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.
Now Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah,aGibeah See the second note at 13.15. under the pomegranate tree at Migron, and the troops with him numbered about 600.
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.
At the crossingbAt the crossing Meaning of Heb. uncertain. 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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ובין
68
המעברות
723
אשר
501
בקש
402
יונתן
516
לעבר
302
עלמצב
232
פלשתים
860
שןהסלע
515
מהעבר
317
מזה
52
ושןהסלע
521
מהעבר
317
מזה
52
ושם
346
האחד
18
בוצץ
188
ושם
346
האחד
18
סנה
115
I Samuel 14:5
Gematria: 1681
השןהאחדמצוקמצפוןמולמכמשוהאחדמנגבמולגבעס
One crag was located on the north, near Michmas, and the other on the south, near Geba.
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.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
יהונתן
521
אלהנער
356
נשא
351
כליו
66
לכה
55
ונעברה
333
אלמצב
163
הערלים
355
האלה
41
אולי
47
יעשה
385
יהוה
26
לנו
86
כי
30
אין
61
ליהוה
56
מעצור
406
להושיע
421
ברב
204
או
7
במעט
121
I Samuel 14:7
Gematria: 2185
ויאמרלונשאכליועשהכלאשרבלבבךנטהלךהנניעמךכלבבךס
His arms-bearer answered him, “Do whatever you like. You go first,cyou like. You go first Lit. “is in your heart. Incline yourself.” Septuagint reads “your heart inclines to.” I am with you, whatever you decide.”dwith you, whatever you decide Lit. “with you, according to your heart.” Septuagint reads “with you; my heart is like your heart.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
לו
36
נשא
351
כליו
66
עשה
375
כלאשר
551
בלבבך
56
נטה
64
לך
50
הנני
115
עמך
130
כלבבךס
134
I Samuel 14:8
Gematria: 1953
ויאמריהונתןהנהאנחנועבריםאלהאנשיםונגלינואליהם
Jonathan said, “We’ll cross over to those men and let them see us.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.ewithin a space … land Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ותהי
421
חרדה
217
במחנה
105
בשדה
311
ובכלהעם
173
המצב
137
והמשחית
769
חרדו
218
גםהמה
93
ותרגז
616
הארץ
296
ותהי
421
לחרדת
642
אלהים
86
I Samuel 14:16
Gematria: 1942
ויראוהצפיםלשאולבגבעתבנימןוהנהההמוןנמוגוילךוהלםפ
Saul’s scouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw that the multitude was scattering in all directions.fscattering in all directions Lit. “shaken and going thither.” Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
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.
Thereupon Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ArkgArk Septuagint reads “ephod,” and cf. v. 3; 23.9; 30.7. of God here”; for the ArkhArk See previous note. of God was at the time amongiamong Heb. “and.” the Israelites.
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.
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 IsraelitesjAnd the Hebrews … joined the Israelites Meaning of Heb. uncertain. who were with Saul and Jonathan.
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וכל
56
איש
311
ישראל
541
המתחבאים
506
בהראפרים
538
שמעו
416
כינסו
146
פלשתים
860
וידבקו
128
גםהמה
93
אחריהם
264
במלחמה
125
I Samuel 14:23
Gematria: 2716
ויושעיהוהביוםההואאתישראלוהמלחמהעברהאתביתאון
Thus GOD brought victory to Israel that day.The fighting passed beyond Beth-aven.
Israel’s force was distressedkIsrael’s force was distressed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Septuagint reads “And all the troops, about 10,000 men, were with Saul; and the battle spread into the hill country of Ephraim. Now Saul committed a rash act.” 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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואישישראל
858
נגש
353
ביום
58
ההוא
17
ויאל
47
שאול
337
אתהעם
516
לאמר
271
ארור
407
האיש
316
אשריאכל
562
לחם
78
עדהערב
351
ונקמתי
606
מאיבי
63
ולאטעם
156
כלהעם
165
לחםס
138
I Samuel 14:25
Gematria: 1534
וכלהארץבאוביערויהידבשעלפניהשדה
Everybody came to a stack of beehiveslstack of beehives Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. Song 5.1. where some honey had spilled on the ground.
When the troops came to the beehivesmbeehives See note at v. 25. and found the flow of honey there, no one putnput Meaning of Heb. uncertain. his hand to his mouth, for the troops feared the oath.
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.
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.oate with the blood I.e., without the proper rites.
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.”ptoday Septuagint reads “here.”
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 himqhis own ox with him Septuagint reads “whatever he had in his possession.” that night and slaughtered it there.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
שאול
337
פצו
176
בעם
112
ואמרתם
687
להם
75
הגישו
324
אלי
41
איש
311
שורו
512
ואיש
317
שיהו
321
ושחטתם
763
בזה
14
ואכלתם
497
ולאתחטאו
461
ליהוה
56
לאכל
81
אלהדם
80
ויגשו
325
כלהעם
165
איש
311
שורו
512
בידו
22
הלילה
80
וישחטושם
679
I Samuel 14:35
Gematria: 1649
ויבןשאולמזבחליהוהאתוהחללבנותמזבחליהוהפ
Thus Saul set up an altar to GOD; it was the first altar he erected to GOD.
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.”
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.
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.”
Saul then said to GOD, the God of Israel, “Show Thammim.”rShow Thammim Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Septuagint reads “Why have You not responded to Your servant today? If this iniquity was due to my son Jonathan or to me, O ETERNAL ONE, God of Israel, show Urim; and if You say it was due to Your people Israel, show Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, and the troops were cleared.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
שאול
337
אליהוה
57
אלהי
46
ישראל
541
הבה
12
תמים
490
וילכד
70
יונתן
516
ושאול
343
והעם
121
יצאו
107
I Samuel 14:42
Gematria: 2029
ויאמרשאולהפילוביניוביןיונתןבניוילכדיונתן
And Saul said, “Cast the lots between my son and me”; and Jonathan was indicated.
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.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
שאול
337
אליונתן
547
הגידה
27
לי
40
מה
45
עשיתה
785
ויגדלו
59
יונתן
516
ויאמר
257
טעם
119
טעמתי
529
בקצה
197
המטה
59
אשרבידי
527
מעט
119
דבש
306
הנני
115
אמותס
507
I Samuel 14:44
Gematria: 3115
ויאמרשאולכהיעשהאלהיםוכהיוסףכימותתמותיונתן
Saul said, “Thus and more may God do:smay God do Many mss. and Septuagint add “to me.” You shall be put to death, Jonathan!”
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
העם
115
אלשאול
368
היונתןימות
977
אשר
501
עשה
375
הישועה
396
הגדולה
53
הזאת
413
בישראל
543
חלילה
83
חייהוה
44
אםיפל
161
משערת
1010
ראשו
507
ארצה
296
כיעםאלהים
226
עשה
375
היום
61
הזה
17
ויפדו
106
העם
115
אתיונתן
917
ולאמתס
537
I Samuel 14:46
Gematria: 2755
ויעלשאולמאחריפלשתיםופלשתיםהלכולמקומם
Saul broke off his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their homes.
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 kingstkings Septuagint and 4QSamᵃ read “king.” of Zobah; and wherever he turned he routed [them].
Word-by-Word Analysis
ושאול
343
לכד
54
המלוכה
106
עלישראל
641
וילחם
94
סביבבכלאיביו
155
במואב
51
ובבניעמון
236
ובאדום
59
ובמלכי
108
צובה
103
ובפלשתים
868
ובכל
58
אשריפנה
646
ירשיע
590
I Samuel 14:48
Gematria: 2694
ויעשחילויךאתעמלקויצלאתישראלמידשסהופ
He was triumphant, defeating the Amalekites and saving Israel from those who plundered it.
Saul’s sons were: Jonathan, Ishvi,uIshvi The same as Ishbosheth (2 Sam. 2.8) and Eshbaal (1 Chron. 8.33). and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויהיו
37
בני
62
שאול
337
יונתן
516
וישוי
332
ומלכישוע
482
ושם
346
שתי
710
בנתיו
468
שם
340
הבכירה
242
מרב
242
ושם
346
הקטנה
169
מיכל
100
I Samuel 14:50
Gematria: 4045
ושםאשתשאולאחינעםבתאחימעץושםשרצבאואבינרבןנרדודשאול
The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of his army commander was AbinervAbiner Usually “Abner.” son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ושם
346
אשת
701
שאול
337
אחינעם
179
בתאחימעץ
621
ושם
346
שרצבאו
599
אבינר
263
בןנר
302
דוד
14
שאול
337
I Samuel 14:51
Gematria: 1444
וקישאבישאולונראביאבנרבןאביאלס
Kish, Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, were sons of Abiel.
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.