1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave[a] at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men,
3 including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
4 Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish.[b] Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them.
9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them.
10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.”
11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”
12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him.
14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre[c] of land.
15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.[d]
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.[e]
17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people[f] of Israel.
19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion.
21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. Saul's Rash Vow
24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food.
25 Now when all the people[g] came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground.
26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27 But 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.
28 Then 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.
29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How 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.”
31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint.
32 The 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.
33 Then 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.”[h]
34 And 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.
35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36 Then 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.”
37 And 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. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today.
39 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 who answered him. 40 Then 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.”
41 Therefore 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.”[i] And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.
42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then 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.”
44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
45 Then 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.
46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. Saul Fights Israel's Enemies
47 When 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.
48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
49 Now 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. 50 And 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.
51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
[2] Or under the pomegranate [tree]
[7] Septuagint Do all that your mind inclines to
[14] Hebrew a yoke
[15] Or became a panic from God
[16] Septuagint; Hebrew they went here and there
[18] Hebrew; Septuagint “Bring the ephod.” For at that time he wore the ephod before the people
[25] Hebrew land
[33] Septuagint; Hebrew this day
[41] Vulgate and Septuagint; Hebrew Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give Thummim.”
<html><b>On the other side.</b> Every <span>הַלָּז</span> and <span>לָזֶה</span> in Scripture, is not an expression of <span>הַזֶּה</span> [this], but it is an expression of opposite [the speaker], and he is pointing it out with his finger. It is not an expression of <i>'cest'</i> in O.F., but of <i>'cel'</i> in O.F. <b>On the other side.</b> Of the valley [between] the two mountains.</html>
<html><b>At the edge of Givah.</b> At the end of Givah.</html>
<html><b>Wore the Eiphod.</b> Meaning the Urim and Tumim.</html>
<html><b>Between the passes that Yonoson wanted to cross.</b> It was thus made: There was a rocky precipice from this side of 'between the passes,' and there was a rocky precipice from the other side of 'between the passes.' The valley is called 'between the passes,' and it had a stone from here, and a stone from here, one on this side and one on the other side, and the valley was between the two passes. It was that valley that Yonoson wanted to cross. <b>Rocky precipice.</b> The name of one precipice was Botzeitz and the name of the second was Seneh.1<i class=“footnote”> The names of the two rocky crags are indicative of their terrain. Botzeitz as implied by its name, had a smooth and slippery surface making it very difficult to scale. Seneh had a “treaded on” surface.—Radak</i></html>
<html><b>Jutted out from the north.</b> Slanting from the north side toward Michmos. <b>Toward Geva.</b> From where Yonoson emerged.</html>
<html><b>Stop.</b> Wait, as in, “Sun, wait [<span>דּוֹם</span>] in Givon,”2<i class=“footnote”> Yehoshua 10:12.</i> and as in, “Wait for <span>.”3<i class=“footnote”> Tehillim 37:7.</i></span><span>השם</span> [The meaning here being] if they say, “Wait, and we will go up to you,” they are presently successful and they are proud.</html>
<html><b>But if they say [to us], 'Come up to us.' A fear inspired by the Holy One, Blessed is He, is in their heart and they are afraid to move from their place.4<i class=“footnote”>Although there is a prohibition against resorting to omens in Vayikra 19:26, Tosfos in Maseches Chulin 95b explains that Yonoson himself did not believe in the sign, he only made it to encourage his weapon bearer. See Radak.</i></b>
<html><b>[They] called out.</b> An expression of raising [one's] voice.</html>
<html><b>On his hands and feet.</b> I.e., with all his might and running.5<i class=“footnote”> Rashi explains <span>עַל יָדָיו וֽעַל רַגְלָיו</span> as an idiomatic expression; but Radak explains it literally, that they had to use their hands and feet to climb because it was a very steep and slippery crag.</i></html>
<html><b>Half a furrow, of a pair [of oxen plowing] in the field.</b> Within the area of a land measure [equal to] half the amount of a furrow of the plowing of a pair of oxen plowing a field. <b>Furrow.</b> That is the ridge which is called <i>'reie'</i> in O.F. This was a very mighty deed, because they were near each other and ready to help each other.</html>
<html><b>Shaul's sentries.</b> The sentries that Shaul had in Givas Binyomin.6<i class=“footnote”> The sentries appointed by Shaul to keep watch on the enemy made the observation.</i><span>צוֹפִים</span> is <i>badetes</i> in O.F. <b>Behold the multitude.</b> Of the Philistines melted away from its position and kept coming nearer to <span>הֲלֹם</span> i.e., Yisroel's side. <b>Melting away.</b> [It means the same as], “wandering and moving.”7<i class=“footnote”> Bereishis 4:12.</i></html>
<html><b>Inspect.</b> An expression of inspection, as in, “that You inspect him every morning.”8<i class=“footnote”> Iyov 7:18.</i></html>
<html><b>Bring near the Ark of God.</b> I.e., the <i>Urim</i> and <i>Tumim.</i> <b>For the Ark of God was there on that day.</b> This ==== Verse is missing one word; [what it means is,] “because the Ark of God was there [<span>שָׁם</span>] on that day.”</html>
<html><b>And the Hebrews who were with the Philistines.</b> To help them, out of fear, in earlier times;9<i class=“footnote”> The Bnei Yisroel who had been living in Philistine territory had been forcibly drafted into the Philistine army to fight against their brethren.</i> but today they too turned [against the Philistines and joined] their fellows to be at their brethren's assistance.</html>
<html><b>Were hard pressed on that day.</b> They were being rushed and pressed10<i class=“footnote”> As in Shemos 5:13; Metzudos renders “approached.”</i> to wage war against the Philistines. <b>[Shaul] had imposed an oath.</b> An expression of oath.11<i class=“footnote”> Shaul did not want the Bnei Yisroel to interrupt their pursuit of the Philistines; he therefore bound the Bnei Yisroel with an oath that no one should eat any food until the evening.</i> <b>Who will eat food.</b> All food is included [in <span>לֶחֶם</span>], as in, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit <span>]</span><span>בְּלַחְמוֹ</span><span>[</span>.”12<i class=“footnote”> Yirmiyahu 11:19.</i></html>
<html><b>There was honey.</b> Cane sugar grows in Eretz Yisroel.</html>
<html><b>And behold there was a flow of honey.</b> Which was flowing from the canes.</html>
<html><b>Into the honeycomb.</b> Into the sugar cane, as in, “and she placed it in the reeds,”13<i class=“footnote”> Shemos 2:3.</i> which Onkelos renders, “and she placed it in the <span>יַעֲרָא</span>,” and <span>סוּף</span> are reeds which grow in the swamp. And similarly, “I ate my sugar cane [<span>יַעְרִי</span>] with my sugar,14<i class=“footnote”> Shir Hashirim 5:1.</i> and in Arabic, that honey is called <i>'sukra'</i> in their language; from R. Nosson Ha'yishme'eili.</html>
<html><b>My father has brought distress to the [inhabitants of the] land.</b> He confused [<span>עָכַר</span>] their thoughts and their salvation, like unclear [<span>עֲכוּרִים</span>] waters.</html>
<html><b>Would it not now have been even greater—the blow.</b> This is a question.</html>
<html><b>The people rushed.</b> Meaning 'the people rushed,'15<i class=“footnote”> According to the <span>קְרִי</span>; however, according to the <span>כְּתִיב</span> the meaning is “the people prepared.”</i> an expression of <span>,16<i class=“footnote”> See below 25:14.</i></span><span>עַיִט</span> [birds of prey [<span>הָעַיִט</span>] who swoop down].17<i class=“footnote”>Bereishis 15:11.</i> <b>Sheep, cattle and their young.</b> I say that this was in violation of, “It and its young you must not slaughter [on the same day],”18<i class=“footnote”> Vayikra 22:28.</i> and he, therefore, called them sinners.19<i class=“footnote”> Below ==== Verse 33.</i> But our Rabbis said in [Perek] <span>שְׁחִיטַת קָדָשִׁים</span> [in Maseches Zevochim]20<i class=“footnote”> 120a.</i> that they sanctified them for peace-offerings, from which they were eating before the sprinkling of the blood. This is what Scripture [means when it] states, “And the people ate with the blood,” i.e., they ate of the sacrifice when the blood was yet in the basin.21<i class=“footnote”> This violates the prohibition “You shall not eat over the blood” stated in Vayikra 19:26.—Sanhedrin 63a</i></html>
<html><b>Roll over to me.</b> An expression of <span>גַּלְּלוּ</span> [roll]. <b>Today.</b> While it is yet daytime, and below it stated, “and all the people brought near, each man his ox in his hand that night.”22<i class=“footnote”> Below, ==== Verse 34.</i> Our Rabbis had different views at the end of Maseches Zevochim;23<i class=“footnote”> 120a.</i> some of them explain that [Scripture is referring to] ordinary animals,24<i class=“footnote”> Below, ==== Verse 34.</i> while here25<i class=“footnote”> ==== Verse 33.</i> [the Scripture is referring to] sacrificial animals. Others explained that here26<i class=“footnote”> Ibid.</i> [Scripture is referring to] sacrificial animals which were sanctified to be offered at the large high place in Nov, while here27<i class=“footnote”> ==== Verse 34.</i> [Scripture is referring to] sacrificial animals which were sanctified to be offered at a small high place. Scripture thereby teaches us that a private burnt-offering may be slaughtered at night [on a small, i.e., private high place]. <b>A boulder.</b> He made it a high place upon which to sprinkle the blood and for the burning of the fatty parts.</html>
<html><b>Spread out among the people.</b> Announce in many places, and let the announcers disperse among the people. <b>And you shall slaughter [them] here.</b> Here in the place of slaughtering.28<i class=“footnote”><span>בָּזֶה</span> referring to the “place” of slaughtering.</i> Another explanation is, he examined a slaughtering knife29<i class=“footnote”><span>בָּזֶה</span> referring to the “knife” used for slaughtering. He had inspected it to make sure it was fit for ritual slaughter.</i> for them.30<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Chulin 17b.</i> <b>That night.</b> The ordinary [i.e., non-sanctified] animals were slaughtered at night. Thus it is explained in [Maseches] Zevochim.31<i class=“footnote”> 120a.</i></html>
<html><b>It was the first of the altars.</b> That altar was the first of the altars which Shaul built.32<i class=“footnote”> He built this altar in honor of the victory, as Moshe did after having defeated Amoleik in Shemos 17:15.</i></html>
<html><b>Leaders of the people.</b> The chiefs of the people; the cornerstone <span>אֶבֶן הַפִּנָּה</span> is the most esteemed.</html>
<html><b>On one side.</b> To cast lots between all of you, and us.</html>
<html><b>Make it truthful.</b> Give a true lot. <b>And the people were excluded.</b> Innocent, from the lot.</html>
<html><b>The people redeemed [Yonoson].</b> They nullified Shaul's oath.</html>
<html><b>He raised an army.</b> And he gathered an army.</html>
<html><b>Avineir the son of Neir.</b> Neir was Shaul's uncle, the brother of Kish, and both were the sons of Avieil. Aviei was also known as Neir, in Divrei Hayomim,33<i class=“footnote”>I Divrei Hayomim 8:33.</i> because he would light candles for the public in the dark streets.34<i class=“footnote”> See Radak above 9:1.</i></html>
<html><b>And whenever Shaul saw.</b> This is in the present tense, meaning, when Shaul would see a valiant soldier, he would bring him [into his army].</html>