a mim seu boi ou sua ovelha, abatam-nos e comam a carne aqui. Não pequem contra o Senhor comendo carne com sangue’ ". Assim, cada um levou seu boi naquela noite e ali os abateram.
35 Então, Saul edificou um altar para o Senhor; foi a primeira vez que fez isso.
36 Saul disse ainda: "Desçamos atrás dos filisteus, à noite, e os saqueemos até o amanhecer, e não deixemos vivo nem um só deles". Eles responderam: "Faze o que achares melhor". O sacerdote, porém, disse: "Consultemos aqui a Deus".
37 Então Saul perguntou a Deus: "Devo perseguir os filisteus? Tu os entregarás nas mãos de Israel? " Mas naquele dia Deus não lhe respondeu.
38 Disse então Saul: "Venham cá, todos vocês que são líderes do exército, e descubramos que pecado foi cometido hoje.
39 Juro pelo nome do Senhor, o libertador de Israel, mesmo que seja meu filho Jônatas, ele morrerá". Mas ninguém disse uma só palavra.
40 Então disse Saul a todos os israelitas: "Fiquem vocês de um lado; eu e meu filho Jônatas ficaremos do outro". E eles responderam: "Faze o que achares melhor".
41 E Saul orou ao Senhor, ao Deus de Israel: "Dá-me a resposta certa". A sorte caiu em Jônatas e Saul, e os soldados saíram livres.
42 Saul disse: "Tirem sortes entre mim e meu filho Jônatas". E Jônatas foi indicado.
43 Então Saul disse a Jônatas: "Diga-me o que você fez". E Jônatas lhe contou: "Eu provei um pouco de mel com a ponta de minha vara. Estou pronto para morrer".
44 Saul disse: "Que Deus me castigue com todo rigor, caso você não morra, Jônatas! "
45 Os soldados, porém, disseram a Saul: "Será que Jônatas, que trouxe esta grande libertação para Israel deve morrer? Nunca! Juramos pelo nome do Senhor, nem um só cabelo de sua cabeça cairá ao chão, pois ele fez isso hoje com o auxílio de Deus". Então os homens resgataram Jônatas, e ele não foi morto.
46 E Saul parou de perseguir os filisteus, e eles voltaram para sua própria terra.
47 Quando Saul assumiu o reinado sobre Israel, lutou contra os seus inimigos em redor: moabitas, amonitas, edomitas, os reis de Zobá e os filisteus. Para qualquer lado que fosse, infligia-lhes castigo.
48 Lutou corajosamente e derrotou os amalequitas, libertando Israel das mãos daqueles que os saqueavam.
49 Os filhos de Saul foram Jônatas, Isvi e Malquisua. O nome de sua filha mais velha era Merabe, e o da mais nova era Mical.
50 Sua mulher chamava-se Ainoã e era filha de Aimaás. O nome do comandante do exército de Saul era Abner, filho de Ner, tio de Saul.
51 Quis, pai de Saul, e Ner, pai de Abner, eram filhos de Abiel.
52 Houve guerra acirrada contra os filisteus durante todo o reinado de Saul. Por isso sempre que Saul conhecia um homem forte e corajoso, alistava-o no seu exército.