The Lord Lets Jonathan Confront the Philistines |
1 Samuel 14:1-52 The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
Now, [it happened] on a day, that Jonathan, [Saul’s] son, said to the young man [who carried] his [armor,] Come, & let’s go over to the other side of the Philistine’s garrison, [a.k.a. soldiers stationed.] But [Jonathan didn’t tell] his father. |
And Saul [stayed] in the [furthest] part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree [that] is in Migron, with about 600 men. |
And Ahiah, [Ahitub’s] son, & [Ichabod’s] brother, [who] was the son of Phinehas, [Eli’s] son, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. [1 Samuel 2:28 And [didn’t] I choose [Samuel] out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon [My] altar, to burn incense & to wear an ephod before Me? And [didn’t] I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel?] |
And the people, [a.k.a. Israelites, didn’t know] that Jonathan was gone. Jonathan [tried] to go over to the Philistine’s garrison, [a.k.a. camp,] between the [passes,] [but] there was a sharp rock on [both sides,] & the name of the: 1 [rock] was Bozez & the other [was named] Seneh. |
The [front] of 1 [rock faced, North toward] Michmash, & the other [faced] [South toward Gibeah [a.k.a. Geba or Jaba.] And Jonathan said to the young man [who carried] his [armor,] Come, & let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised [Philistines.] |
It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no [limit] to the Lord, to save [us] by many or by [just a] few. His [armor carrier] said, Do all that is in your heart. You turn & [see,] I am with you, according to your [heart’s] [desire.] Then, Jonathan said, [Look,] we will [cross] over to these men, & will [show] ourselves to them. |
If they say [this] to us, [Wait] until we come to you; then, we will stand still in our place, & won't go up to them. But if they say [this,] Come up to us; then, we will go up, for the Lord [God] [has] delivered them into our hand, & this shall be [the] sign to us. |
[They] both [showed] themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, [See,] the Hebrews [have] come out of the holes, [a.k.a. caves,] where they had [hidden] themselves. |
The men of the [Philistine] [camp] answered Jonathan & his [armor carrier,] & said, Come up to us, & we will show you [something.] And Jonathan [told] his [armor carrier,] Come up after me: for the Lord [has] delivered them into the hand of Israel. |
And Jonathan climbed up [with] his hands & feet & his [armor carrier] [went] after him. And [the Philistines] fell before Jonathan, & his [armor carrier killed] [the rest.] That 1st [defeat, that] Jonathan & his [armor carrier] made, was about 20 men, within [a] 1/2 acre of land, [like a pair] of oxen might plow. |
And there was trembling in the [army,] in the field, & among all the: [Philistine] people; the [camp;] & the [plunderers, [who] also trembled. And the earth quaked: so [the] trembling was very [immense.] |
And [Saul’s] watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; & [saw] the multitude melted away, & they [continued] beating one another [down.] Then, Saul said to the people with him, Now, [count] [yourselves,] & see who from us is gone. |
And when they had [counted, saw,] Jonathan & his [armor carrier] weren’t there. And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring the Ark of God [here.] For at that time, the Ark of God was with the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel. |
And it [happened,] while Saul talked to the priest, the noise of the Philistine [army continued,] & [got louder,] & Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand. And Saul & all the people with him assembled themselves, & they came to the battle, & [saw] every man’s sword was against his [neighbor.] And there was very great [confusion.] |
[Also,] the Hebrews [who previously] were with the Philistines, [who] from the country, [all around,] went up with them into the camp, even [those,] also [returned] to be with the Israelites, [who] were with Saul & Jonathan. [Also,] all the [Israelite] men [who] had [hidden] themselves in Mount Ephraim, even followed hard after [the Philistines] in battle, when they heard that the Philistines fled. |
So, the Lord saved Israel that day, & the battle passed over to Beth Aven. And that day, the men of Israel were distressed, [because] Saul had [put them under an oath,] saying, Cursed [is] the man [who eats] any food until evening, [so] that I may have [revenge] on [my] enemies. So none of the people [ate] any food. |
And [when] all [those from] the land came to [the woods,] there was honey upon the ground. And when the [Israelites had] come into the woods, [saw,] the honey dropped [from off the trees,] but no man [tasted it, because] the people [were] [fearful] [about Saul’s] oath. But Jonathan [hadn’t] heard his father [order] the people with the oath. |
[For this reason, Jonathan] put [out] the end of the rod in his hand, & dipped it in [a] honeycomb, & put his hand to his mouth [with the honey,] & his eyes were enlightened, [a.k.a. became aware.] Then, one of the people said, Your father [strictly ordered us] with an oath, saying, Cursed [is] the man [who eats] any food this day. The people were faint & then, Jonathan said, My father [has] troubled the land. |
I pray [that] you see how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more [would it have been] if [perhaps] the people had eaten freely today of the [plunder] of their enemies, [that] they found? |
For [wouldn’t there have] been a much [larger] slaughter now, among the Philistines? And they [had previously] [attacked] the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, & the people were very faint. |
And the [Israelite] people flew upon the [plunder,] & took sheep, oxen & calves, & [killed] them on the ground, & [ate] them with the blood. [Genesis 9:3-4 Every moving thing that lives shall be [food] for you; even [like] the green [herbs.] I have given you all things. But the [meat] with [its] blood, you shall not eat, which is [its life blood.] |
Then, they told Saul saying, [Look,] the people sin against the Lord [by eating] with the blood. And [Saul said,] You have [sinned.] Roll a [large rock] to me this day. |
And [Saul] said, [Spread] yourselves [out] among the people, & say to them, Every man bring me [here] his ox & sheep & [kill] them here, & eat, & [don’t] sin against the Lord [by] eating with the blood. And all the people brought [their] ox with him, that night & [killed] them there. |
And Saul built an altar to the Lord, [like] the 1st altar he built to the Lord. And Saul said, Let’s go down after the Philistines [at] night, & [plunder] them until [daybreak,] & not leave any man of them [alive.] They said, Do [what seems] good to you. |
Then, the priest said, Let’s draw near to God [here.] And Saul [consulted] God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? [Will] You deliver them into the [hands] of Israel? But [the Lord God didn’t] answer [Saul] that day. |
And Saul said [to] all the [leaders] of the [Israelites,] Draw [close] [to] know & see [why] this sin [has happened] this day. For as the Lord lives, [Who saves] Israel, [even if it is because of] Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die. |
But there wasn’t a man among all the people [who] answered [Saul.] Then [Saul] said to all Israel, [You] [stand] on 1 side, & my son, Jonathan, & I will [stand] on the other side. And the people said, Do what [seems] good to you. |
Therefore, Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul & Jonathan were [selected] [by lot;] but the people escaped, [a.k.a. were considered innocent.] And Saul said, Cast lots between me & Jonathan, my son & Jonathan was [selected.] |
Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you [have] done. Jonathan told him, & said, I [just tasted] a little honey with the end of the rod in [my] hand, & [look,] must I die? Saul answered, God do so & more also: for you shall surely die, Jonathan. |
The [Israelites] said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who [has brought about] this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord [lives]there shall not [be] 1 hair of his head [that] [falls] to the ground; for he [has done this] with God [today.] |
So the people rescued Jonathan, [so] he [didn’t die.] Then, Saul [stopped] from following the Philistines; & the Philistines [returned] to their own place. |
So Saul took over the kingdom [of] Israel, & fought against all his enemies on every side, against: Moab, [Ammonites,] Edom, the kings of Zobah & the Philistines. And [wherever] he turned, [Saul caused trouble for] them. |
And [Saul] gathered an [army & attacked] the Amalekites, & delivered Israel out of the hands of [those who plundered] them. Now, Saul’s sons were: Jonathan, Ishui, Melchi Shua, & his 2 daughters [were named:] Merab, the 1st born, & Michal, the younger. |
The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of [Saul’s army] was Abner, [Ner’s] son, [who also was:] [Saul’s] uncle. And Kish was the father of Saul, & Ner [was] the father of Abner, [Abiel’s] son. |
And there was [a severe] war against the Philistines all the days of [Saul’s] [life.] And when Saul saw any: strong, or valiant man, he took him, [a.k.a. enlisted him into his army.] |