1Now it fell upon a day, that Yonatan Ben Sha’ul said unto the young man that bore his armor, “Come and let us go over to the P’lishtim’s garrison, that is on yonder side.” But he told not his father. 2And Sha’ul tarried in the uttermost part of Givah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron; and the people that were with him were about six hundred men, 3and AkhiYah Ben Akhituv, Ikhavod’s brother, Ben Pin’khas, Ben Eli, the kohen of יהוה in Shiloh, wearing an efod. And the people knew not that Yonatan was gone. 4And between the passes, by which Yonatan sought to go over unto the P’lishtim’s garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Botzetz, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The one crag rose up on the north in front of Mikhmas, and the other on the south in front of Geva. 6And Yonatan said to the young man that bore his armor, “Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that יהוה will work for us; for there is no restraint to יהוה to save by many or by few.” 7And his armor-bearer said unto him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn, behold I am with you according to your heart.” 8Then said Yonatan, “Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them. 9If they say thus unto us, ‘Tarry until we come to you;’ then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10But if they say thus, ‘Come up unto us;’ then we will go up; for יהוה has delivered them into our hand; and this shall be the sign unto us.” 11And both of them disclosed themselves unto the garrison of the P’lishtim; and the P’lishtim said, “Behold Ivrim coming forth out of the holes where they hid themselves.” 12And the men of the garrison spoke to Yonatan and his armor-bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.”
And Yonatan said unto his armor-bearer, “Come up after me; for יהוה has delivered them into the hand of Yisra’el.” 13And Yonatan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armor-bearer after him; and they fell before Yonatan; and his armor-bearer slew them after him. 14And that first slaughter, which Yonatan and his armor-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. 15And there was a trembling in the camp in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked; so it grew into a terror from Elohim. 16And the watchmen of Sha’ul in Givat Binyamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.
17Then said Sha’ul unto the people that were with him, “Number now, and see who is gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Yonatan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18And Sha’ul said unto AkhiYah, “Bring here the Aron HaElohim.” For Aron HaElohim was there at that time with B’nei Yisra’el. 19And it came to pass, while Sha’ul talked unto the kohen, that the tumult that was in the camp of the P’lishtim went on and increased; and Sha’ul said unto the kohen, “Withdraw your hand.” 20And Sha’ul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 21Now the Ivrim that were with the P’lishtim as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp round about; even they also turned to be with the Yisra’elim that were with Sha’ul and Yonatan. 22Likewise all the men of Yisra’el that had hid themselves in the hill country of Efrayim, when they heard that the P’lishtim fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23So יהוה saved Yisra’el that day; and the battle passed on as far as Beit Aven. 24And the men of Yisra’el were distressed that day; but Sha’ul adjured the people, saying, “Cursed be the man that eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground. 26And when the people were come unto the forest, behold a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 27But Yonatan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath; and he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. 28Then answered one of the people, and said, “Your father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man that eats food this day;’ and the people are faint.” 29Then said Yonatan, “My father has troubled the land; see, I pray, how my eyes are brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? Had there not been then a much greater slaughter among the P’lishtim?” 31And they smote of the P’lishtim that day from Mikhmas to Ayalonah; and the people were very faint. 32And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood. 33Then they told Sha’ul, saying, “Behold, the people sin against יהוה , in that they eat with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone unto me this day.” 34And Sha’ul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, ‘Bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against יהוה in eating with the blood’.” And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35And Sha’ul built an altar unto יהוה ; the same was the first altar that he built unto יהוה .
36And Sha’ul said, “Let us go down after the P’lishtim by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good unto you.” Then said the kohen, “Let us draw near here unto Elohim.” 37And Sha’ul asked counsel of Elohim, “Shall I go down after the P’lishtim? Will You deliver them into the hand of Yisra’el?” But He answered him not that day. 38And Sha’ul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day. 39For, as יהוה lives, who saves Yisra’el, though it be in Yonatan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40Then said he unto all Yisra’el, “Be on one side, and I and Yonatan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said unto Sha’ul, “Do what seems good unto you.” 41Therefore Sha’ul said unto יהוה Elohei Yisra’el, “Declare the right.” And Yonatan and Sha’ul were taken by lot; but the people escaped. 42And Sha’ul said, “Cast lots between me and Yonatan my son.” And Yonatan was taken. 43Then Sha’ul said to Yonatan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Yonatan told him, and said, “I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; here am I. I will die.” 44And Sha’ul said, “Elohim do so and more also; you shall surely die, Yonatan.” 45And the people said unto Sha’ul, “Shall Yonatan die, who has wrought this great Yeshua[h] in Yisra’el? Far from it; as יהוה lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with Elohim this day.” So the people rescued Yonatan, that he died not. 46Then Sha’ul went up from following the P’lishtim; and the P’lishtim went to their own place. 47So Sha’ul took the kingdom over Yisra’el, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Mo’av, and against the children of Amon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Tzovah, and against the P’lishtim; and wherever he turned himself, he put them to the worse. 48And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekim, and delivered Yisra’el out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
49Now the sons of Sha’ul were Yonatan, and Ishvi, and Malkhishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merav, and the name of the younger Mikhal; 50and the name of Sha’ul’s wife was Akhino’am Bat Akhima’az; and the name of the captain of his host was Avner Ben Ner, Sha’ul’s uncle. 51And Kish was the father of Sha’ul, and Ner the father of Avner was the son of Avi’el. 52And there was sore war against the P’lishtim all the days of Sha’ul; and when Sha’ul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
אוַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹנָתָן בֶּן שָׁאוּל אֶל הַנַּעַר נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו לְכָה וְנַעְבְּרָה אֶל מַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים אֲשֶׁר מֵעֵבֶר הַלָּז; וּלְאָבִיו לֹא הִגִּיד. בוְשָׁאוּל יוֹשֵׁב בִּקְצֵה הַגִּבְעָה תַּחַת הָרִמּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּמִגְרוֹן; וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ כְּשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ. גוַאֲחִיָּה בֶן אֲחִטוּב אֲחִי אִיכָבוֹד בֶּן פִּינְחָס בֶּן עֵלִי כֹּהֵן יהוה בְּשִׁלוֹ נֹשֵׂא אֵפוֹד; וְהָעָם לֹא יָדַע כִּי הָלַךְ יוֹנָתָן. דוּבֵין הַמַּעְבְּרוֹת אֲשֶׁר בִּקֵּשׁ יוֹנָתָן לַעֲבֹר עַל מַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים שֵׁן הַסֶּלַע מֵהָעֵבֶר מִזֶּה וְשֵׁן הַסֶּלַע מֵהָעֵבֶר מִזֶּה; וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד בּוֹצֵץ וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד סֶנֶּה. ההַשֵּׁן הָאֶחָד מָצוּק מִצָּפוֹן מוּל מִכְמָשׂ; וְהָאֶחָד מִנֶּגֶב מוּל גָּבַע. ווַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹנָתָן אֶל הַנַּעַר נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו לְכָה וְנַעְבְּרָה אֶל מַצַּב הָעֲרֵלִים הָאֵלֶּה אוּלַי יַעֲשֶׂה יהוה לָנוּ: כִּי אֵין לַיהוה מַעְצוֹר לְהוֹשִׁיעַ בְּרַב אוֹ בִמְעָט. זוַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו עֲשֵׂה כָּל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבֶךָ; נְטֵה לָךְ הִנְנִי עִמְּךָ כִּלְבָבֶךָ. חוַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹנָתָן הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ עֹבְרִים אֶל הָאֲנָשִׁים; וְנִגְלִינוּ אֲלֵיהֶם. טאִם כֹּה יֹאמְרוּ אֵלֵינוּ דֹּמּוּ עַד הַגִּיעֵנוּ אֲלֵיכֶם וְעָמַדְנוּ תַחְתֵּינוּ וְלֹא נַעֲלֶה אֲלֵיהֶם. יוְאִם כֹּה יֹאמְרוּ עֲלוּ עָלֵינוּ וְעָלִינוּ כִּי נְתָנָם יהוה בְּיָדֵנוּ: וְזֶה לָּנוּ הָאוֹת. יאוַיִּגָּלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם אֶל מַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים; וַיֹּאמְרוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים הִנֵּה עִבְרִים יֹצְאִים מִן הַחֹרִים אֲשֶׁר הִתְחַבְּאוּ שָׁם. יבוַיַּעֲנוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמַּצָּבָה אֶת יוֹנָתָן וְאֶת נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ עֲלוּ אֵלֵינוּ וְנוֹדִיעָה אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר;
וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹנָתָן אֶל נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו עֲלֵה אַחֲרַי כִּי נְתָנָם יהוה בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל. יגוַיַּעַל יוֹנָתָן עַל יָדָיו וְעַל רַגְלָיו וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו אַחֲרָיו; וַיִּפְּלוּ לִפְנֵי יוֹנָתָן וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו מְמוֹתֵת אַחֲרָיו. ידוַתְּהִי הַמַּכָּה הָרִאשֹׁנָה אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יוֹנָתָן וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו כְּעֶשְׂרִים אִישׁ: כְּבַחֲצִי מַעֲנָה צֶמֶד שָׂדֶה. טווַתְּהִי חֲרָדָה בַמַּחֲנֶה בַשָּׂדֶה וּבְכָל הָעָם הַמַּצָּב וְהַמַּשְׁחִית חָרְדוּ גַּם הֵמָּה; וַתִּרְגַּז הָאָרֶץ וַתְּהִי לְחֶרְדַּת אֱלֹהִים. טזוַיִּרְאוּ הַצֹּפִים לְשָׁאוּל בְּגִבְעַת בִּנְיָמִן; וְהִנֵּה הֶהָמוֹן נָמוֹג וַיֵּלֶךְ וַהֲלֹם.
יזוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ פִּקְדוּ נָא וּרְאוּ מִי הָלַךְ מֵעִמָּנוּ; וַיִּפְקְדוּ וְהִנֵּה אֵין יוֹנָתָן וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו. יחוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לַאֲחִיָּה הַגִּישָׁה אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים: כִּי הָיָה אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. יטוַיְהִי עַד דִּבֶּר שָׁאוּל אֶל הַכֹּהֵן וְהֶהָמוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּמַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וָרָב; וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל הַכֹּהֵן אֱסֹף יָדֶךָ. כוַיִּזָּעֵק שָׁאוּל וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד הַמִּלְחָמָה; וְהִנֵּה הָיְתָה חֶרֶב אִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ מְהוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד. כאוְהָעִבְרִים הָיוּ לַפְּלִשְׁתִּים כְּאֶתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָלוּ עִמָּם בַּמַּחֲנֶה סָבִיב; וְגַם הֵמָּה לִהְיוֹת עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר עִם שָׁאוּל וְיוֹנָתָן. כבוְכֹל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמִּתְחַבְּאִים בְּהַר אֶפְרַיִם שָׁמְעוּ כִּי נָסוּ פְּלִשְׁתִּים; וַיַּדְבְּקוּ גַם הֵמָּה אַחֲרֵיהֶם בַּמִּלְחָמָה. כגוַיּוֹשַׁע יהוה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְהַמִּלְחָמָה עָבְרָה אֶת בֵּית אָוֶן. כדוְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִגַּשׂ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא; וַיֹּאֶל שָׁאוּל אֶת הָעָם לֵאמֹר אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יֹאכַל לֶחֶם עַד הָעֶרֶב וְנִקַּמְתִּי מֵאֹיְבַי וְלֹא טָעַם כָּל הָעָם לָחֶם. כהוְכָל הָאָרֶץ בָּאוּ בַיָּעַר; וַיְהִי דְבַשׁ עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה. כווַיָּבֹא הָעָם אֶל הַיַּעַר וְהִנֵּה הֵלֶךְ דְּבָשׁ; וְאֵין מַשִּׂיג יָדוֹ אֶל פִּיו כִּי יָרֵא הָעָם אֶת הַשְּׁבֻעָה. כזוְיוֹנָתָן לֹא שָׁמַע בְּהַשְׁבִּיעַ אָבִיו אֶת הָעָם וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת קְצֵה הַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּטְבֹּל אוֹתָהּ בְּיַעְרַת הַדְּבָשׁ; וַיָּשֶׁב יָדוֹ אֶל פִּיו ותראנה (וַתָּאֹרְנָה) עֵינָיו. כחוַיַּעַן אִישׁ מֵהָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר הַשְׁבֵּעַ הִשְׁבִּיעַ אָבִיךָ אֶת הָעָם לֵאמֹר אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יֹאכַל לֶחֶם הַיּוֹם; וַיָּעַף הָעָם. כטוַיֹּאמֶר יוֹנָתָן עָכַר אָבִי אֶת הָאָרֶץ: רְאוּ נָא כִּי אֹרוּ עֵינַי כִּי טָעַמְתִּי מְעַט דְּבַשׁ הַזֶּה. לאַף כִּי לוּא אָכֹל אָכַל הַיּוֹם הָעָם מִשְּׁלַל אֹיְבָיו אֲשֶׁר מָצָא: כִּי עַתָּה לֹא רָבְתָה מַכָּה בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים. לאוַיַּכּוּ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים מִמִּכְמָשׂ אַיָּלֹנָה; וַיָּעַף הָעָם מְאֹד. לבויעש (וַיַּעַט) הָעָם אֶל שלל (הַשָּׁלָל) וַיִּקְחוּ צֹאן וּבָקָר וּבְנֵי בָקָר וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ אָרְצָה; וַיֹּאכַל הָעָם עַל הַדָּם. לגוַיַּגִּידוּ לְשָׁאוּל לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה הָעָם חֹטִאים לַיהוה לֶאֱכֹל עַל הַדָּם; וַיֹּאמֶר בְּגַדְתֶּם גֹּלּוּ אֵלַי הַיּוֹם אֶבֶן גְּדוֹלָה. לדוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל פֻּצוּ בָעָם וַאֲמַרְתֶּם לָהֶם הַגִּישׁוּ אֵלַי אִישׁ שׁוֹרוֹ וְאִישׁ שְׂיֵהוּ וּשְׁחַטְתֶּם בָּזֶה וַאֲכַלְתֶּם וְלֹא תֶחֶטְאוּ לַיהוה לֶאֱכֹל אֶל הַדָּם; וַיַּגִּשׁוּ כָל הָעָם אִישׁ שׁוֹרוֹ בְיָדוֹ הַלַּיְלָה וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ שָׁם. להוַיִּבֶן שָׁאוּל מִזְבֵּחַ לַיהוה ; אֹתוֹ הֵחֵל לִבְנוֹת מִזְבֵּחַ לַיהוה .
לווַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל נֵרְדָה אַחֲרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים לַיְלָה וְנָבֹזָה בָהֶם עַד אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר וְלֹא נַשְׁאֵר בָּהֶם אִישׁ וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּל הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה; וַיֹּאמֶר הַכֹּהֵן נִקְרְבָה הֲלֹם אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים. לזוַיִּשְׁאַל שָׁאוּל בֵּאלֹהִים הַאֵרֵד אַחֲרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים הֲתִתְּנֵם בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְלֹא עָנָהוּ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא. לחוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל גֹּשׁוּ הֲלֹם כֹּל פִּנּוֹת הָעָם; וּדְעוּ וּרְאוּ בַּמָּה הָיְתָה הַחַטָּאת הַזֹּאת הַיּוֹם. לטכִּי חַי יהוה הַמּוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי אִם יֶשְׁנוֹ בְּיוֹנָתָן בְּנִי כִּי מוֹת יָמוּת; וְאֵין עֹנֵהוּ מִכָּל הָעָם. מוַיֹּאמֶר אֶל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ לְעֵבֶר אֶחָד וַאֲנִי וְיוֹנָתָן בְּנִי נִהְיֶה לְעֵבֶר אֶחָד; וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעָם אֶל שָׁאוּל הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה. מאוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל יהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָבָה תָמִים; וַיִּלָּכֵד יוֹנָתָן וְשָׁאוּל וְהָעָם יָצָאוּ. מבוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל הַפִּילוּ בֵּינִי וּבֵין יוֹנָתָן בְּנִי; וַיִּלָּכֵד יוֹנָתָן. מגוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל יוֹנָתָן הַגִּידָה לִּי מֶה עָשִׂיתָה; וַיַּגֶּד לוֹ יוֹנָתָן וַיֹּאמֶר טָעֹם טָעַמְתִּי בִּקְצֵה הַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדִי מְעַט דְּבַשׁ הִנְנִי אָמוּת. מדוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִף: כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת יוֹנָתָן. מהוַיֹּאמֶר הָעָם אֶל שָׁאוּל הֲיוֹנָתָן יָמוּת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הַיְשׁוּעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל חָלִילָה חַי יהוה אִם יִפֹּל מִשַּׂעֲרַת רֹאשׁוֹ אַרְצָה כִּי עִם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה; וַיִּפְדּוּ הָעָם אֶת יוֹנָתָן וְלֹא מֵת. מווַיַּעַל שָׁאוּל מֵאַחֲרֵי פְּלִשְׁתִּים; וּפְלִשְׁתִּים הָלְכוּ לִמְקוֹמָם. מזוְשָׁאוּל לָכַד הַמְּלוּכָה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַיִּלָּחֶם סָבִיב בְּכָל אֹיְבָיו בְּמוֹאָב וּבִבְנֵי עַמּוֹן וּבֶאֱדוֹם וּבְמַלְכֵי צוֹבָה וּבַפְּלִשְׁתִּים וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה יַרְשִׁיעַ. מחוַיַּעַשׂ חַיִל וַיַּךְ אֶת עֲמָלֵק; וַיַּצֵּל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד שֹׁסֵהוּ.
מטוַיִּהְיוּ בְּנֵי שָׁאוּל יוֹנָתָן וְיִשְׁוִי וּמַלְכִּישׁוּעַ; וְשֵׁם שְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו שֵׁם הַבְּכִירָה מֵרַב וְשֵׁם הַקְּטַנָּה מִיכַל. נוְשֵׁם אֵשֶׁת שָׁאוּל אֲחִינֹעַם בַּת אֲחִימָעַץ; וְשֵׁם שַׂר צְבָאוֹ אֲבִינֵר בֶּן נֵר דּוֹד שָׁאוּל. נאוְקִישׁ אֲבִי שָׁאוּל וְנֵר אֲבִי אַבְנֵר בֶּן אֲבִיאֵל. נבוַתְּהִי הַמִּלְחָמָה חֲזָקָה עַל פְּלִשְׁתִּים כֹּל יְמֵי שָׁאוּל; וְרָאָה שָׁאוּל כָּל אִישׁ גִּבּוֹר וְכָל בֶּן חַיִל וַיַּאַסְפֵהוּ אֵלָיו.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 