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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 14 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_samuel/14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_samuel/14-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NIV</a> > 1 Samuel 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_samuel/13.htm" title="1 Samuel 13">◄</a> 1 Samuel 14 <a href="../1_samuel/15.htm" title="1 Samuel 15">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/1_samuel/14.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the <span class="name">Lord</span> will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the <span class="name">Lord</span> from saving, whether by many or by few.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the <span class="name">Lord</span> has given them into our hands.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”</p><p class="reg">So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the <span class="name">Lord</span> has given them into the hand of Israel.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.</p> <p class="sectionhead">Israel Routs the Philistines</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or a terrible panic">a</a></sup></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.) <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew; Septuagint ''Bring the ephod.'' (At that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites.)">b</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>So on that day the <span class="name">Lord</span> saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.</p> <p class="sectionhead">Jonathan Eats Honey</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>But 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. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or his strength was renewed; similarly in verse 29">c</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Then 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.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>How 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?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the <span class="name">Lord</span> by eating meat that has blood in it.”</p><p class="reg">“You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then 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 <span class="name">Lord</span> by eating meat with blood still in it.’ ”</p><p class="reg">So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Then Saul built an altar to the <span class="name">Lord</span>; it was the first time he had done this.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.”</p><p class="reg">“Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied.</p><p class="reg">But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>As surely as the <span class="name">Lord</span> who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.”</p><p class="reg">“Do what seems best to you,” they replied.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Then Saul prayed to the <span class="name">Lord</span>, 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, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Septuagint; Hebrew does not have ''Why . . . at fault.">d</a></sup></span> respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”</p><p class="reg">So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the <span class="name">Lord</span> lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span>After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint king">e</a></sup></span> of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew; Septuagint he was victorious">f</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span>He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.</p> <p class="sectionhead">Saul’s Family</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span>Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-50.htm"><b>50</b></a></span>His 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-51.htm"><b>51</b></a></span>Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/14-52.htm"><b>52</b></a></span>All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">15</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>a terrible panic</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">18</span> <span class="footnotebot">Hebrew; Septuagint <i>“Bring the ephod.” (At that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites.)</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">27</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>his strength was renewed</i>; similarly in verse 29</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">41</span> <span class="footnotebot">Septuagint; Hebrew does not have <i>“Why . . . at fault.</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">47</span> <span class="footnotebot">Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint <i>king</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">f</span> <span class="fnverse">47</span> <span class="footnotebot">Hebrew; Septuagint <i>he was victorious</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. 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