b[See ch. 13:23 above]
ag[See ver. 28 above]
aj[See ver. 32 above]
as[See ver. 41 above]
ax[See ver. 39 above]
bl[See ver. 1 above]
cc[See ver. 12 above]
cd[See ver. 14 above]
cm[See ver. 17 above]

1 Samuel 14

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

1One 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. 2Saul 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,
3including 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. 4Within 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. 5The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of iGeba.

6Jonathan 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.” 7And 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.”
8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9If 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. 10But 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.” 11So 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.” 12And 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.” 13Then 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. 14And 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.
15And 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


16And 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
17Then 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. 18So 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.
19Now 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.” 20Then 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. 21Now 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. 22Likewise, 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

24And 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. 25Now when all the people
Hebrew land
came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground.
26And 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. 27But 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. 28Then 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. 29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How 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.”

31They struck down the Philistines that day from aeMichmash to afAijalon. And the people were very agfaint. 32The 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. 33Then 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
34And 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. 35And Saul albuilt an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36Then 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.” 37And 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. 38And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39For 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. 40Then 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.” 41Therefore 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.
42Then Saul said, asCast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43Then Saul said to Jonathan, atTell 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.” 44And Saul said, avGod do so to me and more also; awyou shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45Then 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. 46Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies

47When 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. 48And 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. 50And 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.

52There 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 18

David and Jonathan’s Friendship

1As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan bjloved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day bkand would not let him return to his father’s house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because blhe loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5And David went out bmand was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

Saul’s Jealousy of David

6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, bnthe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.
Or triangles, or three-stringed instruments
7And the women bpsang to one another as they celebrated,

bqSaul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
8And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but brthe kingdom?” 9And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10The next day bsa harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and bthe raved within his house while David was buplaying the lyre, as he did day by day. bvSaul had his spear in his hand. 11And Saul bwhurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 bxSaul was afraid of David because bythe Lord was with him bzbut had departed from Saul. 13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. caAnd he went out and came in before the people. 14And David cbhad success in all his undertakings, ccfor the Lord was with him. 15And when Saul saw that cdhe had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 ceBut all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal

17Then Saul said to David, “Here is cfmy elder daughter Merab. cgI will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me chand fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, cibut let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18And David said to Saul, cjWho am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to ckAdriel the clMeholathite for a wife.

20Now cmSaul’s daughter Michal cnloved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may cobe a snare for him cpand that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,
Hebrew by two
cr“You shall now be my son-in-law.”
22And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, cs“Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no ctbride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, cuthat he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” cvNow Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. cwBefore the time had expired, 27David arose and went, cxalong with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. cyAnd David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28But when Saul saw and knew that czthe Lord was with David, daand that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 dbThen the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out dcDavid had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

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