1 Samuel 14

Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

One day, Jonathan, of King Saul, told his armor-bearer, "Let's go secretly to the Philistine camp across the way." He didn't tell his dad.

And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

Saul stayed at the far edge of Gibeah near a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were around 600 people.

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

Ahiah, son of Ahitub and brother of Ichabod, was the son of Phinehas and descendant of Eli. He was a priest of the LORD in Shiloh and wore an ephod. People did not know that Jonathan had left.

And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto 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.

In between the paths Jonathan tried to cross to reach the Philistine camp, there were two sharp rocks - one was called Bozez, and the other was named Seneh.

The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

The first one was located to the north facing Michmash, while the other was to the south facing Gibeah.

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

Jonathan told the young man carrying his armor, "Let's go to the uncircumcised soldiers' camp. Maybe God will help us. There's nothing God can't do, whether saving a few or many people."

And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

His helper told him, "Do whatever you want in your heart: turn around, because I'm right here supporting you as you wish."

Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

Then Jonathan said, "Let's go to those people and tell them who we are."

If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

If they tell us to wait until they arrive, we'll stay where we are and won't go to them.

But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

But if they say, "Come up to us," then we will go up, because the LORD has given them to us. This will be a sign for us.

And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

Both people revealed themselves to the Philistine soldiers. The soldiers saw the Hebrews coming out of their hiding places.

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

The soldiers at the fort replied to Jonathan and his bodyguard, "Climb up here, and we'll show you something." Jonathan told his bodyguard, "Follow me, because the Lord has given their defeat to Israel."

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

Jonathan climbed using his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following. They defeated their enemies, and the armor bearer killed more after them.

And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

Jonathan and his helper killed around 20 men in their first attack. This happened in an area that was roughly the size of a half-acre, which could be plowed by two oxen.

And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

The soldiers, the raiders, and everyone else shook with fear in the fields and among the people. The ground even shook. This made the trembling extremely big and powerful.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

The guards at Saul's city saw a huge group disappearing, and as they tried to escape, they started fighting each other.

Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

Then Saul asked the people around him, "Count how many of you are here." When they counted, they found out that Jonathan and his helper were missing.

And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

Saul asked Ahiah to bring the God's box because it was with the Israel people at that time.

And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

While Saul spoke with the priest, the noise among the Philistine army grew louder. Saul then told the priest to stop.

And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

Saul and his group gathered together and went to fight. Everyone's sword was pointed at their own side, causing much confusion and chaos.

Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

In addition, the Hebrews living with the Philistines earlier joined them in their camp. These people also decided to support the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

Just like that, all the people hiding in Mount Ephraim, when they heard the Philistines were running away, they chased after them in the fight.

So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

So, God saved Israel that day, and the fighting moved to Bethel.

And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

The men of Israel were very upset that day because Saul, their leader, had sworn that no one could eat until he could take revenge on his enemies. Therefore, nobody ate anything all day long.

And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

Everyone from the area went to a forest, and there was honey everywhere on the ground.

And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

When the people entered the forest, they found honey falling from trees. But nobody reached out to eat it. They were afraid of breaking their promise.

But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

But Jonathan didn't hear his dad ask people to swear an oath. So, he stuck the end of his stick into a honeycomb, then licked it. This made him see better.

Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.

Then someone spoke up and said, "Your father strictly told everyone they must swear an oath, saying that anyone who eats food today is cursed. The people were very hungry."

Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

Then Jonathan said, "My dad caused problems in the country. Please look, my eyes have been opened wider because I tried a tiny bit of this honey."

How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

If the people had freely eaten the enemy's spoils today, how much more would there be a greater killing among the Philistines now?

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

That day, they defeated the Philistines between Michmash and Aijalon, and the people became very weak.

And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

The people grabbed the loot and got sheep, cows, and baby cows. They killed them on the ground and then ate them along with their blood.

Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

Then they informed Saul that the people were doing something wrong by eating meat with the blood still in it. Saul said, "You've broken the rules. Bring me a large stone right away."

And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

Saul told everyone to go among the people and ask them to bring their oxen and sheep. He wanted them to kill the animals, eat them, but not to sin by eating with the blood still inside. That night, all the people brought their oxen and killed them there.

And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

Saul constructed an altar for God. It was the first altar he made for Him.

And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.

Saul suggested attacking the Philistines at night, destroying them until morning, leaving no survivors. His men agreed to whatever he thought was best. The priest then proposed getting closer to God.

And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

Saul asked God if he should chase the Philistines and if God would give them to Israel. However, God didn't answer him that day.

And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

Saul said, "Come closer, all important people. Look and find out what wrong thing happened today."

For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

For truly, the LORD who protects Israel will do so even through Jonathan, my son; but if anyone disagrees, they should be prepared for that person's death. However, no one among the people objected.

Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

Then he told all of Israel to stand on one side, while he and his son Jonathan would stand on the other side. The people told Saul to do whatever he thought was best.

Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

So Saul asked the Lord God of Israel for a clear decision. Saul and Jonathan were chosen, but the people got away.

And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

Saul asked, "Choose between me and my son Jonathan." Jonathan was chosen.

Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.

Then Saul asked Jonathan, "What have you done?" And Jonathan replied, "I just took a tiny bite of honey using the end of the stick I was holding, and now it seems like I'm going to die."

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

Saul replied, "May God do even more of this, because you will definitely die, Jonathan."

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

The people asked Saul, "Should Jonathan die when he saved Israel? No way! As long as God lives, not a single hair on his head will be lost. He did this with God's help." So, the people saved Jonathan and he didn't die.

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and they returned to their home.

So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, 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 vexed them.

Saul took control of Israel's kingdom and fought against all his enemies around him, including Moab, Ammon, Edom, Zobah's kings, and Philistines. Wherever he went, he caused trouble for them.

And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

He brought together a large group, fought against the Amalekites, and saved Israel from those who were stealing from them.

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

Now, Saul's children were named Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua. He also had two daughters - the older one was named Merab, and the younger one was named Michal.

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.

Saul's wife's name was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. The leader of Saul's army was Abner, who was Saul's uncle and the son of Ner.

And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

Kish had a son named Saul, and Abner's dad, Ner, was Abiel's child.

And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

There was constant fighting with the Philistines during Saul's reign. Whenever Saul saw a strong or brave person, he would recruit them into his forces.