1 Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison which is on the other side. But he did not tell his father.
2 And Saul abode at the extreme end of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which {was} in Migron; and the people that were with him were about six hundred men.
3 (And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, Jehovah's priest in Shiloh, wore the ephod.) And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.
4 Now between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side; and the name of the one {was} Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The one crag {formed} a pillar on the north opposite to Michmash, and the other on the south opposite to Geba.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: perhaps Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.
7 And his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that is in thy heart; turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will shew ourselves to them.
9 If they say thus to us, Stand still until we come to you, then we will stay in our place, and will not go up to them.
10 And if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up; for Jehovah has given them into our hand; and this shall be the sign to us.
11 And both of them shewed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you something. And Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after him.
14 And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer wrought was about twenty men, as it were on the half-furrow of an acre of land.
15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the ravagers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked; for it was a trembling {from} God.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on slaying one another.
17 Then said Saul to the people that were with him, Muster now, and see who is gone from us. And they mustered, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.
18 And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
19 And it came to pass while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hand.
20 And Saul and all the people that were with him were called together, and they came to the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, a very great confusion.
21 And there were Hebrews with the Philistines before that time, who had gone up with them into the camp round about; and they also {turned} to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 And all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in mount Ephraim heard that the Philistines fled, and they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 And Jehovah saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over beyond Beth-Aven.
24 But the men of Israel were distressed that day. Now Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food until evening, and {until} I am avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.
25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey on the ground.
26 And the people had come into the wood, and behold, the honey flowed; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people; and he put forth the end of his staff which was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.
28 Then answered one of the people and said, Thy father strictly adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day; and the people are faint.
29 And Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land: see, I pray you, that mine eyes are bright, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much more, if the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for would there not now have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Ajalon; and the people were very faint.
32 And the people fell on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate {them} with the blood.
33 And they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have acted perversely: roll me now a great stone.
34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Bring near to me every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slaughter them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slaughtered {them} there.
35 And Saul built an altar to Jehovah: this was the first altar he built to Jehovah.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever is good in thy sight. Then said the priest, Let us come near hither to God.
37 And Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.
38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the heads of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day.
39 For, {as} Jehovah liveth, who has saved Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall certainly die. And no one answered him among all the people.
40 Then said he to all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what is good in thy sight.
41 And Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, Give a perfect {testimony}! And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.
42 And Saul said, Cast {lots} between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43 And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him and said, With the end of the staff which is in my hand I tasted a little honey, {and} behold, I must die!
44 And Saul said, God do so {to me} and more also; thou shalt certainly die, Jonathan.
45 And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! {as} Jehovah liveth, there shall not a hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not.
46 And Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 And Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies round about, 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 discomfited {them}.
48 And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of their spoilers.
49 And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
51 And Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner were sons of Abiel.
52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to himself.
1 Sucedeu um dia que Jônatas, filho de Saul, disse ao seu escudeiro: Vem, e passemos à guarnição dos filisteus, que está do outro lado. A seu pai, porém, não disse nada.
2 Saul estava sentado na extremidade de Gibeá debaixo da romeira que está em Migrom, e o povo que estava com ele era cerca de seiscentos homens.
3 Aías, filho de Aitube, irmão de Icabode, filho de Finéias, filho de Eli, sacerdote de Jeová em Silo, trazia o efode. O povo não sabia que Jônatas tinha ido.
4 Entre os desfiladeiros, pelos quais Jônatas intentava passar à guarnição dos filisteus, havia um penhasco de uma e de outra banda: o nome de um era Bozez, e o nome do outro era Sené.
5 Um penhasco elevava-se ao norte em frente de Micmás, e o outro ao sul em frente de Geba.
6 Disse Jônatas ao seu escudeiro: Vem, e passemos à guarnição destes incircuncidados. Talvez Jeová opere por nós, porque nada há que proíba a Jeová de livrar ou com muitos ou com poucos.
7 Então lhe respondeu o seu escudeiro: Faze tudo o que estiver no teu coração. Segue, eis que eu estou contigo para o que quiseres.
8 Disse Jônatas: Eis que passaremos aos homens, e nos descobriremos a eles.
9 Se nos falarem assim: Parai até que venhamos a vós, pararemos em nosso lugar e não subiremos a eles.
10 Porém, se disserem assim: Subi a nós; subiremos, pois Jeová nô-los entregou nas mãos. Isso nos servirá de sinal.
11 Então se descobriram ambos eles à guarnição dos filisteus, que disseram: Eis que os hebreus estão saindo dos buracos em que se tinham escondido.
12 Os homens da guarnição disseram a Jônatas e ao seu escudeiro: Subi a nós, e mostrar-vos-emos uma coisa. Disse Jônatas ao seu escudeiro: Sobe após de mim, pois Jeová os entregou nas mãos de Israel.
13 Trepou Jônatas, engatinhando com as mãos e pés e o seu escudeiro após dele. Os filisteus caíram diante de Jônatas, e o seu escudeiro matava-os atrás dele.
14 Esta foi a primeira desfeita em que Jônatas e seu escudeiro mataram cerca de vinte homens, dentro duma como meia jeira de terra.
15 Houve tremor no arraial, no campo e entre todo o povo; tremeram a guarnição e os saqueadores, também estremeceu a terra, de sorte que houve grandíssimo pânico.
16 Olharam as sentinelas de Saul que estavam em Gibeá de Benjamim, e eis que a multidão, derretendo-se, escorria para aqui e para ali.
17 Disse Saul ao povo que estava com ele: Indagai agora, e vede quem é o que saiu dentre nós. Tendo-se indagado, eis que Jônatas e seu escudeiro não estavam ali.
18 Disse Saul a Aías: Traze para cá a arca de Deus. Pois a arca de Deus estava naquele dia com os filhos de Israel.
19 Enquanto Saul ainda falava ao sacerdote, o tumulto que havia no arraial dos filisteus ia-se crescendo; e Saul disse ao sacerdote: Retira a tua mão.
20 Saul e todo o povo que estava com ele reuniram-se e foram à batalha; e cada um voltava reciprocamente a espada contra outro em grande confusão.
21 Os hebreus que estavam dantes ao lado dos filisteus, tendo vindo dos arredores ao arraial deles, também vieram a unir-se com os israelitas que estavam com Saul e Jônatas.
22 Da mesma maneira todos os homens de Israel que se haviam escondido na região montanhosa de Efraim, depois de terem ouvido que os filisteus fugiam, também eles os perseguiram de perto na batalha.
23 Assim livrou Jeová a Israel naquele dia, e a refrega passou além de Bete-Áven.
24 Os homens de Israel estavam angustiados naquele dia. Saul, porém, ajuramentou o povo, dizendo: Maldito o homem que comer pão até a tarde e até eu me vingar dos meus inimigos. Assim todo o povo se absteve de comer.
25 Todo o povo veio a um bosque onde havia mel sobre a superfície do campo.
26 Entrando o povo no bosque, corria o mel; mas ninguém chegou a mão à boca, pois o povo respeitava o juramento.
27 Jônatas, porém, não tinha ouvido quando seu pai ajuramentou o povo. Estendendo a ponta da vara que tinha na mão, molhou-a no favo de mel, e chegou a mão à boca; e aclararam-se-lhe os olhos.
28 Então disse um do povo: Teu pai ajuramentou solenemente o povo, dizendo: Maldito o homem que comer pão hoje. O povo estava cansado.
29 Disse Jônatas: Meu pai trouxe desastre sobre a terra; vede como se me aclararam os olhos, porque provei um pouco deste mel.
30 Quanto mais se o povo hoje tivesse comido livremente do que encontrou do despojo dos seus inimigos? pois agora não houve grande destroço entre os filisteus.
31 Feriram naquele dia os filisteus desde Micmás até Aijalom. O povo estava muito cansado
32 e, lançando-se ao despojo, tomou ovelhas, e bois, e bezerros, e degolando-os no chão, comeu-os com sangue.
33 Noticiaram a Saul, dizendo: Eis que o povo está a pecar contra Jeová, comendo com sangue. Respondeu ele: Procedestes traiçoeiramente; trazei-me aqui já uma grande pedra.
34 Acrescentou Saul: Dispersai-vos por entre o povo, e dizei-lhes: Trazei-me cá, cada um o seu boi e cada um a sua ovelha, e degolai-os aqui e comei, e não pequeis contra Jeová, comendo com sangue. Todo o povo trouxe naquela noite pela mão, cada um o seu boi, e ali os degolou.
35 Edificou Saul um altar a Jeová; foi este o primeiro altar que lhe edificou.
36 Disse Saul: Desçamos durante a noite aos filisteus, e despojemo-los até o raiar do dia, e não deixemos deles um só homem. Responderam eles: Faze tudo o que bem te parecer. Então disse o sacerdote: Cheguemo-nos aqui a Deus.
37 Saul consultou a Jeová: Descerei aos filisteus? entregá-los-ás nas mãos de Israel? Porém Jeová não lhe respondeu naquele dia.
38 Disse Saul: Chegai-vos aqui, todos os principais do povo; informai-vos e vede em que se cometeu hoje este pecado.
39 Pois pela vida de Jeová que salva a Israel, embora seja o culpado Jônatas, meu filho, certamente se lhe tirará a vida. Porém nenhum de todo o povo lhe respondeu.
40 Então disse a todo o Israel: Ficai vós de uma parte, e eu e meu filho Jônatas ficaremos da outra parte. Respondeu o povo a Saul: Faze o que bem te parecer.
41 Disse Saul a Jeová, Deus de Israel: Mostra o que é justo. Foram implicados pela sorte Jônatas e Saul; o povo, porém, ficou livre.
42 Disse Saul: Deitai sortes entre mim e Jônatas, meu filho. Caiu a sorte sobre Jônatas.
43 Perguntou Saul a Jônatas: Declara-me o que fizeste. Jônatas lho declarou e disse: Provei, na verdade, um pouco de mel com a ponta da vara que tinha na mão. Eis-me aqui; estou pronto a morrer.
44 Saul disse: Assim me faça Deus e ainda mais, se não morreres sem falta, Jônatas.
45 Disse o povo a Saul: Porventura morrerá Jônatas, que efetuou este grande livramento em Israel? Tal não suceda; pela vida de Jeová não lhe há de cair no chão um só cabelo da sua cabeça, pois ajudado de Deus fez isso hoje. Assim o povo livrou a Jônatas, para que não morresse.
46 Subiu Saul, e deixou de perseguir aos filisteus, que foram para as suas terras.
47 Tendo Saul tomado o reino sobre Israel, pelejou contra todos os seus inimigos ao redor: contra Moabe, e contra os filhos de Amom, e contra Edom, e contra os reis de Zobá, e contra os filisteus; e para onde quer que se voltava, era vitorioso.
48 Houve-se valorosamente, destroçou aos amalequitas e livrou a Israel das mãos dos que o despojavam.
49 Os filhos de Saul foram Jônatas, Isvi e Malquisua, e os nomes de suas duas filhas eram estes: o da primogênita Merabe, e o da mais moça Mical.
50 A mulher de Saul chamava-se Ainoã, filha de Aimaás. O nome do general do seu exército foi Abner, filho de Ner, tio de Saul.
51 Quis era pai de Saul, e Ner, pai de Abner, era filho de Abiel.
52 Por todos os dias de Saul houve uma forte guerra contra os filisteus; e sempre que Saul via a qualquer homem poderoso, ou valente, o agregava a si.