1Sa 14, 1Sa 16 | ESV | STEP | One day Jonathan the 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 .

1 One day Jonathan the 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 in the pomegranate cave ^{▼▼Or under the pomegranate [tree]} at ^bMigron. The people who were with him were about ^csix hundred men, 3 including ^dAhijah the son of Ahitub, ^eIchabod’s brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord ^fin Shiloh, ^gwearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Within ^hthe passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of ⁱGeba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these ^juncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, ^kfor nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. ^{▼▼Septuagint Do all that your mind inclines to} Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the 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 we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming ^mout of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre ^{▼▼Hebrew a yoke} of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even ^othe raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic. ^{▼▼Or became a panic from God}

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude ^qwas dispersing here and there. ^{▼▼Septuagint; Hebrew they went here and there} 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people ^{▼▼Hebrew; Septuagint “Bring the ephod.” For at that time he wore the ephod before the people} of Israel. 19 Now ^twhile Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, ^uevery Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, ^veven they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel ^wwho had hidden themselves ^xin the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 ^ySo the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond ^zBeth-aven.

Saul’s Rash Vow

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, ^aaso Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people ^{▼▼Hebrew land} came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, ^acso he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were ^adfaint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from ^aeMichmash to ^afAijalon. And the people were very ^agfaint. 32 The people ^ahpounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them ^aiwith the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating ^ajwith the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.” ^{▼▼Septuagint; Hebrew this day} 34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul ^albuilt an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But ^amthe priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” ^anBut he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For ^aoas the Lord lives who saves Israel, ^apthough it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” ^{▼▼Vulgate and Septuagint; Hebrew Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give Thummim.”} ^arAnd Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, ^as“Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, ^at“Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, ^au“I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, ^av“God do so to me and more also; ^awyou shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! ^axAs the Lord lives, ^aythere shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies

47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, ^azagainst the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of ^baZobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48 And he did valiantly ^bband struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 ^bcNow the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was ^bdMerab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. ^beAnd the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, ^bfSaul’s uncle. 51 ^bgKish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of ^bhAbiel.

52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, ^bihe attached him to himself.

1 Samuel 16

David Anointed King

1 The Lord said to Samuel, ^bj“How long will you grieve over Saul, since ^bkI have rejected him from being king over Israel? ^blFill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, ^bmfor I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ^bn‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. ^boAnd you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city ^bpcame to meet him trembling and said, ^bq“Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. ^brConsecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on ^bsEliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ^bt“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, ^bubut the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called ^bvAbinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made ^bwShammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, ^bx“There remains yet the youngest, ^{▼▼Or smallest} but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, ^bz“Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ^caruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, ^cb“Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took ^ccthe horn of oil ^cdand anointed him in the midst of his brothers. ^ceAnd the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

14 ^cfNow the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, ^cgand a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants ^chwho are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will ^ciplay it, and you will be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, ^cja man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, ^ckand the Lord is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, ^clwho is with the sheep.” 20 ^cmAnd Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul ^cnand entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And ^cowhenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre ^cpand played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.