Jonathan's Daring Deed
1 One day Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Let's go across to the Philistine camp.” But Jonathan did not tell his father Saul, 2 who was camping under a pomegranate tree in Migron, not far from Gibeah; he had about six hundred men with him. 3 (The priest carrying the ephod was Ahijah, the son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub, who was the son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh.) The men did not know that Jonathan had left.
4 In Michmash Pass, which Jonathan had to go through to get over to the Philistine camp, there were two large jagged rocks, one on each side of the pass: one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One was on the north side of the pass, facing Michmash, and the other was on the south side, facing Geba.
6 Jonathan said to the young man, “Let's cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe the Lord will help us; if he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory, no matter how few of us there are.”
7 The young man answered, “Whatever you want to do, I'm with you.”
8 “All right,” Jonathan said. “We will go across and let the Philistines see us. 9 If they tell us to wait for them to come to us, then we will stay where we are. 10 But if they tell us to go to them, then we will, because that will be the sign that the Lord has given us victory over them.”
11 So they let the Philistines see them, and the Philistines said, “Look! Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they have been hiding in!” 12 Then they called out to Jonathan and the young man, “Come on up here! We have something to tell you!”
Jonathan said to the young man, “Follow me. The Lord has given Israel victory over them.” 13 Jonathan climbed up out of the pass on his hands and knees, and the young man followed him. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and knocked them down, and the young man killed them. 14 In that first slaughter Jonathan and the young man killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 15 All the Philistines in the countryside were terrified; the raiders and the soldiers in the camp trembled with fear; the earth shook, and there was great panic.
The Defeat of the Philistines
16 Saul's men on watch at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin saw the Philistines running in confusion. 17 So Saul said to his men, “Count the soldiers and find out who is missing.” They did so and found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons were missing. 18 “Bring the ephod here,” Saul said to Ahijah the priest. (On that day Ahijah was carrying it in front of the people of Israel.) 19 As Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept getting worse, so Saul said to him, “There's no time to consult the Lord!” 20 Then he and his men marched into battle against the Philistines, who were fighting each other in complete confusion. 21 Some Hebrews, who had been on the Philistine side and had gone with them to the camp, changed sides again and joined Saul and Jonathan. 22 Others, who had been hiding in the hills of Ephraim, heard that the Philistines were running away, so they also joined in and attacked the Philistines, 23 fighting all the way beyond Bethaven. The Lord saved Israel that day.
Events after the Battle
24 The Israelites were weak with hunger that day, because Saul, with a solemn oath, had given the order: “A curse be on anyone who eats any food today before I take revenge on my enemies.” So nobody had eaten anything all day. 25 They all came into a wooded area and found honey everywhere. 26 The woods were full of honey, but no one ate any of it because they were all afraid of Saul's curse. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father threaten the people with a curse; so he reached out with the stick he was carrying, dipped it in a honeycomb, and ate some honey. At once he felt much better. 28 But one of the men told him, “We are all weak from hunger, but your father threatened us and said, ‘A curse be on anyone who eats any food today.’”
29 Jonathan answered, “What a terrible thing my father has done to our people! See how much better I feel because I ate some honey! 30 How much better it would have been today if our people had eaten the food they took when they defeated the enemy. Just think how many more Philistines they would have killed!”
31 That day the Israelites defeated the Philistines, fighting all the way from Michmash to Aijalon. By this time the Israelites were very weak from hunger, 32 and so they rushed over to what they had captured from the enemy, took sheep and cattle, slaughtered them on the spot, and ate the meat with the blood still in it. 33 Saul was told, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.”
“You are traitors!” Saul cried out. “Roll a big stone over here to me.” 34 Then he gave another order: “Go among the people and tell them all to bring their cattle and sheep here. They are to slaughter them and eat them here; they must not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.” So that night they all brought their cattle and slaughtered them there. 35 Saul built an altar to the Lord, the first one that he built.
36 Saul said to his men, “Let's go down and attack the Philistines in the night, plunder them until dawn, and kill them all.”
“Do whatever you think best,” they answered.
But the priest said, “Let's consult God first.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you give us victory?” But God did not answer that day. 38 Then Saul said to the leaders of the people, “Come here and find out what sin was committed today. 39 I promise by the living Lord, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.” But no one said anything. 40 Then Saul said to them, “All of you stand over there, and Jonathan and I will stand over here.”
“Do whatever you think best,” they answered.
41 Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Lord, why have you not answered me today? Lord, God of Israel, answer me by the sacred stones. If the guilt is Jonathan's or mine, answer by the Urim; but if it belongs to your people Israel, answer by the Thummim.” The answer indicated Jonathan and Saul; and the people were cleared. 42 Then Saul said, “Decide between my son Jonathan and me.” And Jonathan was indicated. 43 Then Saul asked Jonathan, “What have you done?”
Jonathan answered, “I ate a little honey with the stick I was holding. Here I am—I am ready to die.”
44 Saul said to him, “May God strike me dead if you are not put to death!”
45 But the people said to Saul, “Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death? No! We promise by the living Lord that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with God's help.” So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.
46 After that, Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they went back to their own territory.
Saul's Reign and Family
47 After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere: the people of Moab, of Ammon, and of Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he fought he was victorious. 48 He fought heroically and defeated even the people of Amalek. He saved the Israelites from all attacks.
49 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His older daughter was named Merab, and the younger one Michal. 50 His wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; his army commander was his cousin Abner, the son of his uncle Ner. 51 Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 As long as he lived, Saul had to fight fiercely against the Philistines. So whenever he found a man who was strong or brave, he would enlist him in his army.
Jonatāna uzvara
1 Todien Saula dēls Jonatāns teica puisim, savam ieroču nesējam: “Nāc, iesim pāri uz filistiešu sardzi, kas viņā pusē!” Bet savam tēvam viņš neko neteica. 2 Sauls bija apmeties zem granātkoka Migronā, Gibas nomalē, un pie viņa bija ap seši simti vīru, 3 arī Ahija, kas nēsāja efodu, Īhāboda brāļa Ahītūva dēls, Pinhāsa dēls, Ēlī dēls, kas bija Kunga priesteris Šīlo. Un neviens nezināja, ka Jonatāns ir aizgājis. 4 Abpus pārejai, pa kuru Jonatāns lūkoja tikt pāri pie filistiešu sardzes, bija smailas klintis. Vienu sauca Mirdzošais un otru Dzelošais. 5 Viena klints slējās ziemeļos pretī Mihmāsai un otra dienvidos pretī Gebai.
6 Jonatāns teica puisim, savam ieroču nesējam: “Nāc, iesim pāri pie tiem neapgraizītajiem, kas tur stāv sardzē! Varbūt Kungs rīkosies mūsu labā, jo kas var Kungam liegt glābt ar maz tāpat kā ar daudz?!” 7 Un viņa ieroču nesējs teica: “Dari visu pēc sava prāta! Uz priekšu! Redzi, es esmu ar tevi vienis prātis!” 8 Jonatāns teica: “Redzi, mēs iesim pāri pie tiem vīriem tā, ka viņi mūs redz. 9 Ja viņi mums teiks: gaidiet, kamēr mēs tiekam pie jums! – tad paliksim uz vietas un nekāpsim augšā pie viņiem. 10 Bet, ja viņi teiks: kāpiet šurp pie mums! – mēs kāpsim augšā, jo tā būs zīme, ka Kungs viņus ir nodevis mūsu rokās.” 11 Kad filistiešu sardze viņus ieraudzīja, tie teica: “Redzi, ebreji lien ārā no alām, kur bija slēpušies!” 12 Un posteņa vīri sauca Jonatānam un viņa ieroču nesējam: “Kāpiet tik šurp pie mums, tad mēs jums rādīsim!”
Tad Jonatāns teica savam ieroču nesējam: “Man pakaļ! Kungs viņus ir nodevis Israēla rokās!” 13 Jonatāns rāpās rokām, kājām un viņa ieroču nesējs aiz viņa. Tie krita no Jonatāna rokas, un viņa ieroču nesējs tos piebeidza, iedams aiz viņa. 14 Šajā pirmajā slaktiņā Jonatāns un viņa ieroču nesējs nokāva ap divdesmit vīru uz tik liela zemes gabala, ko var apart pusdienā. 15 Liela drebēšana bija gan nometnē, gan laukā, un drebēja visi ļaudis – gan sargi, gan sirotāji, un trīcēja zeme – viss drebēja bailēs no Dieva. 16 Saula izlūki Benjāmina Gibā skatījās, un redzi – pūlis šķīda uz visām pusēm!
17 Tad Sauls teica ļaudīm, kas bija kopā ar viņu: “Apskatieties un noskaidrojiet, kurš no mums ir prom!” Tie apskatījās, redzi, nebija Jonatāna un viņa ieroču nesēja! 18 Sauls teica Ahijam: “Atnesiet Dieva šķirstu!” – tolaik Dieva šķirsts bija pie israēliešiem. 19 Kamēr Sauls runāja ar priesteri, kņada filistiešu nometnē pieauga aizvien vairāk, tādēļ Sauls teica priesterim: “Mitējies!” 20 Sauls sasauca visus ļaudis, kas bija pie viņa, un tie devās uz kaujas vietu. Un, redzi, tie kāva viens otru, un tur bija liels juceklis. 21 Un ebreji, kas agrāk bija ar filistiešiem un visur gāja tiem līdzi nometnēs, nu pievienojās israēliešiem, kas nāca ar Saulu un Jonatānu. 22 Visi Israēla vīri, kas slēpās Efraima kalnos, dzirdēja, ka filistieši bēg, un arī viņi ar kauju tiem cieši sekoja. 23 Tā Kungs todien izglāba Israēlu, un kauja turpinājās līdz Bēt-Āvenai.
Saula pārsteidzīgais lāsts
24 Israēla vīri todien bija paguruši, jo Sauls bija ļaudis nozvērinājis, sacīdams: “Nolādēts, kurš kaut ko ēdīs, pirms iestājas vakars un pirms es esmu atriebies saviem ienaidniekiem!” Tā neviens no ļaudīm neko nebaudīja.
25 Viņi visi iegāja mežā, un tur uz zemes bija medus. 26 Ļaudis iegāja mežā, un, redzi, tecēja medus! Bet neviens necēla roku pie mutes, jo ļaudis bijās zvēresta. 27 Taču Jonatāns nebija dzirdējis, ka viņa tēvs uzlicis ļaudīm lāstu. Viņš pasniedzās ar nūjas galu, kas tam bija rokā, iemērca to medus kārē un cēla roku pie mutes; un viņa acis iemirdzējās. 28 Tad kāds no ļaudīm teica: “Tavs tēvs ir ļaudis zvērināt nozvērinājis: nolādēts, kurš šodien ko ēdīs! Tāpēc ļaudis ir kā nemaņā.” 29 Jonatāns teica: “Mans tēvs nomoka visu zemi. Redziet taču, kā man iemirdzējās acis, kad es mazliet nobaudīju medu. 30 Kur vēl, ja ļaudis šodien krietni saēstos no visa, ko tie laupījuši ienaidniekiem, jo filistiešu sakāve vēl nav gana liela.” 31 Todien viņi kāva filistiešus no Mihmāsas līdz Ajalonai, un ļaudis bija nomocīti līdz nemaņai. 32 Tie metās uz laupījumu un ķēra avis, vēršus un teļus, kāva turpat uz vietas un ēda asiņainu. 33 Saulam teica: “Redzi, ļaudis grēko pret Kungu, ēdot asiņainu.” Viņš teica: “Jūs esat lauzuši uzticību! Tūliņ atveliet pie manis lielu akmeni!” 34 Tad Sauls teica: “Iejūciet ļaužu vidū un sakiet tiem: lai katrs atved pie manis savu vērsi un savu avi – kaujiet tos šeit un ēdiet, bet negrēkojiet pret Kungu, ēzdami asiņainu!” Tonakt ļaudis atveda katrs savu vērsi un kāva tur. 35 Tā Sauls uzcēla altāri Kungam. Tas bija pirmais altāris, ko viņš cēla Kungam.
Jonatāns tiek atbrīvots no lāsta
36 Sauls teica: “Dzīsimies pakaļ filistiešiem naktī un laupīsim viņus līdz rīta gaismai – neatstāsim dzīvu nevienu no viņiem!” Tie atbildēja: “Dari visu, kā tev šķiet labi.”
Bet priesteris teica: “Vērsīsimies pie Dieva šeit pat!” 37 Un Sauls jautāja Kungam: “Vai man dzīties pakaļ filistiešiem? Vai tu tos nodosi Israēla rokās?” Bet todien viņš tam neatbildēja. 38 Tad Sauls teica: “Pulcējieties šeit, jūs, visi tautas balsti, lai zinām un redzam, kur šodien noticis grēks! 39 Kā dzīvs Kungs, Israēla glābējs! – pat ja to darījis mans dēls Jonatāns, viņš mirtin mirs!” Bet neviens visā tautā neatbildēja. 40 Un viņš teica Israēlam: “Jūs būsiet vienā pusē, bet mēs ar dēlu Jonatānu otrā pusē.” Un ļaudis teica Saulam: “Dari, kā tev šķiet labi.”
41 Un Sauls teica Kungam: “Israēla Dievs, lem taisnību!” Un tika norādīti Jonatāns un Sauls, bet tauta izgāja sveikā. 42 Tad Sauls teica: “Metiet lozi par mani un manu dēlu Jonatānu!” Un tika norādīts Jonatāns. 43 Sauls teica Jonatānam: “Stāsti man, ko tu esi darījis!” Un Jonatāns viņam stāstīja: “Ar nūjas galu, kas man bija rokā, es gan nobaudīju mazliet medus – vai tad man jāmirst!” 44 Sauls sacīja: “Lai Dievs dara tā un vēl pieliek! Tev tiešām jāmirst, Jonatān!” 45 Bet ļaudis sacīja Saulam: “Vai Jonatānam jāmirst? Viņam, kurš nesis Israēlam lielo glābšanu? Pasargi! Dzīvs Kungs! Ne mats no viņa galvas nekritīs zemē! Jo ar Dieva palīgu viņš to šodien paveicis!” Tā ļaudis izglāba Jonatānu no nāves.
46 Bet Sauls atstājās no filistiešu vajāšanas, un filistieši devās uz savu zemi.
Saula vestie kari
47 Kad Sauls bija saņēmis valdīšanu pār Israēlu, viņš karoja ar visiem saviem ienaidniekiem visapkārt – ar Moābu, amoniešiem, Edomu, Cobas ķēniņiem un ar filistiešiem. Visur, kur viņš devās, viņš tos pārmācīja. 48 Viņš rīkojās drosmīgi, satrieca amālēkiešus un izrāva Israēlu no laupītāju rokām.
49 Saula dēli bija Jonatāns, Jišvī un Malkī-Šūa, un abas viņa meitas sauca – pirmdzimto Mēraba un jaunāko Mīhala. 50 Saula sievu sauca Ahīnoama, Ahīmaaca meita. Saula karaspēka virspavēlnieks bija Abnērs, Saula tēvoča Nēra dēls. 51 Jo Saula tēvs Kīšs un Abnēra tēvs Nērs bija Abīēla dēli.
52 Karš ar filistiešiem bija sīvs visas Saula dienas. Kad vien Sauls ieraudzīja kādu varenu vai stipru vīru, viņš to piepulcināja sev.
