Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Now it happened on a day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

Saul remained in the farthest part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree that stood in Migron, accompanied by about six hundred men. Meanwhile, Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, who was the priest of the Lord in Shiloh and wore an ephod, remained unknown to the people as Jonathan had slipped away.

Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there were two sharp rocks; the first was called Bozez and the second Seneh. The outpost on one side was positioned northward in front of Michmash, and the other outpost southward in front of Gibeah.

Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For there is no restraint on the Lord to save by many or by few." His armor-bearer replied, "Do all that is in your heart; turn back, I am with you."

Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will pass over to these men and disclose ourselves to them. If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will remain in our place and not go up against them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this shall be a sign to us."

Both of them revealed themselves to the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews are emerging from their hiding places." The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer, saying, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan replied, "Come up after me: for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer following close behind. They fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer then slew those who had fallen. The first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was about twenty men within an area that a yoke of oxen might plow in a single furrow.

There was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and the raiders also trembled, and the earth shook violently. The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked and saw that the multitude was breaking apart and attacking each other.

Saul said to the people with him, "Count now and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring here the ark of God because it was with the Israelites at that time."

While Saul was speaking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp grew louder and more intense; so Saul told the priest, "Withdraw your hand." Saul and all the people with him gathered for battle, but only to find that every man's sword was turned against his fellow, resulting in a very great discomfiture.

The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before and those from the surrounding areas joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise, all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in Mount Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing and they too pursued them fiercely in battle.

The Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over to Bethaven. The men of Israel were distressed that day because Saul had sworn an oath to the people, saying, "Cursed be anyone who eats food until evening and I have avenged my enemies." So none of the people tasted any food.

All they of the land came to a wood, and there was honey upon the ground. When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no man put his hand to his mouth because they feared the oath. Jonathan did not hear when his father commanded the people with the oath; so he dipped the end of his staff in honey and put it to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.

Then one of the people answered and said, "Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food today,' and the people were faint. My father has troubled the land; behold, my eyes have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey."

How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint. The people rushed upon the plunder, taking sheep and cattle and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground, eating them with the blood.

Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people sin against the Lord in that they are eating meat with its blood." He said, "You have acted treacherously." Saul said, "Disperse among the people and tell them to bring me every man his ox and sheep, and slaughter them there."

Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until morning light, leaving none of them alive." They replied, "Do as seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near to God." Saul asked God if he should pursue the Philistines, and would He deliver them into Israel's hand, but God did not respond that day.

Saul said, "Bring all the leaders of the people here and let them know and see where this sin has been committed today. For 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 that answered him.

Then he said to all Israel, "Be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot," and Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.

Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son; and Jonathan was taken." Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done," and Jonathan replied, saying, "I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my rod in my hand, and now I must die."

Saul answered, "May God do so and more also to me if you don't surely die, Jonathan." The people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid; as the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has wrought with God today."

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and they returned to their own place. Saul took the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side, including Moab, the children of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines, vexing them wherever he turned.

And he gathered an army and defeated the Amalekites, rescuing Israel from those who had been plundering them. The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; his daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal. And Saul's wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz, while the commander of his army was Abner, son of Ner and Saul's uncle.

Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner, Abner's father, was the son of Abiel. There was intense conflict with the Philistines throughout Saul's lifetime, and whenever he encountered any exceptionally strong or courageous warrior, he would recruit them to join his forces.