1 Samuel 14:27-51
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 14
27However, Jonathan had not heard it when his father put the people under oath; so he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 28Then one of the people responded and said, 'Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’?' And the people were weary. 29Then Jonathan said, 'My father has troubled the land. See now that my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if only the people had freely eaten today of the spoils of their enemies which they found! For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.'
31They attacked the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. But the people were very tired.
32So the people loudly rushed upon the spoils, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
33Then observers informed Saul, saying, 'Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.' And he said, 'You have acted treacherously; roll a large rock to me today.'
34Then Saul said, 'Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating it with the blood.’?' So all the people brought them that night, each one his ox with him, and they slaughtered them there.
35And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36Then Saul said, 'Let’s go down after the Philistines by night and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let’s not leave a man among them alive.' And they said, 'Do whatever seems good to you.' So the priest said, 'Let’s approach God here.'
37So Saul inquired of God: 'Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?' But He did not answer him on that day.
38Then Saul said, 'Come here, all you leaders of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today.
39For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall assuredly die!' But not one of all the people answered him.
40Then he said to all Israel, 'You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.' And the people said to Saul, 'Do what seems good to you.'
41Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Give a perfect lot.' And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people were exonerated.
42Then Saul said, 'Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.' And Jonathan was selected by lot.
43So Saul said to Jonathan, 'Tell me what you have done.' And Jonathan told him, and said, 'I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!'
44And Saul said, 'May God do the same to me and more also, for you shall certainly die, Jonathan!'
45But the people said to Saul, 'Must Jonathan die, he who has brought about this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because he has worked with God this day.' So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.
46Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
47Now when Saul had taken control of the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.
48And he acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and saved Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger, Michal.
50And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
King James Version
Chapter 14
27But 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. 28Then 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. 29Then 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. 30How 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?
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
32And 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.
33Then 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.
34And 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.
35And Saul built an altar unto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord.
36And 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.
37And 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.
38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39For, 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.
41Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then 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.
44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47So 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.
48And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
49Now 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:
50And 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.
51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 14
27However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb. When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy. 28Then one of the troops said, "Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted."
29Jonathan replied, "My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater."
31The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash all the way to Aijalon. Since the Israelites were completely exhausted,
32they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.
33Some reported to Saul: "Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it." Saul said, "You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once."
34He then said, "Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.’" So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.
35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.
38Saul said, "All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
39As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!" Not one of the troops answered him.
45But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today." So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.
46Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.
47When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.
48He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.
49Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger.
50The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
51Saul’s father was Kish. Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.
New Living Translation
Chapter 14
27But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed. 28But one of the men saw him and said, 'Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.'
29My father has made trouble for us all!' Jonathan exclaimed. 'A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey.
30If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!'
31They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint.
32That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood.
34Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’' So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there.
35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.
38Then Saul said to the leaders, 'Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today.
39I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!' But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
47Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction — against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.
48He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal.
50Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
51Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
English Standard Version
Chapter 14
27But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’" And the people were faint. 29Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great."
31They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint.
32The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.
33Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here."
34And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there.
35And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here."
37And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.
38And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today.
39For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
40Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."
41Therefore Saul said, "O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.
42Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die."
44And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan."
45Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die.
46Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
47When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them.
48And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50And the name of Saul 's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul 's uncle.
51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
New International Version
Chapter 14
27But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 28Then one of the soldiers told him, "Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint."
29Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?"
31That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted.
32They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.
34Then he said, "Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’ " So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.
35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.
38Saul therefore said, "Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today.
39As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die." But not one of them said a word.
41Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, "Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.
42Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.
47After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.
48He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
49Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.
50His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.
51Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
New King James Version
Chapter 14
27But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened. 28Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.
29But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”
31Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint.
32And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
33Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.”
34Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there.
35Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
37So Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.
38And Saul said, “Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.
39For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him.
41Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.
42And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken.
47So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them.
48And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
49The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
