that were present with him, about six hundred men. [1] 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. [2] [3] 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leadeth to Ophrah, to the land of Shual: 18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21 And there was a charge of a third of a shekel for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. [4] [5] 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. [6]
CHAP. 14.
1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines that is on the other side. But he told not his father. [7]
2 And Saul tarried at the edge of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
3 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. [8]
4 And on each side of the pass, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the garrison of the Philistines, 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.
5 The front of the one rose northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. [9]
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and 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 to the LORD to save by many or by few.
7 And his armourbearer said to him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.
9 If they say thus to us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them. [10]
10 But if they say thus, Come up to us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign to us.
11 And both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you something. And Jonathan said to his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 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.
14 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 . [11]
15 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. [12]
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another .
17 Then said Saul to 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 .
18 And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hand. [13]
20 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 companion, and there was a very great confusion. [14]
- ↑ present: Heb. found
- ↑ present: Heb. found
- ↑ Gibeah: Heb. Geba
- ↑ a file: Heb. a file with mouths, or Heb. a pim, a third of a shekel
- ↑ sharpen: Heb. set
- ↑ garrison: or, standing camp
- ↑ it came...: or, there was a day
- ↑ Ahiah: called Ahimelech
- ↑ forefront: Heb. tooth
- ↑ Tarry: Heb. Be still
- ↑ an...: or, half a furrow of an acre of land
- ↑ a very...: Heb. a trembling of God
- ↑ noise: or, tumult
- ↑ assembled...: Heb. were cried together
