I Samuel 14

שמואל א׳ פרק י״ד

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 14 of 31 | Day: 59 of 742

Date: April 11, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 14 is one of the great set-piece narratives of I Samuel, a chapter that functions as a dramatic character study through the lens of military crisis. At its center stands Jonathan, whose daring raid on the Philistine garrison at Michmash becomes the catalyst for an Israelite victory — yet the chapter belongs equally to Saul, whose erratic decisions nearly destroy the very triumph his son has won. The contrast between father and son, already hinted at in chapter 13, here becomes painfully explicit: Jonathan acts out of faith and initiative, declaring “nothing prevents God from winning a victory by many or by few” (אין לה׳ מעצור להושיע ברב או במעט), while Saul acts out of anxiety, imposing a rash oath, dithering over the ephod, and ultimately threatening to execute the hero of the day.

Jonathan’s ascent of the rocky crag between Bozez and Seneh, clambering on hands and feet with only his armor-bearer beside him, is one of the most vivid military episodes in all of Tanakh. The narrative deliberately echoes the theology of divine deliverance found throughout Judges — the idea that God saves not through numerical superiority but through faith and obedience. Radak emphasizes that Jonathan’s words to his armor-bearer were not reckless bravado but a genuine expression of trust in divine providence, and that the sign he devised (if the Philistines say “come up to us,” we will attack) was a form of seeking God’s will without formal oracular consultation. The earthquake (חרדת אלהים) that follows the initial assault confirms that this is no mere human achievement; the panic that spreads through the Philistine camp is of divine origin, reminiscent of the confusion God sowed among Israel’s enemies at the Sea of Reeds and in the battles of Joshua.

Against this backdrop of divinely orchestrated victory, Saul’s behavior is devastating in its contrast. His oath — “Cursed be anyone who eats any food before night falls and I take revenge on my enemies” — is presented by the text as both unnecessary and counterproductive. The troops grow faint from hunger, and when they finally do eat after sundown, they are so ravenous that they consume meat with the blood still in it, violating a fundamental prohibition. Rashi notes that Saul’s oath was motivated by personal vengeance (“and I take revenge on my enemies,” ונקמתי מאויבי) rather than devotion to God, and Metzudat David observes that the people’s sin of eating blood was a direct consequence of the king’s ill-considered decree. The irony is layered: the king who sought to sanctify the battle through fasting instead caused his people to transgress, while the prince who unknowingly violated the oath was the one through whom God had actually delivered Israel.

The chapter’s climax — the casting of lots (Urim and Thummim) to identify who violated the oath, the lot falling on Jonathan, and the people’s dramatic rescue of him from his father’s death sentence — exposes the fundamental dysfunction of Saul’s leadership. Saul is willing to execute his own son to maintain the authority of an oath that should never have been made, revealing a man more concerned with the appearance of royal power than with justice or divine will. The people, by contrast, recognize the absurdity: “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!” The Septuagint’s expanded version of verse 41, which preserves a longer prayer by Saul asking God to “show Urim” or “show Thummim,” suggests an ancient tradition that understood this scene as a formal sacral procedure, with God’s silence in verse 37 serving as the initial indication that something had gone wrong. Radak explains that God did not answer Saul because of the unfulfilled oath — not because Jonathan had truly sinned, but because the oath itself created a spiritual impediment that needed resolution.

The chapter closes with a summary of Saul’s wars and his family, a passage that reads almost like an obituary inserted before its time. The note that “whenever Saul noticed any stalwart man or warrior, he would take him into his service” foreshadows the arrival of David, the ultimate “stalwart man” whom Saul will recruit and then come to fear. The detail that Saul erected his first altar to God in this chapter (verse 35), prompted not by devotion but by the need to manage his troops’ ritual transgression, captures the tragic quality of his kingship: religious acts undertaken reactively, always a step behind the crises his own decisions have created. Chapter 14 thus establishes the template for everything that follows — a king who cannot trust God’s timing, whose attempts at control produce chaos, and whose son embodies the very qualities of faithful leadership that the father lacks.

פרק י״ד · Chapter 14

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י הַיּ֗וֹם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹנָתָ֤ן בֶּן־שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־הַנַּ֙עַר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֔יו לְכָ֗ה וְנַעְבְּרָה֙ אֶל־מַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַלָּ֑ז וּלְאָבִ֖יו לֹ֥א הִגִּֽיד׃

English:

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.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וְשָׁא֗וּל יוֹשֵׁב֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַגִּבְעָ֔ה תַּ֥חַת הָרִמּ֖וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמִגְר֑וֹן וְהָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֔וֹ כְּשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִֽישׁ׃

English:

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.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַאֲחִיָּ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִט֡וּב אֲחִ֡י אִיכָב֣וֹד ׀ בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָ֨ס בֶּן־עֵלִ֜י כֹּהֵ֧ן ׀ יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּשִׁל֖וֹ נֹשׂ��֣א אֵפ֑וֹד וְהָעָם֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י הָלַ֖ךְ יוֹנָתָֽן׃

English:

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.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וּבֵ֣ין הַֽמַּעְבְּר֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּקֵּ֤שׁ יֽוֹנָתָן֙ לַעֲבֹר֙ עַל־מַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים שֵׁן־הַסֶּ֤לַע מֵהָעֵ֙בֶר֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וְשֵׁן־הַסֶּ֥לַע מֵהָעֵ֖בֶר מִזֶּ֑ה וְשֵׁ֤ם הָאֶחָד֙ בּוֹצֵ֔ץ וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד סֶֽנֶּה׃

English:

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.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

הַשֵּׁ֧ן הָאֶחָ֛ד מָצ֥וּק מִצָּפ֖וֹן מ֣וּל מִכְמָ֑שׂ וְהָאֶחָ֥ד מִנֶּ֖גֶב מ֥וּל גָּֽבַע׃ {ס}        

English:

One crag was located on the north, near Michmas, and the other on the south, near Geba.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־הַנַּ֣עַר ׀ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו לְכָה֙ וְנַעְבְּרָ֗ה אֶל־מַצַּב֙ הָעֲרֵלִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אוּלַ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה לָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין לַֽיהֹוָה֙ מַעְצ֔וֹר לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ בְּרַ֖ב א֥וֹ בִמְעָֽט׃

English:

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.”

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֔יו עֲשֵׂ֖ה כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ נְטֵ֣ה לָ֔ךְ הִנְנִ֥י עִמְּךָ֖ כִּלְבָבֶֽךָ׃ {ס}        

English:

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.”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ עֹבְרִ֖ים אֶל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְנִגְלִ֖ינוּ אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

Jonathan said, “We’ll cross over to those men and let them see us.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

אִם־כֹּ֤ה יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ דֹּ֕מּוּ עַד־הַגִּיעֵ֖נוּ אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְעָמַ֣דְנוּ תַחְתֵּ֔ינוּ וְלֹ֥א נַעֲלֶ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

If they say to us, ‘Wait until we get to you,’ then we’ll stay where we are, and not go up to them.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וְאִם־כֹּ֨ה יֹאמְר֜וּ עֲל֤וּ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְעָלִ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־נְתָנָ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיָדֵ֑נוּ וְזֶה־לָּ֖נוּ הָאֽוֹת׃

English:

But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for GOD is delivering them into our hands. That shall be our sign.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיִּגָּל֣וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֶל־מַצַּ֖ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הִנֵּ֤ה עִבְרִים֙ יֹֽצְאִ֔ים מִן־הַחֹרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִתְחַבְּאוּ־שָֽׁם׃

English:

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.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲנוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמַּצָּבָ֜ה אֶת־יוֹנָתָ֣ן ׀ וְאֶת־נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ עֲל֣וּ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְנוֹדִ֥יעָה אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָ֑ר {פ}וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־נֹשֵׂ֤א כֵלָיו֙ עֲלֵ֣ה אַחֲרַ֔י כִּֽי־נְתָנָ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

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.”

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣עַל יוֹנָתָ֗ן עַל־יָדָיו֙ וְעַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו אַחֲרָ֑יו וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יוֹנָתָ֔ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו מְמוֹתֵ֥ת אַחֲרָֽיו׃

English:

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.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַתְּהִ֞י הַמַּכָּ֣ה הָרִאשֹׁנָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֧ה יוֹנָתָ֛ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו כְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים אִ֑ישׁ כְּבַחֲצִ֥י מַעֲנָ֖ה צֶ֥מֶד שָׂדֶֽה׃

English:

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.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַתְּהִי֩ חֲרָדָ֨ה בַמַּחֲנֶ֤ה בַשָּׂדֶה֙ וּבְכׇל־הָעָ֔ם הַמַּצָּב֙ וְהַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית חָרְד֖וּ גַּם־הֵ֑מָּה וַתִּרְגַּ֣ז הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִ֖י לְחֶרְדַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃

English:

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.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה הֶהָמ֛וֹן נָמ֖וֹג וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַהֲלֹֽם׃ {פ}

English:

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.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֗וּל לָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ פִּקְדוּ־נָ֣א וּרְא֔וּ מִ֖י הָלַ֣ךְ מֵעִמָּ֑נוּ וַֽיִּפְקְד֔וּ וְהִנֵּ֛ה אֵ֥ין יוֹנָתָ֖ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָֽיו׃

English:

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.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ לַֽאֲחִיָּ֔ה הַגִּ֖ישָׁה אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּֽי־הָיָ֞ה אֲר֧וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

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.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י עַ֣ד דִּבֶּ֤ר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהֶהָמ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וָרָ֑ב {פ}וַיֹּ֧אמֶר שָׁא֛וּל אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֖ן אֱסֹ֥ף יָדֶֽךָ׃

English:

But while Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept increasing; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיִּזָּעֵ֣ק שָׁא֗וּל וְכׇל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה הָיְתָ֜ה חֶ֤רֶב אִישׁ֙ בְּרֵעֵ֔הוּ מְהוּמָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

English:

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.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וְהָעִבְרִ֗ים הָי֤וּ לַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ כְּאֶתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשׁ֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָל֥וּ עִמָּ֛ם בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֖�� סָבִ֑יב וְגַם־הֵ֗מָּה לִֽהְיוֹת֙ עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִם־שָׁא֖וּל וְיוֹנָתָֽן׃

English:

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.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וְכֹל֩ אִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הַמִּֽתְחַבְּאִ֤ים בְּהַר־אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּי־נָ֖סוּ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַֽיַּדְבְּק֥וּ גַם־הֵ֛מָּה אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

English:

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.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיּ֧וֹשַׁע יְהֹוָ֛ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהַ֨מִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָבְרָ֖ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית אָֽוֶן׃

English:

Thus GOD brought victory to Israel that day.The fighting passed beyond Beth-aven.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וְאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל נִגַּ֖שׂ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֩אֶל֩ שָׁא֨וּל אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר אָר֣וּר הָ֠אִ֠ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֹ֨אכַל לֶ֜חֶם עַד־הָעֶ֗רֶב וְנִקַּמְתִּי֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבַ֔י וְלֹא־טָעַ֥ם כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם לָֽחֶם׃ {ס}        

English:

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.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וְכׇל־הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּ֣אוּ בַיָּ֑עַר וַיְהִ֥י דְבַ֖שׁ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃

English:

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.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤א הָעָם֙ אֶל־הַיַּ֔עַר וְהִנֵּ֖ה ��ֵ֣לֶךְ דְּבָ֑שׁ וְאֵין־מַשִּׂ֤יג יָדוֹ֙ אֶל־פִּ֔יו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֥א הָעָ֖ם אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָֽה׃

English:

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.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן לֹא־שָׁמַ֗ע בְּהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ אָבִיו֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֶת־קְצֵ֤ה הַמַּטֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָד֔וֹ וַיִּטְבֹּ֥ל אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּיַעְרַ֣ת הַדְּבָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֤שֶׁב יָדוֹ֙ אֶל־פִּ֔יו (ותראנה) [וַתָּאֹ֖רְנָה] עֵינָֽיו׃

English:

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.

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֩עַן֩ אִ֨ישׁ מֵהָעָ֜ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַשְׁבֵּ֩עַ֩ הִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ אָבִ֤יךָ אֶת־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָר֥וּר הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֹ֥אכַל לֶ֖חֶם הַיּ֑וֹם וַיָּ֖עַף הָעָֽם׃

English:

At this one of the soldiers spoke up, “Your father adjured the troops: ‘Cursed be anyone who eats anything this day.’ And so the troops are faint.”

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן עָכַ֥ר אָבִ֖י אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ רְאוּ־נָא֙ כִּי־אֹ֣רוּ עֵינַ֔י כִּ֣י טָעַ֔מְתִּי מְעַ֖ט דְּבַ֥שׁ הַזֶּֽה׃

English:

Jonathan answered, “My father has brought trouble on the people. See for yourselves how my eyes lit up when I tasted that bit of honey.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

אַ֗ף כִּ֡י לוּא֩ אָכֹ֨ל אָכַ֤ל הַיּוֹם֙ הָעָ֔ם מִשְּׁלַ֥ל אֹיְבָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָצָ֑א כִּ֥י עַתָּ֛ה לֹא־רָבְתָ֥ה מַכָּ֖ה בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

English:

If only the troops had eaten today of spoil captured from the enemy, the defeat of the Philistines would have been greater still!”

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וַיַּכּ֞וּ בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים מִמִּכְמָ֖שׂ אַיָּלֹ֑נָה וַיָּ֥עַף הָעָ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃

English:

They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmas to Aijalon, and the troops were famished.

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

(ויעש) [וַיַּ֤עַט] הָעָם֙ אֶל־[הַשָּׁלָ֔ל] (שלל) וַיִּקְח֨וּ צֹ֧אן וּבָקָ֛ר וּבְנֵ֥י בָקָ֖ר וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ־אָ֑רְצָה וַיֹּ֥אכַל הָעָ֖ם עַל־הַדָּֽם׃

English:

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.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לְשָׁאוּל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה הָעָ֛ם חֹטִ֥אים לַיהֹוָ֖ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל עַל־הַדָּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר בְּגַדְתֶּ֔ם גֹּלּוּ־אֵלַ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם אֶ֥בֶן גְּדוֹלָֽה׃

English:

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.”

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֣וּל פֻּ֣צוּ בָעָ֡ם וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם לָהֶ֡ם הַגִּ֣ישׁוּ אֵלַי֩ אִ֨ישׁ שׁוֹר֜וֹ וְאִ֣ישׁ שְׂיֵ֗הוּ וּשְׁחַטְתֶּ֤ם בָּזֶה֙ וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֔ם וְלֹא־תֶחֶ��ְא֥וּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶל־הַדָּ֑ם וַיַּגִּ֨שׁוּ כׇל־הָעָ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ שׁוֹר֧וֹ בְיָד֛וֹ הַלַּ֖יְלָה וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ־שָֽׁם׃

English:

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.

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וַיִּ֧בֶן שָׁא֛וּל מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַיהֹוָ֑ה אֹת֣וֹ הֵחֵ֔ל לִבְנ֥וֹת מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

Thus Saul set up an altar to GOD; it was the first altar he erected to GOD.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֡וּל נֵרְדָ֣ה אַחֲרֵי֩ פְלִשְׁתִּ֨ים ׀ לַ֜יְלָה וְֽנָבֹ֥זָה בָהֶ֣ם ׀ עַד־א֣וֹר הַבֹּ֗קֶר וְלֹֽא־נַשְׁאֵ֤ר בָּהֶם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כׇּל־הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵׂ֑ה {ס}        וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נִקְרְבָ֥ה הֲלֹ֖ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

English:

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.”

פסוק ל״ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל שָׁאוּל֙ בֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים הַֽאֵרֵד֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הֲתִתְּנֵ֖ם בְּיַ֣ד יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֥א עָנָ֖הוּ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃

English:

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.

פסוק ל״ח · Verse 38

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל גֹּ֣שֽׁוּ הֲלֹ֔ם כֹּ֖ל פִּנּ֣וֹת הָעָ֑ם וּדְע֣וּ וּרְא֔וּ בַּמָּ֗ה הָ֥יְתָ֛ה הַחַטָּ֥את הַזֹּ֖את הַיּֽוֹם׃

English:

Then Saul said, “Come forward, all chief officers of the troops, and find out how this guilt was incurred today.

פסוק ל״ט · Verse 39

Hebrew:

כִּ֣י חַי־יְהֹוָ֗ה הַמּוֹשִׁ֙יעַ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֧י אִם־יֶשְׁנ֛וֹ בְּיוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנִ֖י כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת יָמ֑וּת וְאֵ֥ין עֹנֵ֖הוּ מִכׇּל־הָעָֽם׃

English:

For as GOD lives who brings victory to Israel, even if it was through my son Jonathan, he shall be put to death!” Not one soldier answered him.

פסוק מ׳ · Verse 40

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אַתֶּם֙ תִּֽהְיוּ֙ לְעֵ֣בֶר אֶחָ֔ד וַֽאֲנִי֙ וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנִ֔י נִהְיֶ֖ה לְעֵ֣בֶר אֶחָ֑ד וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הָעָם֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃ {ס}        

English:

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.”

פסוק מ״א · Verse 41

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֗וּל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָ֣בָה תָמִ֑ים וַיִּלָּכֵ֧ד יוֹנָתָ֛ן וְשָׁא֖וּל וְהָעָ֥ם יָצָֽאוּ׃

English:

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.

פסוק מ״ב · Verse 42

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל הַפִּ֕ילוּ בֵּינִ֕י וּבֵ֖ין יוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנִ֑י וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד יוֹנָתָֽן׃

English:

And Saul said, “Cast the lots between my son and me”; and Jonathan was indicated.

פסוק מ״ג · Verse 43

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־י֣וֹנָתָ֔ן הַגִּ֥ידָה לִּ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָה וַיַּגֶּד־ל֣וֹ יוֹנָתָ֗ן וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ טָעֹ֨ם טָעַ֜מְתִּי בִּקְצֵ֨ה הַמַּטֶּ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִ֛י מְעַ֥ט דְּבַ֖שׁ הִנְנִ֥י אָמֽוּת׃ {ס}        

English:

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.”

פסוק מ״ד · Verse 44

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל כֹּה־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑ף כִּי־מ֥וֹת תָּמ֖וּת יוֹנָתָֽן׃

English:

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!”

פסוק מ״ה · Verse 45

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָעָ֜ם אֶל־שָׁא֗וּל הֲֽיוֹנָתָ֤ן ׀ יָמוּת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָ֠שָׂ֠ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה הַזֹּאת֮ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ חָלִ֗ילָה חַי־יְהֹוָה֙ אִם־יִפֹּ֞ל מִשַּׂעֲרַ֤ת רֹאשׁוֹ֙ אַ֔רְצָה כִּֽי־עִם־אֱלֹהִ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ה הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּפְדּ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם אֶת־יוֹנָתָ֖ן וְלֹא־מֵֽת׃ {ס}        

English:

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.

פסוק מ״ו · Verse 46

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣עַל שָׁא֔וּל מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖��ם הָלְכ֥וּ לִמְקוֹמָֽם׃

English:

Saul broke off his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their homes.

פסוק מ״ז · Verse 47

Hebrew:

וְשָׁא֛וּל לָכַ֥ד הַמְּלוּכָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם סָבִ֣יב ׀ בְּֽכׇל־אֹיְבָ֡יו בְּמוֹאָ֣ב ׀ וּבִבְנֵֽי־עַמּ֨וֹן וּבֶאֱד֜וֹם וּבְמַלְכֵ֤י צוֹבָה֙ וּבַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּבְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִפְנֶ֖ה יַרְשִֽׁיעַ׃

English:

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].

פסוק מ״ח · Verse 48

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ חַ֔יִל וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיַּצֵּ֥ל אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֥ד שֹׁסֵֽהוּ׃ {פ}

English:

He was triumphant, defeating the Amalekites and saving Israel from those who plundered it.

פסוק מ״ט · Verse 49

Hebrew:

וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל יוֹנָתָ֥ן וְיִשְׁוִ֖י וּמַלְכִּישׁ֑וּעַ וְשֵׁם֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו שֵׁ֤ם הַבְּכִירָה֙ מֵרַ֔ב וְשֵׁ֥ם הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה מִיכַֽל׃

English:

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.

פסוק נ׳ · Verse 50

Hebrew:

וְשֵׁם֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת שָׁא֔וּל אֲחִינֹ֖עַם בַּת־אֲחִימָ֑עַץ וְשֵׁ֤ם שַׂר־צְבָאוֹ֙ אֲבִינֵ֔ר בֶּן־נֵ֖ר דּ֥וֹד שָׁאֽוּל׃

English:

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.

פסוק נ״א · Verse 51

Hebrew:

וְקִ֧ישׁ אֲבִֽי־שָׁא֛וּל וְנֵ֥ר אֲבִֽי־אַבְנֵ֖ר בֶּן־אֲבִיאֵֽל׃ {ס}        

English:

Kish, Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, were sons of Abiel.

פסוק נ״ב · Verse 52

Hebrew:

וַתְּהִ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ חֲזָקָ֣ה עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וְרָאָ֨ה שָׁא֜וּל כׇּל־אִ֤ישׁ גִּבּוֹר֙ וְכׇל־בֶּן־חַ֔יִל וַיַּאַסְפֵ֖הוּ אֵלָֽיו׃ {פ}

English:

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.

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