1 Samuel 14: Jonathan's raid, Saul's oath, and the people rescue Jonathan
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What happens?
Without telling his father, Jonathan and his armor bearer climb up to the Philistine garrison, saying that Yahweh can save by many or by few; they kill about twenty men, the ground shakes, and the Philistine camp falls into panic, striking one another with their swords. Yahweh saves Israel that day. Saul has put the people under an oath not to eat until evening, but Jonathan, who did not hear it, eats some honey; the faint people later fall on the plunder and eat meat with the blood, and Saul has a large stone rolled to him, has them slaughter the animals there, and builds an altar. When Saul asks God whether to chase the Philistines, God does not answer him that day. Saul swears that whoever has sinned will die even if it is Jonathan, the lot falls on Jonathan, and the people rescue him. The chapter ends with Saul's wars, his family and his army commander Abner.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Jonathan speaks to his armor bearer in verses 1, 6, 8 to 10 and 12, and the armor bearer answers in verse 7. The Philistines speak in verses 11 and 12. Saul gives orders and speaks in verses 17 to 19, 33, 34, 36, 38 to 40 and 42 to 44, and he swears his oaths in verses 24 and 39. He asks God a question in verse 37 and prays to Yahweh in verse 41; the text says God did not answer him that day. Someone of the people tells Jonathan about the oath in verse 28, and Jonathan answers in verses 29 and 30 and speaks to Saul in verse 43. Others report to Saul in verse 33, the people answer Saul in verses 36, 40 and 45, and the priest speaks in verse 36. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
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.
In plain English: One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
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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,
In plain English: Saul was staying at the edge of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree at Migron, and the people with him were about six hundred men.
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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.
In plain English: Ahijah was there, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh. He was wearing (literally: carrying) an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
Good to know: Ichabod is the son that Phinehas' wife named when God's ark was taken (). "Wearing an ephod" is literally "carrying an ephod", the same words as in , where Eli's house was chosen "to wear an ephod" before Yahweh. The dictionary gives ephod as "a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image". The text does not say here what this ephod looked like.
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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.
In plain English: Between the passes that Jonathan tried to cross to reach the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag (literally: a tooth of rock) on one side and a rocky crag on the other. One was named Bozez, and the other Seneh.
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5The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
In plain English: One crag rose on the north, facing Michmash, and the other on the south, facing Geba.
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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.”
In plain English: Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. It may be that Yahweh will act for us, because nothing can stop Yahweh from saving, whether by many or by few."
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7His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go, and behold, I am with you according to your heart.”
In plain English: His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead (literally: turn yourself). Look, I am with you in whatever your heart wants (literally: according to your heart)."
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8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.
In plain English: Then Jonathan said, "Look, we will cross over to the men and let them see us.
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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.
In plain English: If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you!' then we will stand still where we are and not go up to them.
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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.”
In plain English: But if they say, 'Come up to us!' then we will go up, because Yahweh has given them into our hand. This will be the sign for us."
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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!”
In plain English: So the two of them let the Philistine garrison see them, and the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding!"
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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.”
In plain English: The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor bearer, "Come up to us, and we will show you something!" Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, because Yahweh has given them into the hand of Israel."
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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.
In plain English: Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer, coming after him, killed them.
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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.
In plain English: In that first slaughter Jonathan and his armor bearer killed about twenty men, within about half a furrow's length in an acre (literally: a yoke) of land.
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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.
In plain English: Trembling came on the camp, on the field and on all the people. The garrison and the raiders trembled too. The ground shook, and it became a very great trembling (literally: a trembling of God).
The Hebrew words: "An exceedingly great trembling" is literally "a trembling of God".
What changes: Read as "a very great trembling", the verse says how great the panic was. Read as "a trembling from God", it says God sent it. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "dismay from the Lord". Either way, verse 23 says "Yahweh saved Israel that day".
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16The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered.
In plain English: Saul's watchmen at Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the crowd melting away and going this way and that.
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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.
In plain English: Then Saul said to the people with him, "Count now, and see who has gone from us." When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
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18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.
In plain English: Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring God's ark here." For God's ark was with the Israelites at that time.
Good to know: The Hebrew has "God's ark" here. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Bring the ephod; for he wore the ephod in that day before Israel". says the ark had stayed at Kiriath Jearim for twenty years. The text does not say how the ark came to be with Saul's army.
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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!”
In plain English: While Saul was talking to the priest, the uproar in the Philistine camp kept growing louder. So Saul said to the priest, "Hold back your hand!"
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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.
In plain English: Saul and all the people with him were called together and went into the battle. There they found every man's sword against his neighbor, in very great confusion.
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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.
In plain English: The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before, and who had gone up with them into the camp from all around, also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
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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.
In plain English: In the same way, all the men of Israel who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines had run away, also chased after them in the battle.
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23So Yahweh saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.
In plain English: So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle passed on beyond Beth Aven.
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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.
In plain English: The men of Israel were hard pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, until I have taken revenge on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.
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25All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.
In plain English: All the people (literally: all the land) came into the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
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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.
In plain English: When the people came into the forest, there was the honey, dripping. But no one put his hand to his mouth, because the people were afraid of the oath.
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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.
In plain English: But Jonathan had not heard his father put the people under the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff (this Bible: rod) in his hand, dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
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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.
In plain English: Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly put the people under an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food today.'" And the people were faint.
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29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
In plain English: Jonathan said, "My father has brought trouble on the land. Look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
The Hebrew word: "Troubled" is akar, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to roil water; figuratively, to disturb or afflict". It is the word Joshua used to Achan: "Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you today" (), and the place was then called the valley of Achor, a name that sounds like it ().
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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.”
In plain English: How much better if the people had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! As it is, the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great."
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31They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;
In plain English: That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint.
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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.
In plain English: The people rushed on the plunder. They took sheep, cattle and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood.
Good to know: The law forbids eating meat with the blood: , and , which says, "You shall pour it out on the earth like water." In verse 33 Saul has a large stone rolled to him, and in verse 34 he has the people bring their animals and slaughter them there.
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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!”
In plain English: Then Saul was told, "Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood." He said, "You have broken faith (this Bible: dealt treacherously). Roll a large stone over to me today!"
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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.
In plain English: Saul said, "Go out among the people and tell them, 'Every man is to bring me his ox and his sheep, and slaughter them here and eat. Do not sin against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood.'" So that night all the people each brought his ox with him and slaughtered it there.
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35Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.
In plain English: Saul built an altar to Yahweh. It was the first altar he built to Yahweh (or: he began to build it as an altar to Yahweh).
The Hebrew words: "This was the first altar that he built" is literally "it he began to build, an altar to Yahweh". "Began" is chalal, which the dictionary gives with the meaning "to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge')".
What changes: Read the way this Bible has it, this was the first altar Saul built to Yahweh. Read the other way, Saul began to build an altar here, and the text does not say he finished it. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) reads like this Bible: "this was the first altar that Saul built to the Lord".
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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.”
In plain English: Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light. Let's not leave one man of them." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let's come near to God here."
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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.
In plain English: Saul asked God (this Bible: asked counsel of God), "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.
Good to know: The text says plainly that God did not answer Saul that day, and it does not say why. In verse 38 Saul takes it to mean that someone has sinned. In the text says again that "Yahweh didn't answer him", that time "by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets".
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38Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today.
In plain English: Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders (literally: corners) of the people, and find out how (this Bible: in whom) this sin has come about today.
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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.
In plain English: For as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will surely die." But not one of all the people answered him.
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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.”
In plain English: Then he said to all Israel, "You stand on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will stand on the other side." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."
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41Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
In plain English: So Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, "Show the right (or: give Thummim)." Jonathan and Saul were taken (this Bible: chosen), and the people went free.
The Hebrew words: "Show the right" is literally "give tamim". The dictionary gives tamim as "entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also ... integrity, truth". Without the vowel marks it is written with the same four Hebrew letters as Thummim, one of the two objects put in the high priest's breastplate, "the Urim and the Thummim" (see the note on ).
What changes: Read as "show the right" or "give a perfect answer", Saul asks Yahweh to make the truth plain. Read as "give Thummim", he asks for the answer to come by the Thummim. Either way, the lot falls: Jonathan and Saul are taken, and the people go free.
Good to know: The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has a longer prayer here: "O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? is the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? Lord God of Israel, give clear manifestations; and if the lot should declare this, give, I pray thee, to thy people Israel, give, I pray, holiness." Where the Hebrew has "Urim" in , Brenton has "manifestations", and where the Hebrew has "Thummim" and "Urim" in , Brenton has "manifestations" and "truth". Neither text explains how the lot worked. The same word for "taken" is used when Achan is picked out in to (see the note there).
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42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.
In plain English: Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.
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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.”
In plain English: Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done!" Jonathan told him, "I did taste a little honey with the end of the staff in my hand. Here I am: I must die."
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44Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
In plain English: Saul said, "May God do so to me, and more also: you will surely die, Jonathan."
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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.
In plain English: The people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has brought about this great victory (this Bible: salvation) in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!" So the people rescued (or: ransomed) Jonathan, and he did not die.
The Hebrew word: "Rescued" is padah, which the dictionary gives as "to sever, i.e. ransom; generally, to release, preserve". This Bible says "redeem" or a longer form in 43 of the 48 verses that use it.
What changes: Read as "rescued", the people saved Jonathan by speaking up for him against Saul's words. Read as "ransomed" or "redeemed", they bought him free, and the text does not say with what. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the people prayed for Jonathan in that day".
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46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
In plain English: Then Saul went up from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their own land (literally: place).
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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.
In plain English: When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he defeated them (or: condemned them).
The Hebrew word: "He defeated them" is from rasha, which the dictionary gives as "to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong". This Bible says "condemn" or a longer form in 17 of the 35 verses that use it, and "defeated" only here.
What changes: Read as "he defeated them", Saul beat his enemies wherever he went. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "he was victorious". Read with the dictionary's "declare wrong", Saul condemned them, the word this Bible uses most often for it.
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48He did valiantly and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
In plain English: He fought bravely (literally: did strength), struck down the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
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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.
In plain English: Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the younger.
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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.
In plain English: Saul's wife was named Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was named Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
In plain English: Kish was Saul's father, and Ner, Abner's father, was the son of Abiel.
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
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.
In plain English: There was hard war against the Philistines all the days of Saul. Whenever Saul saw a strong man or a brave man, he took him into his service.
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.