Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

14 Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who 1bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of aGibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. 3 bAhijah the son of Ahitub, cIchabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, was dwearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

4 Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over eto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.

6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these funcircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord gfrom saving by many or by few.”

7 So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”

8 Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and hthis will be a sign to us.”

11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have ihidden.” 12 Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will 2show you something.”

Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they jfell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about 3half an acre of land.

15 And kthere was 4trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and lthe raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was ma very great trembling. 16 Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they nwent here and there. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the 5ark of God here” (for at that time the 5ark of God was with the children of Israel). 19 Now it happened, while Saul otalked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed pevery man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion. 21 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel who qhad hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 rSo the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted sto Beth Aven.

Saul’s Rash Oath

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had tplaced the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 uNow all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was vhoney on the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.