1 Samuel 14

1Now it happened on a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father.Cross-references: Judg 6:27 · Judg 14:6 · 1Sam 13:2 · 1Sam 13:22 · 1Sam 14:39 · 1Sam 18:1 · +4 more

2Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron; and the people who were with him were about six hundred men,Cross-references: 1Sam 13:15 · Isa 10:28

3including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.Cross-references: Ex 28:26 · 1Sam 2:28 · 1Sam 4:21 · 1Sam 22:9 · 1Sam 22:20

4Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to 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.Cross-references: 1Sam 13:23

5The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us, for there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few.”Cross-references: Gen 17:7 · Deut 32:30 · Judg 7:4 · Judg 15:18 · 1Sam 17:26 · 1Sam 17:36 · +14 more

7His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go, and behold, I am with you according to your heart.”Cross-references: 1Sam 10:7 · 2Sam 7:3 · Ps 46:7 · Zech 8:23

8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.Cross-references: Judg 7:9

9If they say this to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.Cross-references: Gen 24:13 · Judg 6:36

10But if they say this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up, for Yahweh has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us.”Cross-references: Gen 24:14 · Judg 6:36 · Judg 7:11 · 1Sam 10:7 · Isa 7:11

11Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!”Cross-references: Judg 6:2 · 1Sam 13:6 · 1Sam 14:22

12The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”Cross-references: Gen 24:26 · Gen 24:42 · Gen 24:48 · Judg 4:14 · Judg 7:15 · 1Sam 14:10 · +4 more

13Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.Cross-references: Lev 26:7 · Deut 28:7 · Deut 32:30 · Josh 23:10 · Ps 18:29 · Rom 8:31 · +1 more

14That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.

15There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling.Cross-references: Gen 35:5 · Ex 19:18 · Lev 26:36 · Josh 2:9 · Judg 7:21 · 1Sam 13:17 · +8 more

16The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered.Cross-references: Judg 7:22 · 1Sam 14:20 · 2Chr 20:22 · Ps 58:7 · Ps 68:2 · Isa 19:2

17Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.Cross-references: Num 27:21 · Judg 20:18 · Judg 20:23 · Judg 20:27 · 1Sam 4:3 · 1Sam 5:2 · +4 more

19While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”Cross-references: Num 27:21 · Josh 9:14 · 1Sam 13:11 · 1Sam 14:24 · Ps 106:13 · Isa 28:16

20Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion.Cross-references: Judg 7:22 · 1Sam 14:16 · 2Chr 20:23 · Isa 9:19 · Isa 19:2

21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.Cross-references: Judg 7:23 · 1Sam 29:4

22Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.Cross-references: 1Sam 13:6 · 1Sam 31:7

23So Yahweh saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.Cross-references: Ex 14:30 · Judg 2:18 · 1Sam 13:5 · 2Ki 14:27 · Ps 44:6 · Hos 1:7

24The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.Cross-references: Lev 27:29 · Num 21:2 · Deut 27:15 · Josh 6:17 · Josh 6:26 · Judg 1:28 · +8 more

25All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.Cross-references: Ex 3:8 · Num 13:27 · Deut 9:28 · Matt 3:4

26When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.Cross-references: Eccl 9:2

27But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out 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 brightened.Cross-references: 1Sam 14:29 · 1Sam 14:43 · 1Sam 30:12 · Prov 25:26

28Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” So the people were faint.Cross-references: 1Sam 14:24 · 1Sam 14:43

29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.Cross-references: Josh 7:25 · 1Ki 18:18

30How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.”Cross-references: Eccl 9:18

31They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;Cross-references: Josh 10:12 · Josh 19:42

32and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.Cross-references: Gen 9:4 · Lev 3:17 · Lev 7:26 · Lev 17:10 · Lev 19:26 · Deut 12:16 · +5 more

33Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against Yahweh, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!”Cross-references: Matt 7:5 · Rom 2:1

34Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.

35Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.Cross-references: Judg 21:4 · 1Sam 7:9 · 1Sam 7:12 · 1Sam 7:17 · Hos 8:14 · 2Tim 3:5

36Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light. Let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.”Cross-references: Num 27:21 · Josh 10:9 · Josh 10:19 · Josh 11:14 · 1Sam 11:11 · 1Sam 14:3 · +7 more

37Saul asked counsel of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.Cross-references: Judg 1:1 · Judg 20:18 · Judg 20:28 · 1Sam 10:22 · 1Sam 23:4 · 1Sam 23:9 · +8 more

38Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today.Cross-references: Num 24:17 · Josh 7:11 · Josh 7:14 · Judg 20:2 · 1Sam 10:19 · 2Sam 18:3 · +4 more

39For as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.Cross-references: 1Sam 14:24 · 1Sam 14:44 · 1Sam 19:6 · 1Sam 20:31 · 1Sam 22:16 · 1Sam 28:10 · +2 more

40Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”Cross-references: 1Sam 14:7 · 1Sam 14:36 · 2Sam 15:15

41Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.Cross-references: Josh 7:16 · 1Sam 10:20 · Prov 16:33 · Jonah 1:7 · Acts 1:24

42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.

43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.”Cross-references: Josh 7:19 · 1Sam 14:27 · Jonah 1:7

44Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”Cross-references: Gen 38:24 · Ruth 1:17 · 1Sam 14:39 · 1Sam 25:22 · 2Sam 3:9 · 2Sam 12:5 · +3 more

45The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, so he didn’t die.Cross-references: 1Sam 14:23 · 1Sam 19:5 · 2Sam 14:11 · 1Ki 1:52 · 2Chr 19:11 · Neh 9:27 · +14 more

46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

47Now 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. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them.Cross-references: 1Sam 11:1 · 1Sam 12:2 · 1Sam 13:1 · 1Sam 14:52 · 2Sam 8:3 · 2Sam 10:6 · +2 more

48He did valiantly and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.Cross-references: Ex 17:14 · Deut 25:19 · 1Sam 15:3

49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.Cross-references: 1Sam 18:7 · 1Sam 25:44 · 1Sam 31:2 · 2Sam 3:13 · 2Sam 6:20 · 1Chr 8:33 · +1 more

50The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.Cross-references: 1Sam 17:55 · 2Sam 2:8 · 2Sam 3:27

51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.Cross-references: 1Sam 9:1 · 1Sam 9:21

52There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he took him into his service.Cross-references: 1Sam 8:1 · 1Sam 8:11