I Samuel 14

vayehi hayyom vayyomer yonatan ben-sha'ul el-hanna'ar nose khelayw lekhah venaberah el-matsav pelishtim asher me'ever hallaz ule'aviv lo higgid

One day, Jonathan son of Saul said to the attendant who carried his arms, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side”; but he did not tell his father.

vesha'ul yoshev biqtseh haggivah takhat harimmon asher bemigron veha'am asher immo keshesh me'ot ish

Now Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree at Migron, and the troops with him numbered about 600.

va'akhiyyah ven-akhituv akhi ikhavod ben-pinekhas ben-eli kohen Adonai beshilo nose efod veha'am lo yada ki halakh yonatan

Ahijah son of Ahitub brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas son of Eli, the priest of GOD at Shiloh, was there bearing an ephod.—The troops did not know that Jonathan had gone.

uven hammaberot asher biqqesh yonatan la'avor al-matsav pelishtim shen-hassela meha'ever mizzeh veshen-hassela meha'ever mizzeh veshem ha'ekhad botsets veshem ha'ekhad senneh

At the crossing by which Jonathan sought to reach the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on one side, and another rocky crag on the other, the one called Bozez and the other Seneh.

hashen ha'ekhad matsuq mitsafon mul mikhmas veha'ekhad minnegev mul gava

One crag was located on the north, near Michmas, and the other on the south, near Geba.

vayyomer yehonatan el-hanna'ar nose khelayw lekhah venaberah el-matsav ha'arelim ha'elleh ulay ya'aseh Adonai lanu ki en la-Adonai matsor lehoshia berav o vimat

Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his arms, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps GOD will act in our behalf, for nothing prevents GOD from winning a victory by many or by few.”

vayyomer lo nose khelayw aseh kol-asher bilvavekha neteh lakh hinni immekha kilvavekha

His arms-bearer answered him, “Do whatever you like. You go first, I am with you, whatever you decide.”

vayyomer yehonatan hinneh anakhnu overim el-ha'anashim veniglinu alehem

Jonathan said, “We’ll cross over to those men and let them see us.

im-koh yomeru elenu dommu ad-haggi'enu alekhem ve'amadnu takhtenu velo na'aleh alehem

If they say to us, ‘Wait until we get to you,’ then we’ll stay where we are, and not go up to them.

ve'im-koh yomeru alu alenu ve'alinu ki-netanam Adonai beyadenu vezeh-llanu ha'ot

But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for GOD is delivering them into our hands. That shall be our sign.”

vayyiggalu shenehem el-matsav pelishtim vayyomeru felishtim hinneh ivrim yotse'im min-hakhorim asher hitkhabbe'u-sham

They both showed themselves to the Philistine outpost and the Philistines said, “Look, some Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding.”

vayya'anu anshe hammatsavah et-yonatan ve'et-nose khelayw vayyomeru alu elenu venodi'ah etkhem davar vayyomer yonatan el-nose khelayw aleh akharay ki-netanam Adonai beyad yisra'el

The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his arms-bearer, “Come up to us, and we’ll teach you a lesson.” Then Jonathan said to his arms-bearer, “Follow me, for GOD will deliver them into the hands of Israel.”

vayya'al yonatan al-yadayw ve'al-raglayw venose khelayw akharayw vayyippelu lifne yonatan venose khelayw memotet akharayw

And Jonathan clambered up on his hands and feet, his arms-bearer behind him; [the Philistines] fell before Jonathan, and his arms-bearer finished them off behind him.

vattehi hammakkah harishonah asher hikkah yonatan venose khelayw ke'esrim ish kevakhatsi ma'anah tsemed sadeh

The initial attack that Jonathan and his arms-bearer made accounted for some twenty men, within a space about half a furrow long [in] an acre of land.

vattehi kharadah vammakhaneh vassadeh uvekhol-ha'am hammatsav vehammashkhit kharedu gam-hemmah vattirgaz ha'arets vattehi lekherdat elohim

Terror broke out among all the troops both in the camp [and] in the field; the outposts and the raiders were also terrified. The very earth quaked, and a terror from God ensued.

vayyiru hatsofim lesha'ul begivat binyamin vehinneh hehamon namog vayyelekh vahalom

Saul’s scouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw that the multitude was scattering in all directions.

vayyomer sha'ul la'am asher itto piqdu-na ure'u mi halakh me'immanu vayyifqedu vehinneh en yonatan venose khelayw

And Saul said to the troops with him, “Take a count and see who has left us.” They took a count and found that Jonathan and his arms-bearer were missing.

vayyomer sha'ul la'akhiyyah haggishah aron ha'elohim ki-hayah aron ha'elohim bayyom hahu uvene yisra'el

Thereupon Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here”; for the Ark of God was at the time among the Israelites.

vayehi ad dibber sha'ul el-hakkohen vehehamon asher bemakhaneh felishtim vayyelekh halokh varav vayyomer sha'ul el-hakkohen esof yadekha

But while Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept increasing; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

vayyizza'eq sha'ul vekhol-ha'am asher itto vayyavo'u ad-hammilkhamah vehinneh hayetah kherev ish bere'ehu mehumah gedolah me'od

Saul and the troops with him assembled and rushed into battle; they found [the Philistines] in very great confusion, every man’s sword turned against his fellow.

veha'ivrim hayu lappelishtim ke'etmol shilshom asher alu immam bammakhaneh saviv vegam-hemmah lihyot im-yisra'el asher im-sha'ul veyonatan

And the Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines, who had come up with them in the army [from] round about—they too joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

vekhol ish yisra'el hammitkhabbe'im behar-efrayim shame'u ki-nasu pelishtim vayyadbequ gam-hemmah akharehem bammilkhamah

When all of the others on Israel’s side who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too pursued them in battle.

vayyosha Adonai bayyom hahu et-yisra'el vehammilkhamah averah et-bet aven

Thus GOD brought victory to Israel that day. The fighting passed beyond Beth-aven.

ve'ish-yisra'el niggas bayyom hahu vayyo'el sha'ul et-ha'am lemor arur ha'ish asher-yokhal lekhem ad-ha'erev veniqqamti me'oyevay velo-ta'am kol-ha'am lakhem

Israel’s force was distressed that day. For Saul had laid an oath upon the troops: “Cursed be anyone who eats any food before night falls and I take revenge on my enemies.” So none of the troops ate anything.

vekhol-ha'arets ba'u vayya'ar vayehi devash al-pene hassadeh

Everybody came to a stack of beehives where some honey had spilled on the ground.

vayyavo ha'am el-hayya'ar vehinneh helekh devash ve'en-massig yado el-piv ki-yare ha'am et-hashevu'ah

When the troops came to the beehives and found the flow of honey there, no one put his hand to his mouth, for the troops feared the oath.

veyonatan lo-shama behashbia aviv et-ha'am vayyishlakh et-qetseh hammatteh asher beyado vayyitbol otah beyarat haddevash vayyashev yado el-piv (vtrnh) [vatta'orenah] enayw

Jonathan, however, had not heard his father adjure the troops. So he put out the stick he had with him, dipped it into the beehive of honey, and brought his hand back to his mouth; and his eyes lit up.

vayya'an ish meha'am vayyomer hashbea hishbia avikha et-ha'am lemor arur ha'ish asher-yokhal lekhem hayyom vayya'af ha'am

At this one of the soldiers spoke up, “Your father adjured the troops: ‘Cursed be anyone who eats anything this day.’ And so the troops are faint.”

vayyomer yonatan akhar avi et-ha'arets re'u-na ki-oru enay ki ta'amti me'at devash hazzeh

Jonathan answered, “My father has brought trouble on the people. See for yourselves how my eyes lit up when I tasted that bit of honey.

af ki lu akhol akhal hayyom ha'am mishelal oyevayw asher matsa ki attah lo-ravetah makkah bappelishtim

If only the troops had eaten today of spoil captured from the enemy, the defeat of the Philistines would have been greater still!”

vayyakku bayyom hahu bappelishtim mimmikhmas ayyalonah vayya'af ha'am me'od

They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmas to Aijalon, and the troops were famished.

(vysh) [vayya'at] ha'am el-[hashalal] (shll) vayyiqkhu tson uvaqar uvene vaqar vayyishkhatu-aretsah vayyokhal ha'am al-haddam

The troops pounced on the spoil; they took the sheep and cows and calves and slaughtered them on the ground, and the troops ate with the blood.

vayyaggidu lesha'ul lemor hinneh ha'am khotiym la-Adonai le'ekhol al-haddam vayyomer begadtem gollu-elay hayyom even gedolah

When it was reported to Saul that the troops were sinning against GOD, eating with the blood, he said, “You have acted faithlessly. Roll a large stone over to me today.”

vayyomer sha'ul putsu va'am va'amartem lahem haggishu elay ish shoro ve'ish seyehu ushekhattem bazeh va'akhaltem velo-tekhetu la-Adonai le'ekhol el-haddam vayyaggishu khol-ha'am ish shoro veyado hallaylah vayyishkhatu-sham

And Saul ordered, “Spread out among the troops and tell them that everyone must bring me his ox or his sheep and slaughter it here, and then eat. You must not sin against GOD and eat with the blood.” Every one of the troops brought his own ox with him that night and slaughtered it there.

vayyiven sha'ul mizbeakh la-Adonai oto hekhel livnot mizbeakh la-Adonai

Thus Saul set up an altar to GOD; it was the first altar he erected to GOD.

vayyomer sha'ul neredah akhare felishtim laylah venavozah vahem ad-or habboqer velo-nasher bahem ish vayyomeru kol-hattov be'enekha aseh vayyomer hakkohen niqrevah halom el-ha'elohim

Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder among them until the light of morning; and let us not leave a single survivor among them.” “Do whatever you please,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let us approach God here.”

vayyishal sha'ul belohim ha'ered akhare felishtim hatittenem beyad yisra'el velo anahu bayyom hahu

So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hands of Israel?” But this time [God] did not respond to him.

vayyomer sha'ul goshu halom kol pinnot ha'am ude'u ure'u bammah hayetah hakhattat hazzot hayyom

Then Saul said, “Come forward, all chief officers of the troops, and find out how this guilt was incurred today.

ki khay-Adonai hammoshia et-yisra'el ki im-yeshno beyonatan beni ki mot yamut ve'en onehu mikkol-ha'am

For as GOD lives who brings victory to Israel, even if it was through my son Jonathan, he shall be put to death!” Not one soldier answered him.

vayyomer el-kol-yisra'el attem tihyu le'ever ekhad va'ani veyonatan beni nihyeh le'ever ekhad vayyomeru ha'am el-sha'ul hattov be'enekha aseh

And he said to all the Israelites, “You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I shall stand on the other.” The troops said to Saul, “Do as you please.”

vayyomer sha'ul el-Adonai elohe yisra'el havah tamim vayyillakhed yonatan vesha'ul veha'am yatsa'u

Saul then said to GOD, the God of Israel, “Show Thammim.” Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, and the troops were cleared.

vayyomer sha'ul happilu beni uven yonatan beni vayyillakhed yonatan

And Saul said, “Cast the lots between my son and me”; and Jonathan was indicated.

vayyomer sha'ul el-yonatan haggidah li meh asitah vayyagged-lo yonatan vayyomer ta'om ta'amti biqtseh hammatteh asher-beyadi me'at devash hinni amut

Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me, what have you done?” And Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a bit of honey with the tip of the stick in my hand. I am ready to die.”

vayyomer sha'ul koh-ya'aseh elohim vekhoh yosif ki-mot tamut yonatan

Saul said, “Thus and more may God do: You shall be put to death, Jonathan!”

vayyomer ha'am el-sha'ul hayonatan yamut asher asah hayeshu'ah haggedolah hazzot beyisra'el khalilah khay-Adonai im-yippol missa'arat rosho artsah ki-im-elohim asah hayyom hazzeh vayyifdu ha'am et-yonatan velo-met

But the troops said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, after bringing this great victory to Israel? Never! As GOD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground! For he brought this day to pass with the help of God.” Thus the troops saved Jonathan and he did not die.

vayya'al sha'ul me'akhare pelishtim ufelishtim halekhu limqomam

Saul broke off his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their homes.

vesha'ul lakhad hammelukhah al-yisra'el vayyillakhem saviv bekhol-oyevayw bemo'av uvivne-ammon uve'edom uvemalkhe tsovah uvappelishtim uvekhol asher-yifneh yarshia

After Saul had secured his kingship over Israel, he waged war on every side against all his enemies: against the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the Philistines, and the kings of Zobah; and wherever he turned he routed [them].

vayya'as khayil vayyakh et-amaleq vayyatsel et-yisra'el miyyad shosehu

He was triumphant, defeating the Amalekites and saving Israel from those who plundered it.

vayyihyu bene sha'ul yonatan veyishvi umalkishua veshem shete venotayw shem habbekhirah merav veshem haqqetannah mikhal

Saul’s sons were: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger.

veshem eshet sha'ul akhino'am bat-akhima'ats veshem sar-tseva'o aviner ben-ner dod sha'ul

The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of his army commander was Abiner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.

veqish avi-sha'ul vener avi-avner ben-avi'el

Kish, Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, were sons of Abiel.

vattehi hammilkhamah khazaqah al-pelishtim kol yeme sha'ul vera'ah sha'ul kol-ish gibbor vekhol-ben-khayil vayya'asfehu elayw

There was bitter war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and whenever Saul noticed any stalwart man or warrior, he would take him into his service.