13 Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him and they fell before Jonathan; and 14 his armourbearer slew them after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as 2 it were 'half a furrow's length in an acre of land. 1Or, half an 15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the acre of land field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled: and the earth quaked; so there was an exceeding Heb. a 16 great trembling. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither. 17 trembling of The Sept. hither the has, Bring ephod. For ephod at that time before he wore the Israel. 4 Heb. and. Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not 18 there. And Saul said unto Ahijah, 'Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was there 19 at that time 'with the children of Israel. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 21 Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, which went up with them 'into the camp from the country round about; Or, in the even they also turned to be with the Israelites camp, round 22 that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise The Sept. all the men of Israel which had hid themselves has, they also in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard dc. that the Philistines fled, even they also followed about turned to be hard after them in the battle. So the LORD 23 saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven. And the men of Israel 24 were distressed that day: but Saul adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food. And all 'the people came 25 into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come unto 26 2 Or, a stream the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no 1 Heb. the land. of honey man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when 27 his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth 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 were enlightened. Then answered one of 28 the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father 29 hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, 30 if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? Or, for had for now hath there been no great slaughter among the Philistines. And they smote of 31 the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. And 32 the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, 33 the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this there not been now a much greater slaughter &c.? 34 day. And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him. 35 that night, and slew them there. And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. 36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us 37 draw near hither unto God. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of 38 Israel? But he answered him not that day. And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye 'chiefs of 1Heb.corners, the people and know and see wherein this sin 39 hath been this day. For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do 41 what seemeth good unto thee. Therefore Saul said unto the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Shew the Or, Give a right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by perfect lot 42 lot: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. 43 And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand; and, lo, I must die. 44 And Saul said, God do so and more also: for 1 Heb. ransomed. thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the peo- 45 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over 47 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: and whithersoever he turned himself, 'he vexed them. And he did valiantly, and smote the 48 The Sept. has, Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. 2 Or, he put them to the worse he was victorious. Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and 49 Ishvi, and Malchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the 50 daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, 3 According to Saul's uncle. And Kish was the father of Saul; 51 and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. some ancient authorities, And Kish the father of Saul and Ner... were the sons of Abiel. • Heb. gathered. And there was sore war against the Philistines 52 all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him. And Samuel said unto Saul, The LORD sent 15 me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus 2 3 Or, will visit saith the LORD of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself 1 against him in the way, when he came up out 3 of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and 'utterly destroy all that they have, and spare 1 Heb. devote. them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and 4 ass. 2 And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand 5 footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and 'laid wait Or, strove 6 in the valley. And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites 7 departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as 8 thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the 9 edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not 'utterly destroy them but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. ΙΟ Then came the word of the LORD unto 11 Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and 12 he cried unto the LORD all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a 'monument, and is 3 Heb. hand. gone about, and passed on, and gone down to 13 Gilgal. And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I 3 |