1 Samuel 14 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Chapter 14

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines.[a] 1 One day Jonathan, Saul’s son, said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let us cross over to the other side to that outpost of Philistines,” but he did not tell his father.

2 Saul had remained in the upper part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree that is in Migron. There were around six hundred men with him. 3 Abijah, the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, and he wore an ephod. Now, the people did not know that Jonathan had left.

4 Along the passes through which Jonathan was traveling to go over to the Philistine outpost, there was a rocky cliff on one side and there was a rocky cliff on the other side. They were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 One of them faced the north toward Michmash, and the other faced the south toward Gibeah. 6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come on, let us cross over to that outpost of uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will be with us, for nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether it be by many or by few.” 7 His armor-bearer said to him, “Do what you have in mind, my heart is with you.”

8 Jonathan said, “Let us cross over to those men and show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait where you are until we come over to you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go over to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come here to us,’ then we will go, because the Lord has delivered them into our hands, and this is a sign to us.”[b]

11 So the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine force, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming up out of the holes in which they have hidden themselves.” 12 Then the men of that force said to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come over to us and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come, follow me, for the Lord has delivered them into Israel’s hands.”

13 Jonathan climbed up using his hands and his feet, and his armor-bearer followed him. They fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer also put them to death after him. 14 That first time Jonathan and his armor-bearer slaughtered about twenty of them, all within half the area an ox could plow.

15 The army in the fields and all the people in the outposts and the raiding parties were seized with panic, and they were shaking so much that even the ground quaked, for it was a tremendous panic.

16 Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, “Take stock and see who has left us.” They took stock, and Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 Saul said to Abijah, “Bring the Ark of God here” (for the Ark of God was then with the Israelites). 19 While Saul was talking with the priest, the noise that was rising up from the Philistine army kept getting louder. Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went into battle. There was great confusion, each man attacking his neighbor with his sword. 21 Furthermore, those Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines and who had gone up into their camp changed sides to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 When all of the Israelites who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they joined them in battle, chasing closely after them. 23 Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day, and the fighting continued on through Beth-haven.

24 Saul’s Oath. The men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul placed the people under an oath which said, “Whoever eats any food before this evening, before I have had the chance to seek vengeance upon my enemies, will be cursed,” Therefore, no one ate anything.

25 All of them entered a woodland, and there was some honey on the ground. 26 When they entered the woods, they saw honey oozing out, but no one put his hand to his mouth because they feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard about the oath with which his father had bound the people, so he stuck out the end of the staff that was in his hand and he dipped it in the honeycomb. He then put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28 Jonathan’s Violation of the Oath. One of the men shouted out, “Your father has put the people under an oath saying, ‘Whoever eats food today will be under a curse.’ ” By now, the people were faint. 29 Jonathan said, “My father has brought trouble into the land. Look how my eyes brightened up just because I ate a little bit of this honey. 30 The slaughter among the Philistines has not been all that great. How much larger would it have been today if the people had eaten freely of their enemies’ plunder that they had found?”

31 That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very weary. 32 The people rushed upon the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and they slaughtered them upon the ground. The people ate them along with blood.

33 They spoke to Saul saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord for they are eating food with the blood still in it.” He said, “You have acted treacherously. Roll this large rock over toward me.” 34 Saul then said, “Go among the people and say to them, ‘Let each man bring his ox and his sheep to me here. They can slay them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating it with its blood still in it.’ ” Each man brought his ox there, and they slaughtered them there that night. 35 Saul built an altar to the Lord. It was the first time that he built an altar to the Lord.[c]

36 Jonathan Is Saved from Death. Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night. We can prey upon them until the morning and not leave one of them alive.” They said, “Do whatever you think best,” but the priest approached and said, “Let us inquire of God.” 37 So Saul sought counsel from God asking, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into Israel’s hands?” But he did not answer that day.

38 So Saul said, “Let all of the leaders of the people draw near so that we can know and find out what sin has been committed today. 39 As the Lord who delivers Israel lives, even if it be Jonathan, my son, that man will surely die.” But none of the people answered him.

40 He then said to all of Israel, “You stand on one side, I and Jonathan my son will stand on the other.” The people said to Saul, “Do what you think is best.” 41 Saul then said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give me the complete truth.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen by lot, but the people escaped. 42 Saul said, “Cast lots to choose between me and Jonathan, my son.” Jonathan’s lot was chosen.

43 Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of my staff that was in my hand. Must I now die?” 44 Saul answered, “May God do this to me and even more, for, Jonathan, you must surely die.” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, the one who brought about this victory in Israel? Never! As the Lord lives, not one hair from his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” This is how the people rescued Jonathan[d] that day, and he was not put to death.

46 Saul’s Reign Summarized. Saul returned from his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their homes. 47 [e]Thus Saul established his reign over Israel. He fought against all of his surrounding enemies, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. He punished them on every side. 48 He assembled an army and struck down the Amalekites, delivering Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malkishua. The older of his two daughters was named Merab, and the younger was named Michal. 50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam, and she was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, who was Saul’s uncle. 51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were the sons of Abiel.

52 There was bitter fighting against the Philistines all throughout the days of Saul. Whenever Saul saw a strong or brave man, he took him into his service.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 14:1 This section shows the declining nature of Saul’s leadership as a result of his deteriorating relationship with God.
  2. 1 Samuel 14:10 This is a sign to us: Jonathan and his armor-bearer were no match for the Philistine army, but they trusted that God was with them and they were rewarded with a tremendous victory.
  3. 1 Samuel 14:35 Saul was late in giving honor to God for his kingship. He consistently made the mistake of relying on his own wits and approaching God as a last resort.
  4. 1 Samuel 14:45 The people rescued Jonathan: Saul was more intent on saving his image than on killing Jonathan. The intervention of the people got him out of a bad spot so that he did not have to carry out his threat against Jonathan.
  5. 1 Samuel 14:47 This is a piece of archival information, of which there will be further examples in the history of the kings. The present chronological notice is very positive in its evaluation of Saul’s historical work as a whole and deserves credence. Verse 52 implies the beginnings of a standing army.

You Might Also Like:

1 Samuel 14 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

14 And the day cometh that Jonathan son of Saul saith unto the young man bearing his weapons, `Come, and we pass over unto the station of the Philistines, which [is] on the other side of this;' and to his father he hath not declared [it]. 2 And Saul is abiding at the extremity of Gibeah, under the p...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

14 And it befelled in a day, that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to his squire, a young man, Come thou, and pass we (over) to the station of the Philistines, which is beyond that place; soothly he showed not this same thing to his father. (And it befell one day, that Saul’s son Jonathan, said to th...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - World English Bible (WEB)

14 Now 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. 2 Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migro...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - The Voice (VOICE)

14 One day Saul’s son, Jonathan, came up with a plan. He turned to his armor-bearer.Jonathan: Come on. Let’s go down to the Philistines over there.But he didn’t tell his father what he had decided. 2 Saul remained outside Gibeah under the pomegranate tree at Migron with about 600 of his soldiers. 3...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Jonathan’s Daring Valor14 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man carrying his armor, “Come, let’s cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that’s on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Now Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is in Mi...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Jonathan Surprises and Routs the Philistines14 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gib′e-ah under the pomegranate tree whic...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Jonathan Surprises and Routs the Philistines14 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gib′e-ah under the pomegranate tree whic...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armour, ‘Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is at Migron; the troops that were with...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is at Migron; the troops who were with him...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Jonathan’s Daring Plan14 One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing. 2 Meanwhile, Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree[a] a...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New Life Version (NLV)

Jonathan’s Battle with the Philistines14 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, “Come, let us go over to the place where the Philistine soldiers are on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying beside Gibeah under the po...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines14 Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who [a]bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of (A)Gibeah u...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armour-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 ...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New International Version (NIV)

14 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(A) on the outskirts of Gibeah(B) under a pomegranate tree(C) in Migron.(D) With him were about six hundred men, 3 a...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

14 1 One day Jonathan, the son of Saul, spoke to the young man carrying his armor. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go over to the Philistine army camp on the other side of the pass.” But he didn’t tell his father about it. 2 Saul was staying just outside Gibeah. He was under a pomegranate tree in Migron...
Read More

1 Samuel 14 - New English Translation (NET)

14 Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor-bearer,[a] “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know. 2 Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron, on the outskirts of Gibeah. The army that was with him numbered ab...
Read More