1 Samuel 13:23-14:23
Jonathan Slaughters the Philistines
14Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2And Saul was staying in the outskirts of aGibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in bMigron. And the people who were with him were cabout six hundred men, 3and Ahijah, the ason of Ahitub, bIchabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at cShiloh, dwas 1wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4aNow between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.
6Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of athese uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will work for us, for bYahweh is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7And his armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your heart.” 8Then Jonathan said, “aBehold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9“If they 1say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10“But if they 1say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for Yahweh has given them into our hands; and athis shall be the sign to us.” 11So both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, “Behold, aHebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12So the men of the garrison 1hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us, and awe will make you know something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for bYahweh has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an 1acre of land. 15And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and athe raiders trembled, and bthe earth quaked so cthat it became a 1great trembling.
16Then Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17So Saul said to the people who were with him, “1Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had 2numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “aBring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 19aAnd it happened that while Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, aevery man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even athey also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22Now all the amen of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, and they pursued them closely in the battle. 23So aYahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle 1spread beyond bBeth-aven.