1. Krallar (1. Samuel) 14

¹Bir gün Saul oğlu Yonatan, silahlarını taşıyan genç hizmetkârına, "Gel, karşı taraftaki yabancıların garnizonuna geçelim" dedi; fakat babasına haber vermedi.

²Saul ise tepenin kenarında, Magdon'daki nar ağacının altında oturuyordu; yanında yaklaşık altı yüz adam vardı.

³Selom'da Tanrı'nın kâhini olan ve efod taşıyan kişi, Eli oğlu Pinehas oğlu Yokabed'in kardeşinin oğlu Ahitub'un oğlu Ahya idi. Halk ise Yonatan'ın gittiğini bilmiyordu.

⁴Yonatan'ın yabancıların ordugahına geçmek için aşmaya çalıştığı geçidin her iki yanında sarp kaya geçitleri vardı; birinin adı Bases, diğerinin adı ise Senna idi.

⁵Yollardan biri kuzeyden gelen için Mahmas'a, diğer yol ise güneyden gelen için Gavae'ye doğruydu.

⁶Yonatan silahlarını taşıyan gence, "Gel, bu sünnetsizlerin garnizonuna geçelim" dedi, "Belki RAB bizim için bir şey yapar; çünkü çok kişiyle de az kişiyle de kurtarmak konusunda RAB için hiçbir engel yoktur."

⁷Silah taşıyıcısı ona, "Yüreğinin meylettiği her şeyi yap; işte ben seninleyim, yüreğim senin yüreğin gibidir" dedi.

⁸Yonatan, "Bak, adamların tarafına geçip kendimizi onlara doğru aşağı bırakacağız" dedi.

⁹"Eğer bize, 'Size haber verene kadar orada durun' derlerse, kendi yerimizde duracağız ve onlara doğru yukarı çıkmayacağız.

¹⁰Ama eğer, 'Yanımıza yukarı çıkın' derlerse, yukarı çıkacağız; çünkü RAB onları elimize vermiş demektir. Bu bizim için işaret olacaktır."

¹¹Böylece ikisi de yabancıların garnizonuna gittiler. Yabancılar, "Bakın, İbraniler gizlendikleri mağaralardan çıkıyorlar!" dediler.

¹²Garnizondaki adamlar Yonatan ile silah taşıyıcısına, "Yanımıza yukarı çıkın da size bir şey bildirelim" diye seslendiler. Yonatan silah taşıyıcısına, "Ardımdan yukarı çık" dedi, "Çünkü RAB onları İsrail'in eline teslim etti."

¹³Yonatan elleri ve ayakları üzerinde tırmandı, silah taşıyıcısı da onunla birlikteydi. Yabancılar Yonatan'ın yüzüne baktılar ve Yonatan onları yere serdi; silah taşıyıcısı da arkasından onları öldürüyordu.

¹⁴Yonatan ile silah taşıyıcısının yaptığı bu ilk katliamda, fırlatılan oklar, taş fırlatıcılar ve tarladaki çakıl taşlarıyla yaklaşık yirmi adam öldürüldü.

¹⁵Ordugahta ve kırlarda bir dehşet başladı; garnizondaki tüm halk ve akıncılar dehşete düştüler ve ne yapacaklarını bilemeyip felç oldular. Yer sarsıldı ve RAB'den gelen büyük bir dehşet her yeri kapladı.

¹⁶Saul'un Benyamin bölgesindeki Gavaa'da bulunan gözcüleri, yabancıların ordugahının her tarafta darmadağın olduğunu ve kargaşa içinde kaçıştığını gördüler.

¹⁷Saul yanındaki halka, "Yoklama yapın ve aramızdan kimin gittiğini görün" dedi. Yoklama yaptıklarında, Yonatan ile silah taşıyıcısının orada olmadığını gördüler.

¹⁸Saul, Ahya'ya, "Efodu getir" dedi; çünkü o gün İsrail'in önünde efodu o taşıyordu.

¹⁹Saul kâhinle konuşurken, yabancıların ordugahındaki gürültü giderek arttı. Bunun üzerine Saul kâhine, "Elini çek" dedi.

²⁰Saul ve yanındaki bütün halk toplanıp savaş yerine gittiler. Bir de baktılar ki, herkes kılıcını yanındakine çekmiş, çok büyük bir kargaşa yaşanıyordu.

²¹Daha önce yabancıların hizmetinde olan ve onlarla birlikte ordugaha çıkmış bulunan köleler de saf değiştirip Saul ve Yonatan'ın yanındaki İsraillilere katıldılar.

²²Efrayim dağlık bölgesinde gizlenmiş olan bütün İsrailliler de yabancıların kaçtığını duyunca, savaşa katılarak onları kovalamaya başladılar.

²³RAB o gün İsrail'i kurtardı. Savaş Bamot'u aştı; Saul'un yanındaki halk yaklaşık on bin adamdı ve savaş Efrayim dağlık bölgesindeki her şehre yayıldı.

²⁴Saul o gün büyük bir cehalet hatası işledi ve halka lanet okuyarak şöyle dedi: "Akşama kadar, düşmanlarımdan öcümü almadan yemek yiyen her adama lanet olsun!" Bu yüzden halktan hiç kimse ekmek tatmadı, oysa bütün ülke halkı yemek yemekteydi.

²⁵Kırın önünde, içinde arı kovanları olan Yaal adında bir orman vardı.

²⁶Halk ormana girdiğinde, işte, konuşarak ilerliyorlardı; ama kimse elini ağzına götürmedi, çünkü halk RAB'bin andından korkuyordu.

²⁷Ama Yonatan, babasının halka ant içirdiğini duymamıştı. Elindeki değneğin ucunu uzatıp bal kovanına batırdı, sonra elini ağzına götürdü ve gözleri açıldı.

²⁸Halktan biri ona, "Baban halka kesin bir dille ant içirip, 'Bugün yemek yiyen adama lanet olsun' dedi; bu yüzden halk çok bitkin düştü" dedi.

²⁹Yonatan bunu anlayınca şöyle dedi: "Babam ülkeyi sıkıntıya sokmuş. Bakın, bu baldan birazcık tattığım için gözlerim nasıl da açıldı!

³⁰Eğer halk bugün düşmanlarından bulduğu yağmalardan dilediğince yeseydi, yabancılar arasındaki bozgunun boyutu kim bilir ne kadar daha büyük olurdu!"

³¹O gün Mahmas'ta yabancıları bozguna uğrattılar; halk ise son derece yorgun düşmüştü.

³²Halk hemen yağmaya yöneldi; koyunları, sığırları ve buzağıları alıp yerde kestiler ve etlerini kanıyla birlikte yediler.

³³Saul'a, "Bakın, halk eti kanıyla yiyerek RAB'be karşı günah işliyor" diye haber verildi. Saul, "Gethaim'dan buraya büyük bir taş yuvarlayın" dedi.

³⁴Saul şöyle devam etti: "Halkın arasına dağılın ve onlara, 'Herkes sığırını ve koyununu buraya getirsin, bu taşın üzerinde kessin ve eti kanıyla yiyerek RAB'be karşı günah işlemesin' deyin." Böylece herkes elindekini getirdi ve orada kestiler.

³⁵Saul orada RAB'be bir sunak yaptı; bu, Saul'un RAB'be yapmaya başladığı ilk sunaktı.

³⁶Saul, "Bu gece yabancıların peşinden aşağı inelim, gün ağarana kadar onları yağmalayalım ve onlardan tek bir adam bile bırakmayalım" dedi. Halk, "Gözüne iyi görünen her şeyi yap" diye yanıtladı. Ama kâhin, "Burada Tanrı'ya yaklaşalım" dedi.

³⁷Saul Tanrı'ya danıştı: "Yabancıların peşinden aşağı ineyim mi? Onları İsrail'in eline teslim edecek misin?" Ama Tanrı o gün ona cevap vermedi.

³⁸Bunun üzerine Saul, "İsrail'in bütün önderlerini buraya getirin; bugün bu günahın kimin yüzünden işlendiğini araştırıp öğrenin" dedi.

³⁹"Çünkü İsrail'i kurtaran yaşayan RAB'bin adıyla ant içerim ki, suç oğlum Yonatan'da bile çıksa, kesinlikle ölümle ölecektir." Ama halktan hiç kimse ona cevap vermedi.

⁴⁰Bütün İsrail halkına, "Siz bir tarafta kölelikte olacaksınız, ben ve oğlum Yonatan da diğer tarafta kölelikte olacağız" dedi. Halk da Saul'a, "Gözüne iyi görüneni yap" dedi.

⁴¹Saul şöyle dua etti: "Ey İsrail'in Tanrısı RAB, neden bugün kuluna cevap vermedin? Eğer bu suç bende ya da oğlum Yonatan'da ise, ey İsrail'in Tanrısı RAB, açıklığı ver; ve eğer suç halkın İsrail'de ise, kutsallığı ver." Kura Yonatan ile Saul'a düştü, halk ise serbest kaldı.

⁴²Saul, "Benimle oğlum Yonatan arasında kura çekin; RAB kime kurayı düşürürse o ölsün" dedi. Halk Saul'a, "Bu doğru bir şey değil" dedi. Ancak Saul halka üstün geldi; böylece kendisiyle oğlu Yonatan arasında kura çektiler ve kura Yonatan'a düştü.

⁴³Saul Yonatan'a, "Bana ne yaptığını anlat" dedi. Yonatan ona anlatarak, "Elimdeki değneğin ucuyla sadece birazcık bal tattım; işte buradayım, ölüyorum" dedi.

⁴⁴Saul, "Tanrı bana aynısını, hatta daha kötüsünü yapsın ki, bugün kesinlikle ölümle öleceksin" dedi.

⁴⁵Ama halk Saul'a, "İsrail'e bu büyük kurtuluşu sağlayan Yonatan mı ölecek?" dedi, "Yaşayan RAB'bin adıyla ant içeriz ki, onun başından tek bir saç teli bile yere düşmeyecektir; çünkü o bugün bu işi Tanrı'nın halkıyla birlikte yaptı." Böylece halk o gün Yonatan için dua etti ve Yonatan ölmedi.

⁴⁶Bunun üzerine Saul yabancıları kovalamaktan vazgeçip geri döndü; yabancılar da kendi yerlerine gittiler.

⁴⁷Saul İsrail üzerindeki krallık görevini kura ile devraldı. Çevresindeki bütün düşmanlara karşı savaştı: Moav'a, Ammonoğullarına, Edomoğullarına, Beyteor'a, Soba kralına ve yabancılara karşı. Nereye döndüyse zafer kazandı.

⁴⁸Büyük bir güç gösterdi, Amaleklileri bozguna uğrattı ve İsrail'i kendilerini yağmalayanların elinden kurtardı.

⁴⁹Saul'un oğulları Yonatan, Yesiu ve Melhisa idi. İki kızının adları ise şöyleydi: Büyük kızının adı Merov, küçüğünün adı ise Melhol idi.

⁵⁰Karısının adı Ahimaas'ın kızı Ahinoom'du. Ordu komutanının adı ise Abenner'di; Abenner, Saul'un amcası olan Ner'in oğluydu.

⁵¹Saul'un babası Kis'ti; Abenner'in babası Ner ise Abiel oğlu Yamin'in oğluydu.

⁵²Saul'un ömrü boyunca yabancılara karşı şiddetli bir savaş sürdü. Saul ne zaman yiğit ve güçlü bir adam görse, onu kendi yanına toplardı.

¹ΚΑΙ γίνεται ἡ ἡμέρα καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν υἱὸς Σαοὺλ τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ αἴροντι τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ· δεῦρο, καὶ διαβῶμεν εἰς Μεσσὰβ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τὴν ἐν τῷ πέραν ἐκείνῳ· καὶ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλε.

²καὶ Σαοὺλ ἐκάθητο ἐπ᾿ ἄκρου τοῦ βουνοῦ ὑπὸ τὴν ῥοὰν τὴν ἐν Μαγδών, καὶ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ὡς ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες·

³καὶ ᾿Αχιὰ υἱὸς ᾿Αχιτὼβ ἀδελφοῦ ᾿Ιωχαβὴδ υἱοῦ Φινεὲς υἱοῦ ῾Ηλὶ ἱερεὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Σηλὼμ αἴρων ἐφούδ. καὶ ὁ λαὸς οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι πεπόρευται ᾿Ιωνάθαν.

⁴καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς διαβάσεως, οὗ ἐζήτει ᾿Ιωνάθαν διαβῆναι εἰς τὴν ὑπόστασιν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ ὁδοὺς πέτρας ἐκ τούτου καὶ ὁδοὺς πέτρας ἐκ τούτου, ὄνομα τῷ ἑνὶ Βασὲς καὶ ὄνομα τῷ ἄλλῳ Σεννά·

⁵ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ μία ἀπὸ βορρᾶ ἐρχομένῳ Μαχμὰς καὶ ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἄλλη ἀπὸ νότου ἐρχομένῳ Γαβαέ.

⁶καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν πρὸς τὸ παιδάριον τὸ αἶρον τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ· δεῦρο διαβῶμεν εἰς Μεσσὰβ τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων τούτων, εἴτι ποιήσαι Κύριος ἡμῖν· ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι τῷ Κυρίῳ συνεχόμενον σῴζειν ἐν πολλοῖς ἢ ἐν ὀλίγοις.

⁷καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ· ποίει πᾶν, ὃ ἐὰν ἡ καρδία σου ἐκλίνῃ, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μετὰ σοῦ, ὡς ἡ καρδία σου καρδία μου.

⁸καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν· ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς διαβαίνομεν πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας καὶ κατακυλισθησόμεθα πρὸς αὐτούς·

⁹ἐὰν τάδε εἴπωσι πρὸς ἡμᾶς· ἀπόστητε ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν ἀπαγγείλωμεν ὑμῖν, καὶ στησόμεθα ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτοῖς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀναβῶμεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς·

¹⁰ἐὰν τάδε εἴπωσι πρὸς ἡμᾶς· ἀνάβητε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἀναβησόμεθα, ὅτι παραδέδωκεν αὐτοὺς Κύριος εἰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν· τοῦτο ἡμῖν τὸ σημεῖον.

¹¹καὶ εἰσῆλθον ἀμφότεροι εἰς Μεσσὰβ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων· καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι· ἰδοὺ ῾Εβραῖοι ἐκπορεύονται ἐκ τῶν τρωγλῶν αὐτῶν, οὗ ἐκρύβησαν ἐκεῖ.

¹²καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες Μεσσὰβ πρὸς ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ πρὸς τὸν αἴροντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγουσιν· ἀνάβητε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ γνωριοῦμεν ὑμῖν ρῆμα. καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν πρὸς τὸν αἴροντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ· ἀνάβηθι ὀπίσω μου, ὅτι παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς Κύριος εἰς χεῖρας ᾿Ισραήλ.

¹³καὶ ἀνέβη ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπέβλεψαν κατὰ πρόσωπον ᾿Ιωνάθαν, καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς, καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐπεδίδου ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

¹⁴καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ πληγὴ ἡ πρώτη, ἣν ἐπάταξεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ, ὡς εἴκοσιν ἄνδρες ἐν βολίσι καὶ ἐν πετροβόλοις καὶ ἐν κόχλαξι τοῦ πεδίου.

¹⁵καὶ ἐγενήθη ἔκστασις ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ καὶ ἐν ἀγρῷ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ ἐν Μεσσὰβ καὶ οἱ διαφθείροντες ἐξέστησαν, καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ποιεῖν· καὶ ἐθάμβησεν ἡ γῆ, καὶ ἐγενήθη ἔκστασις παρὰ Κυρίου.

¹⁶καὶ εἶδον οἱ σκοποὶ τοῦ Σαοὺλ ἐν Γαβαὰ Βενιαμὶν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ παρεμβολὴ τεταραγμένη ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν.

¹⁷καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ τῷ λαῷ τῷ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐπισκέψασθε δὴ καὶ ἴδετε τίς πεπόρευται ἐξ ὑμῶν· καὶ ἐπεσκέψαντο, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐχ εὑρίσκετο ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ.

¹⁸καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ τῷ ᾿Αχιᾷ· προσάγαγε τὸ ἐφούδ· ὅτι αὐτὸς ᾖρε τὸ ἐφοὺδ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐνώπιον ᾿Ισραήλ.

¹⁹καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἐλάλει Σαοὺλ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα, καὶ ὁ ἦχος ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ἐπορεύετο πορευόμενος καὶ ἐπλήθυνε· καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα· συνάγαγε τὰς χεῖράς σου.

²⁰καὶ ἀνέβη Σαοὺλ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρχονται ἕως τοῦ πολέμου, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγένετο ρομφαία ἀνδρὸς ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, σύγχυσις μεγάλη σφόδρα.

²¹καὶ οἱ δοῦλοι οἱ ὄντες ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν μετὰ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων οἱ ἀναβάντες εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἐπεστράφησαν καὶ αὐτοὶ εἶναι μετὰ ᾿Ισραὴλ τῶν μετὰ Σαοὺλ καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν.

²²καὶ πᾶς ᾿Ισραὴλ οἱ κρυπτόμενοι ἐν τῷ ὄρει ᾿Εφραὶμ καὶ ἤκουσαν ὅτι πεφεύγασιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι, καὶ συνάπτουσι καὶ αὐτοὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν εἰς πόλεμον.

²³καὶ ἔσωσε Κύριος ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ. Καὶ ὁ πόλεμος διῆλθε τὴν Βαμώθ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἦν μετὰ Σαοὺλ ὡς δέκα χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν· καὶ ἦν ὁ πόλεμος διεσπαρμένος εἰς ὅλην τὴν πόλιν ἐν τῷ ὄρει ᾿Εφραίμ.

²⁴καὶ Σαοὺλ ἠγνόησεν ἄγνοιαν μεγάλην ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἀρᾶται τῷ λαῷ λέγων· ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὃς φάγεται ἄρτον ἕως ἑσπέρας, καὶ ἐκδικήσω τὸν ἐχθρόν μου· καὶ οὐκ ἐγεύσατο πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἄρτου. καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ἠρίστα.

²⁵καὶ ᾿Ιάαλ δρυμὸς ἦν μελισσῶνος κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ ἀγροῦ,

²⁶καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς τὸν μελισσῶνα, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐπορεύετο λαλῶν, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦν ἐπιστρέφων τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβήθη ὁ λαὸς τὸν ὅρκον Κυρίου.

²⁷καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν οὐκ ἀκηκόει ἐν τῷ ὁρκίζειν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ τὸν λαόν· καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὸ ἄκρον τοῦ σκήπτρου αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔβαψεν αὐτὸ εἰς τὸ κηρίον τοῦ μέλιτος καὶ ἐπέστρεψε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέβλεψαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ.

²⁸καὶ ἀπεκρίθη εἷς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ εἶπεν· ὁρκίσας ὥρκισε τὸν λαὸν ὁ πατήρ σου λέγων· ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὃς φάγεται ἄρτον σήμερον, καὶ ἐξελύθη ὁ λαός.

²⁹καὶ ἔγνω ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ εἶπεν· ἀπήλλαχεν ὁ πατήρ μου τὴν γῆν· ἰδὲ δὴ ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ὅτι ἐγευσάμην βραχύ τι τοῦ μέλιτος τούτου·

³⁰ἀλλ᾿ ὅτι εἰ ἔφαγεν ἔσθων σήμερον ὁ λαὸς τῶν σκύλων τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, ὧν εὗρεν, ὅτι νῦν ἂν μείζων ἦν ἡ πληγὴ ἡ ἐν τοῖς ἀλλοφύλοις.

³¹καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐκ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ἐν Μαχμάς, καὶ ἐκοπίασεν ὁ λαὸς σφόδρα.

³²καὶ ἐκλήθη ὁ λαὸς εἰς τὰ σκῦλα, καὶ ἔλαβεν ὁ λαὸς ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια καὶ τέκνα βοῶν καὶ ἔσφαξεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἤσθιεν ὁ λαὸς σὺν τῷ αἵματι.

³³καὶ ἀπηγγέλη Σαοὺλ λέγοντες· ἡμάρτηκεν ὁ λαὸς τῷ Κυρίῳ φαγὼν σὺν τῷ αἵματι. καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ ἐκ Γεθθαίμ· κυλίσατέ μοι λίθον ἐνταῦθα μέγαν.

³⁴καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· διασπάρητε ἐν τῷ λαῷ καὶ εἴπατε αὐτοῖς προσαγαγεῖν ἐνταῦθα ἕκαστος τὸν μόσχον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸ πρόβατον αὐτοῦ, καὶ σφαζέτω ἐπὶ τούτου, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἁμάρτητε τῷ Κυρίῳ τοῦ ἐσθίειν σὺν τῷ αἵματι· καὶ προσῆγεν ὁ λαὸς ἕκαστος τὸἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσφαζον ἐκεῖ.

³⁵καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Σαοὺλ θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ· τοῦτο ἤρξατο Σαοὺλ οἰκοδομῆσαι θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ.

³⁶Καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· καταβῶμεν ὀπίσω τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τὴν νύκτα καὶ διαρπάσωμεν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἕως διαφαύσῃ ἡμέρα, καὶ μὴ ὑπολείπωμεν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἄνδρα. καὶ εἶπαν· πᾶν τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ποίει. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἱερεύς· προσέλθωμεν ἐνταῦθα πρὸς τὸν Θεόν.

³⁷καὶ ἐπηρώτησε Σαοὺλ τὸν Θεόν· εἰ καταβῶ ὀπίσω τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, εἰ παραδώσεις αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖρας ᾿Ισραήλ; καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.

³⁸καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· προσαγάγετε ἐνταῦθα πάσας τὰς γωνίας τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ γνῶτε καὶ ἴδετε ἐν τίνι γέγονεν ἡ ἁμαρτία αὕτη σήμερον·

³⁹ὅτι ζῇ Κύριος ὁ σώσας τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, ὅτι ἐὰν ἀποκριθῇ κατὰ ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῦ υἱοῦ μου, θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται. καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἀποκρινόμενος ἐκ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ.

⁴⁰καὶ εἶπε παντὶ ἀνδρὶ ᾿Ισραήλ· ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθε εἰς δουλείαν, καὶ ἐγὼ καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὁ υἱός μου ἐσόμεθα εἰς δουλείαν. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Σαούλ· τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ποίει.

⁴¹καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ, τί ὅτι οὐκ ἀπεκρίθης τῷ δούλῳ σου σήμερον; εἰ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἢ ἐν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τῷ υἱῷ μου ἡ ἀδικία; Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ δὸς δήλους· καὶ ἐὰν τάδε εἴπῃς, ἐν τῷ λαῷ σου ᾿Ισραήλ, δὸς δὴ ὁσιότητα. καὶ κληροῦται ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ Σαούλ, καὶ ὁ λαὸς ἐξῆλθε.

⁴²καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· βάλετε ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῦ υἱοῦ μου· ὃν ἂν κατακληρώσηται Κύριος, ἀποθανέτω. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Σαούλ· οὐκ ἔστι τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο. καὶ κατεκράτησε Σαοὺλ τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ βάλλουσιν ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατακληροῦται ᾿Ιωνάθαν.

⁴³καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ πρὸς ᾿Ιωνάθαν· ἀπάγγειλόν μοι τί πεποίηκας. καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ εἶπε· γευόμενος ἐγευσάμην ἐν ἄκρῳ τῷ σκήπτρῳ τῷ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου βραχὺ μέλι, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποθνήσκω.

⁴⁴καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Σαούλ· τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ Θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη, ὅτι θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ σήμερον.

⁴⁵καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Σαούλ· εἰ σήμερον θανατωθήσεται ὁ ποιήσας τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν μεγάλην ταύτην ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ; ζῇ Κύριος, εἰ πεσεῖται τριχὸς τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· ὅτι ὁ λαὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐποίησε τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην. καὶ προσηύξατο ὁ λαὸς περὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ οὐκ ἀπέθανε.

⁴⁶καὶ ἀνέβη Σαοὺλ ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῶν.

⁴⁷Καὶ Σαοὺλ κατακληροῦται ἔργον ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραήλ. καὶ ἐπολέμει κύκλῳ πάντας τούς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸν Μωὰβ καὶ εἰς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Αμμὼν καὶ εἰς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Εδὼμ καὶ εἰς τὸν Βαιθεὼρ καὶ εἰς βασιλέα Σουβὰ καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους· οὗ ἂν ἐστράφη, ἐσώζετο.

⁴⁸καὶ ἐποίησε δύναμιν καὶ ἐπάταξε τὸν ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ ἐξείλατο τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν καταπατούντων αὐτόν.

⁴⁹καὶ ἦσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Σαοὺλ ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ᾿Ιεσσιοὺ καὶ Μελχισά· καὶ ὀνόματα τῶν δύο θυγατέρων αὐτοῦ, ὄνομα τῇ πρωτοτόκῳ Μερόβ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ δευτέρᾳ Μελχόλ·

⁵⁰καὶ ὄνομα τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ ᾿Αχινοὸμ θυγάτηρ ᾿Αχιμάας. καὶ ὄνομα τῷ ἀρχιστρατήγῳ αὐτοῦ ᾿Αβεννήρ, υἱὸς Νήρ, υἱοῦ οἰκείου Σαούλ·

⁵¹καὶ Κὶς πατὴρ Σαοὺλ καὶ Νὴρ πατὴρ ᾿Αβεννὴρ υἱὸς ᾿Ιαμὶν υἱοῦ ᾿Αβιήλ.

⁵²καὶ ἦν ὁ πόλεμος κραταιὸς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Σαούλ. καὶ ἰδὼν Σαοὺλ πάντα ἄνδρα δυνατὸν καὶ πάντα ἄνδρα υἱὸν δυνάμεως καὶ συνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτόν.

¹And when a certain day arrived, Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to Messab of the Philistines that is on the other side yonder; but he told not his father.

²And Saul sat on the top of the hill under the pomegranate tree that is in Magdon, and there were with him about six hundred men.

³And Achia son of Achitob, the brother of Jochabed the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, [was] the priest of God in Selom wearing an ephod: and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

⁴And in the midst of the passage whereby Jonathan sought to pass over to the encampment of the Philistines, there was both a sharp rock on this side, and a sharp rock on the other side: the name of the one [was] Bases, and the name of the other Senna.

⁵The one way [was] northward to one coming to Machmas, and the other way [was] southward to one coming to Gabae.

⁶And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, let us go over to Messab of these uncircumcised, if [peradventure] the Lord may do something for us; for the Lord is not straitened to save by many or by few.

⁷And his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that thine heart inclines toward: behold, I [am] with thee, my heart [is] as thy heart.

⁸And Jonathan said, Behold, we will go over to the men, and will come down suddenly upon them.

⁹If they should say thus to us, Stand aloof there until we shall send you word; then we will stand still by ourselves, and will not go up against them.

¹⁰[But] if they should say thus to us, Come up to us; then will we go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hands; this [shall be] a sign to us.

¹¹And they both went in to Messab of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of their caves, where they had hidden themselves.

¹²And the men of Messab answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing: and Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.

¹³And Jonathan went up on his hands and feet, and his armour-bearer with him; and they looked on the face of Jonathan, and he smote them, and his armour-bearer did smite [them] after him.

¹⁴And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer effected was twenty men, with darts and slings, and pebbles of the field.

¹⁵And there was dismay in the camp, and in the field; and all the people in Messab, and the spoilers were amazed; and they would not act, and the land was terror-struck, and there was dismay from the Lord.

¹⁶And the watchmen of Saul beheld in Gabaa of Benjamin, and, behold, the army was thrown into confusion on every side.

¹⁷And Saul said to the people with him, Number yourselves now, and see who has gone out from you: and they numbered themselves, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not found.

¹⁸And Saul said to Achia, Bring the ephod; for he wore the ephod in that day before Israel.

¹⁹And it came to pass while Saul was speaking to the priest, that the sound in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase greatly; and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hands.

²⁰And Saul went up and all the people that were with him, and they come to the battle: and, behold, [every] man’s sword was against his neighbour, a very great confusion.

²¹And the servants who had been before with the Philistines, who had gone up to the army, turned themselves also to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

²²And all the Israelites who were hidden in mount Ephraim heard also that the Philistines fled; and they also gather themselves after them to battle: and the Lord saved Israel in that day; and the war passed through Bamoth; and all the people with Saul were about ten thousand men.

²³And the battle extended itself to every city in the mount Ephraim.

²⁴And Saul committed a great trespass of ignorance in that day, and he lays a curse on the people, saying, Cursed [is] the man who shall eat bread before the evening; so I will avenge myself on my enemy: and none of the people tasted bread, though all the land was dining.

²⁵And Jaal was a wood abounding in swarms of bees on the face of the ground.

²⁶And the people went into the place of the bees, and, behold, they continued speaking; and, behold, there was none that put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath of the Lord.

²⁷And Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people; and he reached forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it into the honeycomb, and returned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes recovered their sight.

²⁸And one of the people answered and said, Thy father solemnly adjured the people, saying, Cursed [is] the man who shall eat bread to-day. And the people were very faint,

²⁹and Jonathan knew it, and said, My father has destroyed the land: see how my eyes have received sight [now] that I have tasted a little of this honey.

³⁰Surely if the people had this day eaten freely of the spoils of their enemies which they found, the slaughter among the Philistines would have been greater.

³¹And on that day he smote some of the Philistines in Machmas; and the people were very weary.

³²And the people turned to the spoil; and the people took flocks, and herds, and calves, and slew them on the ground, and the people ate with the blood.

³³And it was reported to Saul, saying, The people have sinned against the Lord, eating with the blood: and Saul said, Out of Getthaim roll a great stone to me hither.

³⁴And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them to bring hither every one his calf, and every one his sheep: and let them slay it on this [stone] and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood: and the people brought each one that which was in his hand, and they slew [them] there.

³⁵And Saul built an altar there to the Lord: this was the first altar that Saul built to the Lord.

³⁶And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines this night, and let us plunder among them till the day break, and let us not leave a man among them. And they said, Do all that is good in thy sight: and the priest said, let us draw nigh hither to God.

³⁷And Saul enquired of God, If I go down after the Philistines, wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? And he answered him not in that day.

³⁸And Saul said, Bring hither all the chiefs of Israel, and know and see by whom this sin has been committed this day.

³⁹For as the Lord lives who has saved Israel, if answer should be against my son Jonathan, he shall surely die. And there was no one that answered out of all the people.

⁴⁰And he said to all the men of Israel, Ye shall be under subjection, and I and Jonathan my son will be under subjection: and the people said to Saul, Do that which is good in thy sight.

⁴¹And Saul said, O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? [is] the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? Lord God of Israel, give clear [manifestations]; and if [the lot] should declare this, give, I pray thee, to thy people of Israel, give, I pray, holiness. And Jonathan and Saul are taken, and the people escaped.

⁴²And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and my son Jonathan: whomsoever the Lord shall cause to be taken by lot, let him die: and the people said to Saul, This thing is not [to be done: and Saul prevailed against the people, and they cast [lots] between him and Jonathan his son, and Jonathan is taken by lot.

⁴³And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done: and Jonathan told him, and said, I did indeed taste a little honey, with the end of my staff that was in my hand, and, lo! I [am to] die.

⁴⁴And Saul said to him, God do so to me, and more also, thou shalt surely die to-day.

⁴⁵And the people said to Saul, Shall he that has wrought this great salvation in Israel be put to death this day? [As] the Lord lives, there shall not fall to the ground one of the hairs of his head; for the people of God have wrought successfully this day. And the people prayed for Jonathan in that day, and he died not.

⁴⁶And Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines departed to their place.

⁴⁷And Saul received the kingdom, by lot he inherits the office [of ruling] over Israel: and he fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against the children of Edom, and against Baethaeor, and against the king of Suba, and against the Philistines: whithersoever he turned, he was victorious.

⁴⁸And he wrought valiantly, and smote Amalec, and rescued Israel out of the hand of them that trampled on him.

⁴⁹And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jessiu, and Melchisa: and [these were] the names of his two daughters, the name of the first-born Merob, and the name of the second Melchol.

⁵⁰And the name of his wife was Achinoom, the daughter of Achimaa: and the name of his captain of the host was Abenner, the son of Ner, son of a kinsman of Saul.

⁵¹And Kis [was] the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abenner, [was] son of Jamin, son of Abiel.

⁵²And the war was vehement against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, and any valiant man, then he took them to himself.