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          DASV: 1 Samuel 14    

1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to his armor bearer,
"Come, let's go over to the Philistines' garrison, on the
other side." But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the
pomegranate tree in Migron. There were about 600 troops
with him.
3 Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of
Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh
was wearing an ephod. Now the people did not realize
that Jonathan was gone.

4 There was a rocky cliff on each side of the pass through
which Jonathan was seeking to go over to the Philistine
garrison. The name of the one cliff was Bozez, and the
name of the other Seneh.
5 The one cliff rose up on the north in front of Michmash,
and the other on the south in front of Geba.
6 Jonathan said to the armor bearer, "Come, let's go over to
the garrison of these uncircumcised men. It may be that
the LORD will act on our behalf, for nothing can hinder
the LORD from saving by many or by few."
7 His armor bearer said to him, "Do everything that is in
your heart, I am absolutely with you whatever you decide."
8 Then Jonathan said, "Look, we will cross over to these men,
and we will show ourselves to them.
9 If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we
will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them.
10 But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up,
for the LORD has delivered them into our hand.
This will be our sign."

11 When they both showed themselves to the Philistine garrison,
the Philistines shouted, "Look, the Hebrews are crawling out
of the holes where they were hiding."
12 Then the men of the garrison shouted to Jonathan and his
armor bearer, "Come up to us, and we will teach you a lesson."
Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up behind me,
for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."
13 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor
bearer behind him. They fell before Jonathan and his armor
bearer killed those behind him.
14 During this first strike Jonathan and his armor bearer killed
about twenty men, in an area of about half an acre.
15 There was panic in the camp, in the field, and among all
the people, the garrison and even the raiders were rattled
and the earth shook. It was a terror sent from God.

16 Saul's lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin looked on as the multitude
melted away scattering this way and that.
17 Then Saul said to the troops that were with him, "Count off
and see who has defected from us." When they had counted off,
Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18 Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark
of God traveled with the Israelites at that time.
19 While Saul was talking with the priest, the tumult in the camp
of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the
priest, "Withdraw your hand."
20 Saul and all the troops that were with him assembled and
went out to battle. They found the Philistines killing
each other with swords in total panic.
21 Now the Hebrews who had previously joined with the Philistines,
and had gone with them into the camp, turned and united with
the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise, all the men of Israel who had hid themselves
in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the
Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in
pursuit after them.
23 So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle
extended even beyond Beth-aven.

24 The men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul
had laid an oath on the troops, saying, "Cursed be the man
who eats any food before evening and I have avenged myself
on my enemies." So none of the troops had eaten anything.
25 All the troops entered the forest, and there was honey
on the ground.
26 When the troops entered the forest, they saw the honey
dripping, but no one dared put his hand to his mouth,
for they were afraid of the oath.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the troops
with the oath, so he put the end of the staff that was in
his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and ate putting
his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28 Then one of the soldiers mentioned, "Your father bound the
troops with a solemn oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who
eats food today.' That's why the troops are so exhausted."
29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See,
how my eyes have brightened because I have eaten a little
of this honey.
30 How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from
the spoil of their enemies that they found. Would not the
slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?"
31 On that day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash
to Aijalon, but the troops were exhausted.

32 The troops rushed greedily for the plunder, and took sheep,
oxen and calves, and slaughtered them right there on the spot
and the troops even ate them with the blood.
33 Then they told Saul, "Look, the troops are sinning against
the LORD because they are eating meat with its blood." So he
announced, "You have acted unfaithfully. Roll a large stone
here before me immediately."
34 Saul said, "Spread out among the troops, and tell them,
'Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter and
eat them here, but do not sin against the LORD by eating
it with the blood." So that night each of the troops
brought his ox with him, and slaughtered it there.
35 Saul built an altar to the LORD, it was the first
altar that he built to the LORD.

36 Then Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines
at night, and plunder them until dawn. Let's not leave a
single one of them alive." They replied, "Do whatever
seems best to you." Then the priest said, "Let's draw
near to God here."
37 So Saul asked God, "Should I go down after the Philistines?
Will you help deliver them into the hand of Israel?"
But God would not answer him that day.
38 So Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the army;
and let's see how this sin has occurred today.
39 For as surely as the LORD lives who delivers Israel,
even if it turns out to be Jonathan my son, he will
surely die." But no one among all the troops would
volunteer any information to him.
40 Then he said to all Israel, "You will be on one side,
and Jonathan my son and I will be on the other."
The people responded to Saul, "Do whatever you think
best."
41 Then Saul prayed "O LORD, the God of Israel,
show the right answer. If it is Jonathan or me give Urim,
but if the guilt is with the people give the Thummim."
Then Jonathan and Saul were designated by the lot,
and the troops were found innocent.
42 Then Saul said, "Cast the lots between me and my
son Jonathan." And Jonathan was designated by the lot.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have
done." So Jonathan confessed to him, "I tasted a little
honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand;
and because of that I must die?"
44 Saul said, "God do so to me and more also, if you
don't die, Jonathan."
45 But the people objected to Saul, "Should Jonathan die,
who won this great victory for Israel? Far from it!
As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall
to the ground; for he has helped God this day." So the
people rescued Jonathan, so that he was not killed.

46 Then Saul withdrew from chasing the Philistines,
and the Philistines went back home.
47 Now when Saul had secured his kingship over Israel,
he fought against all his enemies on every side--against
Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines--
wherever he turned he routed them.
48 He acted valiantly, and struck down the Amalekites,
and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who
plundered them.
49 Now the sons of Saul were: Jonathan, Ishvi and
Malki-shua; and the names of his two daughters were:
the firstborn, Merab, and younger one, Michal.
50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter
of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army
was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father
of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
52 There was fierce war against the Philistines all the
days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong or valiant man,
he drafted him into his service.

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