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, Ichabod’s 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 man’s 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 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander 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 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 SUCEDEU pois que um dia disse Jônatas, filho de Saul, ao moço que lhe levava as armas: Vem, passemos a guarnição dos filisteus que está lá daquela banda. Porém não o fez saber a seu pai. 2 E estava Saul na extremidade de Gibeá, debaixo da romeira que estava em Migrom; e o povo que havia com ele eram uns seiscentos homens. 3 E Aía, filho de Aitube, irmão de Icabô, o filho de Fineias, filho de Eli, sacerdote do Senhor em Silo, trazia o éfode: porém o povo não sabia que Jônatas tinha ido. 4 E nas passagens pelas quais Jônatas procurava passar à guarnição dos filisteus, desta banda havia uma penha aguda, e da outra banda uma penha aguda: e era o nome de uma Bozez, e o nome da outra Sené. 5 Uma penha para o norte estava defronte de Micmas, e a outra para o sul defronte de Gibeá. 6 Disse pois Jônatas ao moço que lhe levava as armas: Vem, passemos à guarnição destes incircuncisos; porventura obrará o Senhor por nós, porque para com o Senhor nenhum impedimento há de livrar com muitos ou com poucos. 7 Então o seu pajem de armas lhe disse: Faze tudo o que tens no coração; volta, eis-me aqui contigo, conforme ao teu coração. 8 Disse pois Jônatas: Eis que passaremos àqueles homens, e nos descobriremos a eles. 9 Se nos disserem assim: Parai até que cheguemos a vós; então ficaremos no nosso lugar, e não subiremos a eles. 10 Porém, dizendo assim: Subi a nós; então subiremos, pois o Senhor os tem entregado na nossa mão, e isto nos será por sinal. 11 Descobrindo-se ambos eles pois à guarnição dos filisteus, disseram os filisteus: Eis que já os hebreus saíram das cavernas em que se tinham escondido. 12 E os homens da guarnição responderam a Jônatas e ao seu pajem de armas, e disseram: Subi a nós, e nós vo-lo ensinaremos. E disse Jônatas ao seu pajem de armas: Sobe atrás de mim, porque o Senhor os tem entregado na mão de Israel. 13 Então trepou Jônatas com os pés e com as mãos, e o seu pajem de armas atrás dele: e caíram diante de Jônatas, e o seu pajem de armas os matava atrás dele. 14 E sucedeu esta primeira derrota, em que Jônatas e o seu pajem de armas feriram até uns vinte homens, quase no meio de uma geira de terra que uma junta de bois podia lavrar. 15 E houve tremor no arraial, no campo e em todo o povo; também a mesma guarnição e os destruidores tremeram, e até a terra se alvoroçou, porquanto era tremor de Deus. 16 Olharam pois as sentinelas de Saul em Gibeá de Benjamim, e eis que a multidão se derramava, e fugia batendo-se. 17 Disse então Saul ao povo que estava com ele: Ora contai, e vede quem é que saiu dentre nós. E contaram, e eis que nem Jônatas nem o seu pajem de armas estavam ali. 18 Então Saul disse a Aía: Traze aqui a arca de Deus (porque naquele dia estava a arca de Deus com os filhos de Israel). 19 E sucedeu que, estando Saul ainda falando com o sacerdote, o alvoroço que havia no arraial dos filisteus ia crescendo muito, e se multiplicava, pelo que disse Saul ao sacerdote: Retira a tua mão. 20 Então Saul e todo o povo que havia com ele se ajuntaram, e vieram à peleja; e eis que a espada dum era contra o outro, e houve mui grande tumulto. 21 Também com os filisteus havia hebreus, como dantes, que subiram com eles ao arraial em redor: 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 montanha de Efraim que os filisteus fugiam, eles também os perseguiram de perto na peleja. 23 Assim livrou o Senhor a Israel naquele dia: e o arraial passou a Bete-Áven.

24 E estavam os homens de Israel já exaustos naquele dia, porquanto Saul conjurara o povo, dizendo: Maldito o homem que comer pão até à tarde, para que me vingue de meus inimigos. Pelo que todo o povo se absteve de provar pão. 25 E todo o povo chegou a um bosque: e havia mel na superfície do campo. 26 E, chegando o povo ao bosque, eis que havia um manancial de mel: porém ninguém chegou a mão à boca, porque o povo temia a conjuração. 27 Porém Jônatas 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, tornando a mão à boca, aclararam-se os seus olhos. 28 Então respondeu um do povo, e disse: Solenemente conjurou teu pai o povo, dizendo: Maldito o homem que comer hoje pão. Pelo que o povo desfalecia. 29 Então disse Jônatas: Meu pai tem turbado a terra; ora vede como se me aclararam os olhos por ter provado um pouco deste mel. 30 Quanto mais se o povo hoje livremente tivesse comido do despojo que achou de seus inimigos. Porém agora não foi tão grande o estrago dos filisteus. 31 Feriram porém aquele dia aos filisteus, desde Micmas até Ajalom, e o povo desfaleceu em extremo. 32 Então o povo se lançou ao despojo, e tomaram ovelhas, e vacas, e bezerros, e os degolaram no chão; e o povo os comeu com sangue. 33 E o anunciaram a Saul, dizendo: Eis que o povo peca contra o Senhor, comendo com sangue. E disse ele: Aleivosamente obrastes: revolvei-me hoje uma grande pedra. 34 Disse mais Saul: Derramai-vos entre o povo, e dizei-lhes: Trazei-me cada um o seu boi, e cada um a sua ovelha, e degolai-os aqui, e comei, e não pequeis contra o Senhor, comendo com sangue. Então todo o povo trouxe de noite, cada um com a sua mão, o seu boi e os degolaram ali. 35 Então edificou Saul um altar ao Senhor: este foi o primeiro altar que edificou ao Senhor.

36 Depois disse Saul: Desçamos de noite atrás dos filisteus, e despojemo-los, até que amanheça a luz, e não deixemos de resto um homem deles. E disseram: Tudo o que parecer bem aos teus olhos faze. Disse porém o sacerdote: Cheguemo-nos aqui a Deus. 37 Então consultou Saul a Deus, dizendo: Descerei atrás dos filisteus? entregá-los-ás na mão de Israel? Porém aquele dia lhe não respondeu. 38 Então disse Saul: Chegai-vos para cá, todos os chefes do povo, e informai-vos, e vede em que se cometeu hoje este pecado: 39 Porque vive o Senhor que salva a Israel, que, ainda que seja em meu filho Jônatas, certamente morrerá. E nenhum de todo o povo lhe respondeu. 40 Disse mais a todo o Israel: Vós estareis duma banda, e eu e meu filho Jônatas estaremos da outra banda. Então disse o povo a Saul: Faze o que parecer bem aos teus olhos. 41 Falou pois Saul ao Senhor Deus de Israel: Mostra o inocente. Então Jônatas e Saul foram tomados por sorte, e o povo saiu livre. 42 Então disse Saul: Lançai a sorte entre mim e Jônatas, meu filho. E foi tomado Jônatas. 43 Disse então Saul a Jônatas: Declara-me o que tens feito. E Jônatas lho declarou, e disse: Tão somente provei um pouco de mel com a ponta da vara que tinha na mão; eis que devo morrer? 44 Então disse Saul: Assim me faça Deus, e outro tanto, que com certeza morrerás, Jônatas. 45 Porém o povo disse a Saul: Morrerá Jônatas, que obrou tão grande salvação em Israel? nunca tal suceda; vive o Senhor, que não lhe há de cair no chão um só cabelo da sua cabeça! pois com Deus fez isso hoje. Assim o povo livrou a Jônatas, para que não morresse. 46 E Saul deixou de seguir os filisteus e os filisteus se foram ao seu lugar. 47 Então tomou Saul o reino sobre Israel: e pelejou contra todos os seus inimigos em redor: contra Moabe, e contra os filhos de Amom, e contra Edom, e contra os reis de Zoba, e contra os filisteus, e para onde quer que se voltava executava castigos. 48 E houve-se valorosamente, e feriu aos amalequitas: e libertou a Israel da mão dos que o saqueavam. 49 E os filhos de Saul eram Jônatas, e Isvi, e Malquisua: e os nomes de suas duas filhas eram estes: o nome da mais velha Merabe, e o nome da mais nova, Mical. 50 E o nome da mulher de Saul, Ainoã, filha de Aimaás: e o nome do general do exército, Abner, filho de Ner, tio de Saul. 51 E Quis, pai de Saul e Ner, pai de Abner, eram filhos de Abiel. 52 E houve uma forte guerra contra os filisteus, todos os dias de Saul: pelo que Saul a todos os homens valentes e valorosos que via os agregava a si.