1One day, Jonathan, Saul's son, said to his armor-bearer, "Come, let's cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
2Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree in Migron. There were about six hundred men with him,
3including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, who was the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh and wearing an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had left.
4Between the passes where Jonathan planned to cross to the Philistine outpost, there was a rocky cliff on one side and a rocky cliff on the other. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.
5One cliff rose up to the north opposite Michmash, and the other to the south opposite Geba.
6Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps Yahweh will help us, for Yahweh can save us whether we have many soldiers or few."
7His armor-bearer said to him, "Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you, whatever you decide."
8Then Jonathan said, "Look, we will cross over to these men and show ourselves to them.
9If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stay where we are and not go up to them."
10But if they say, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up, because Yahweh has handed them over to us. This will be our sign.”
11The two of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. The Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they were hiding!”
12The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us, and we’ll show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up behind me, for Yahweh has handed them over to Israel.”
13Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him.
14That first attack, carried out by Jonathan and his armor-bearer, killed about twenty men within an area about half the length of a furrow in a field.
15A tremor went through the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The outpost and the raiding parties also trembled, and the earth shook. There was a very great panic.
16Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked out and saw the large crowd melting away and scattering.
17Then Saul said to the people with him, “Count everyone now and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here.” At that time, the Ark of God was with the people of Israel.
19While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you are doing!”
20Saul and all the people with him gathered and went into battle. They found the Philistines striking each other with their swords in great confusion.
21Even the Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and who had gone up with them into the camp, turned and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22Also, all the men of Israel who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines were fleeing, chased after them in battle.
23So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle continued past Beth Aven.
24The men of Israel were exhausted that day, because Saul had made the people swear an oath, saying, “Cursed is anyone who eats any food before evening, until I have taken revenge on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted any food.
25All the people entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
26When the people reached the forest, they saw honey dripping, but no one put their hand to their mouth because they feared the oath.
27But Jonathan had not heard when his father made the people swear the oath. So he stretched out the end of the staff he was holding, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth. His eyes brightened.
28Then one of the people said, “Your father made the people swear a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’ As a result, the people are faint.”
29Then Jonathan said, “My father has brought trouble to the land. See how much better I feel because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much greater would the victory have been today if the troops had been free to eat all the plunder they found from their enemies? Because of this, there wasn't a major defeat among the Philistines.
31That day, they struck down the Philistines all the way from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were extremely tired.
32The people then rushed to seize the plunder. They took sheep, cattle, and calves, butchered them on the ground, and ate the meat with the blood still in it.
33Someone told Saul, "Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat with blood." Saul replied, "You have acted disloyally. Roll a large stone over to me right now!"
34Saul then said, "Go spread out among the people and tell them, 'Everyone, bring me your ox and your sheep here. Kill them here and eat the meat, but don't sin against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood still in it.'" That night, every person brought their ox with them and killed them there.
35Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar he ever built to Yahweh.
36Saul said, "Let's go down tonight and chase the Philistines. We'll plunder them until morning light, and we won't leave a single one alive." The people replied, "Do whatever you think is best." Then the priest said, "Let's ask God here."
37Saul asked God, "Should I go down and chase the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.
38Saul said, "Come forward, all you leaders of the people. Find out what sin has been committed today.
39As Yahweh, who saves Israel, lives, even if it is my son Jonathan who is guilty, he will surely die." But no one among all the people answered him.
40Then he said to all Israel, "You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side." The people told Saul, "Do what you think is best."
41So Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, "Show us who is guilty." Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people were cleared.
42Saul said, "Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan." Jonathan was chosen.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done!" Jonathan told him, "I did taste a little honey with the end of the stick I was holding, and now I must die."
44Saul said, "May God punish me severely if you, Jonathan, do not surely die."
45But the people said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die, after he brought about such a great victory for Israel? Absolutely not! As Yahweh lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!" So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their own territory.
47After Saul took control of the kingdom of Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere he turned, he defeated them.
48He fought bravely and defeated the Amalekites, rescuing Israel from those who had plundered them.
49Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (the older) and Michal (the younger).
50Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, who was Saul's uncle.
51Kish was Saul's father. Ner, Abner's father, was the son of Abiel.
52There was intense war against the Philistines for Saul's entire reign. Whenever Saul saw a strong or brave man, he recruited him into his service.