1-3 and Saul was in Geba with his 600 men. Saul's own tent was set up under a fruit tree by the threshing place at the edge of town. Ahijah was serving as priest, and one of his jobs was to get answers from the Lord for Saul. Ahijah's father was Ahitub, and his father's brother was Ichabod. Ahijah's grandfather was Phinehas, and his great-grandfather Eli had been the Lord's priest at Shiloh.
One day, Jonathan told the soldier who carried his weapons that he wanted to attack the Philistine camp on the other side of the valley. So they slipped out of the Israelite camp without anyone knowing it. Jonathan didn't even tell his father he was leaving.
4-5 Jonathan decided to get to the Philistine camp by going through the pass that led between Shiny Cliff and Michmash to the north and Thornbush Cliff and Geba to the south.
6 Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons talked as they went toward the Philistine camp. “It's just the two of us against all those godless men,” Jonathan said. “But the Lord can help a few soldiers win a battle just as easily as he can help a whole army. Maybe the Lord will help us win this battle.”
7 “Do whatever you want,” the soldier answered. “I'll be right there with you.”
8 “This is what we will do,” Jonathan said. “We will go across and let them see us. 9 If they agree to come down the hill and fight where we are, then we won't climb up to their camp. 10 But we will go if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean the Lord is going to help us win.”
11-12 Jonathan and the soldier stood at the bottom of the hill where the Philistines could see them. The Philistines said, “Look! Those worthless Israelites have crawled out of the holes where they've been hiding.” Then they yelled down to Jonathan and the soldier, “Come up here, and we will teach you a thing or two!”
Jonathan turned to the soldier and said, “Follow me! The Lord is going to let us win.”
13 Jonathan crawled up the hillside with the soldier right behind him. When they got to the top, Jonathan killed the Philistines who attacked from the front, and the soldier killed those who attacked from behind. 14 Before they had gone 30 meters, they had killed about 20 Philistines.
15 The whole Philistine army panicked—those in camp, those on guard duty, those in the fields, and those on raiding patrols. All of them were afraid and confused. Then God sent an earthquake, and the ground began to tremble.
Israel Defeats the Philistines
16 Saul's lookouts at Geba saw that the Philistine army was running in every direction, like melted wax. 17 Saul told his officers, “Call the roll and find out who left our camp.” When they had finished, they found out that Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons were missing.
18 At that time, Ahijah was serving as priest for the army of Israel, and Saul told him, “Come over here! Let's ask God what we should do.” 19 Just as Saul finished saying this, he could see that the Philistine army camp was getting more and more confused, and he said, “Ahijah, never mind!”
20 Saul quickly called his army together, then led them to the Philistine camp. By this time the Philistines were so confused that they were killing each other.
21 There were also some hired soldiers in the Philistine camp, who now switched to Israel's side and fought for Saul and Jonathan.
22 Many Israelites had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim. And when they heard that the Philistines were running away, they came out of hiding and joined in chasing the Philistines.
23-24 So the Lord helped Israel win the battle that day.
Saul's Curse on Anyone Who Eats
Saul had earlier told his soldiers, “I want to get even with those Philistines by sunset. If any of you eat before then, you will be under a curse!” So he made them swear not to eat.
By the time the fighting moved past Beth-Aven, the Israelite troops were weak from hunger. 25-26 The army and the people who lived nearby had gone into a forest, and they came to a place where honey was dripping on the ground. But no one ate any of it, because they were afraid of being put under the curse.
27 Jonathan did not know about Saul's warning to the soldiers. So he dipped the end of his walking stick in the honey and ate some with his fingers. He felt stronger and more alert. 28 Then a soldier told him, “Your father swore that anyone who ate food today would be put under a curse, and we agreed not to eat. That's why we're so weak.”
29 Jonathan said, “My father has caused you a lot of trouble. Look at me! I ate only a little of this honey, but already I feel strong and alert. 30 I wish you had eaten some of the food the Philistines left behind. We would have been able to kill a lot more of them.”
31 By evening the Israelite army was exhausted from killing Philistines all the way from Michmash to Aijalon. 32 They grabbed the food they had captured from the Philistines and started eating. They even killed sheep and cows and calves right on the spot and ate the meat without draining the blood. 33 Someone told Saul, “Look! The army is disobeying the Lord by eating meat before the blood drains out.”
“You're right,” Saul answered. “They are being unfaithful to the Lord! Hurry! Roll a big rock over here. 34 Then tell everyone in camp to bring their cattle and lambs to me. They can kill the animals on this rock, then eat the meat. That way no one will disobey the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.”
That night the soldiers brought their cattle over to the big rock and killed them there. 35 It was the first altar Saul had built for offering sacrifices to the Lord.
The Army Rescues Jonathan
36 Saul said, “Let's attack the Philistines again while it's still dark. We can fight them all night. Let's kill them and take everything they own!”
The people answered, “We will do whatever you want.”
“Wait!” Ahijah the priest said. “Let's ask God what we should do.”
37 Saul asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win?”
This time God did not answer. 38 Saul called his army officers together and said, “We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering. 39 I swear by the living Lord that whoever sinned must die, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan.”
No one said a word.
40 Saul told his army, “You stand on that side of the priest, and Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.”
Everyone agreed.
41 Then Saul prayed, “Our Lord, God of Israel, why haven't you answered me today? Please show us who sinned. Was it my son Jonathan and I, or was it your people Israel?”
The answer came back that Jonathan or Saul had sinned, not the army. 42 Saul told Ahijah, “Now ask the Lord to decide between Jonathan and me.”
The answer came back that Jonathan had sinned. 43 “Jonathan,” Saul exclaimed, “tell me what you did!”
“I dipped the end of my walking stick in some honey and ate a little. Now you say I have to die!”
44 “Yes, Jonathan. I swear to God that you must die.”
45 “No!” the soldiers shouted. “God helped Jonathan win the battle for us. We won't let you kill him. We swear to the Lord that we won't let you kill him or even lay a hand on him!” So the army kept Saul from killing Jonathan.
46 Saul stopped hunting down the Philistines, and they went home.
Saul Fights His Enemies
47-48 When Saul became king, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, the Philistines, and the Amalekites had all been robbing the Israelites. Saul fought back against these enemies and stopped them from robbing Israel. He was a brave commander and always won his battles.
Saul's Family
49-51 Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. They had three sons: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. They also had two daughters: The older one was Merab, and the younger one was Michal.
Abner, Saul's cousin, was the commander of the army. Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
War with the Philistines
52 Saul was at war with the Philistines for as long as he lived. Whenever he found a good warrior or a brave man, Saul made him join his army.
Yonatani ye Filisitinkoolu boyinkaŋ
1-3 Luŋ kiliŋ, Yonatani Sawulu dinkewo ko fondinkewo meŋ ka a la kelejooraŋolu samba ye ko, “Ŋà taa kara doo la Filisitinkoolu la daakaa to.” Bari Yonatani maŋ a fo a faamaa ye. Aduŋ moo maŋ a kalamuta ko, a taata le.
Saayiŋ, Sawulu daakaata roomaani* suŋo le koto meŋ be Mikironi, a maŋ jamfa Kibeya la. Sawulu niŋ kee keme wooro le tarata nuŋ jee. Aduŋ piriisoo* Ahiya fanaa be nuŋ jee le, efodoo* be a bulu. Ahiya le keta Ikabodi kotoo keebaa Ahitubu dinkewo ti. Ahitubu le keta Pineha dinkewo ti, Pineha le keta Eli dinkewo ti, Yaawe* la piriisoo, meŋ be nuŋ Silo saatewo to.
4 Mikimasi siloo, meŋ ka taa konkoolu teema, Yonatani ñanta tambi la niŋ daameŋ na ka taa Filisitinkoolu la daakaa to, bere konko fula le tarata jee, doo be konko siloo kara doo la, doo be kara doo la. Kiliŋ doo too mu Bosesi le ti, doo, wo too mu Sene le ti. 5 Bere konkoo doo tarata maraa karoo la, a ye a ñaa tiliŋ Mikimasi la. Doo wo tarata bulubaa karoo le la, a ye a ñaa tiliŋ Keba la.
6 Yonatani ko fondinkewo meŋ ye a la kelejooraŋolu samba ye ko, “Ŋà taa wo Filisitinka sunnabaloolu la daakaa to. A si ke Yaawe ye m̀ maakoyi. Feŋ te jee meŋ si a tinna, Yaawe te ǹ tanka la, fo ntolu siyaata waraŋ m̀ maŋ siyaa.”
7 A la kelejooraŋ sambalaa ye a jaabi ko, “I lafita feŋ-wo-feŋ ke la, m be i kooma le.”
8 Yonatani ko a ye ko, “A beteyaata. M̀ be taa la le fo Filisitinkoolu si ǹ je. 9 Niŋ ì ko, ŋà ì batu, ì ye naa ǹ yaa, bituŋ m̀ be daameŋ, ǹ si tu jee. 10 Bari niŋ ì ko, ŋà taa ì yaa, m̀ be taa le, kaatu wo be ke la taamanseeri le ti ko, Yaawe ye a ke le, ŋà ì noo keloo la.”
11 Bituŋ ì ye ì faŋo yitandi Filisitinkoolu la. Filisitinkoolu ko, “Heyi, ali a juubee. Hiburunkoolu* doolu fele, ì ka ŋunuma naŋ ka bo naŋ dinkoolu kono, ì be maaboriŋ daamennu to.” 12 Bituŋ ì ye Yonatani niŋ a la kelejooraŋ sambalaa kili, “Ali naa santo jaŋ! Ŋà feŋ ne soto, m̀ be meŋ fo la ali ye.”
Yonatani ko a la kelejooraŋ sambalaa ye ko, “Bula n nooma. Yaawe ye ì duŋ Banisirayilankoolu buloo kono le.”
13 Yonatani seleta bere konkoo kaŋ niŋ a buloolu niŋ a siŋolu le la, bituŋ a la kelejooraŋ sambalaa ye a nooma. Wo to le Yonatani ye Filisitinkoolu boyinkaŋ, niŋ a ye meŋ fadi, niŋ wo boyita, a la kelejooraŋ sambalaa ye wo faa. 14 Wo boyinkaŋ foloo waatoo Yonatani niŋ a la kelejooraŋolu sambalaa ye moo muwaŋ ne faa, janniŋ ì ka tambi kunku talantewo hapoo la.
Filisitinkoolu borita Banisirayilankoolu ñaato
15 Filisitinkoolu mennu bee be bankoo dandaŋo la kijoo farata le, tiñaarilaalu aniŋ kelediŋolu mennu be daakaa to silata le fo ì ka jarajara. Bankoo jarajarata, aduŋ moolu kijoo farata baake le. 16 Sawulu la koroosirilaalu be Kibeya le Benjamini tundoo kaŋ, ì ye a je, Filisitinkoolu jaakaliriŋo be boroo la. 17 Bituŋ Sawulu ko a la kelediŋolu mennu be a fee ye ko, “Ali kelediŋolu toolu kumandi, ali ye a juubee, jumaalu le mankita.” Kabiriŋ ì ye wo ke, ì ye a je ko, Yonatani niŋ a la jooraŋ sambalaa le mankita. 18 Sawulu ko Ahiya piriisoo ye ko, “Efodoo samba naŋ jaŋ.” Wo waatoolu kono Ahiya ka a samba Banisirayilankoolu bee le ñaatiliŋo la. 19 Kabiriŋ Sawulu be diyaamu kaŋ piriisoo ye, jaakaloo meŋ be Filisitinkoolu la daakaa to lafaakuuta, bituŋ Sawulu ko a ye ko, “Waati maŋ soto ka Yaawe ñininkaa.” 20 Wo to le Sawulu niŋ a la moolu benta, ì taata keledulaa. Ì ye a tara, Filisitinkoolu jaakaliriŋo be ñoo faa kaŋ niŋ ì la hawusaroolu* la. 21 Hiburunkoo doolu mennu tarata Filisitinkoolu la karoo la, aduŋ ì niŋ ì taata ì la daakaa to ñoo la, wolu yelemata le ka taa Sawulu niŋ Yonatani la karoo la. 22 Kabiriŋ Banisirayilankoolu mennu be maaboriŋ Efurayimu* konkotundoo* kaŋ ye a moyi ko, Filisitinkoolu ka bori le, ì tariyaatoo kafuta kelelaalu ma. 23 Keloo keta le fo ì tambita Beti-Aweni la, wo luŋo la Yaawe ye Banisirayilankoolu tankandi le.
Yonatani maŋ Sawulu la yaamaroo muta
24 Wo luŋo konkoo ye Banisirayilankoolu batandi baake le, kaatu Sawulu ye tawoo le taa ko, “Dankoo be moo-wo-moo muta la le, niŋ a ye domori-wo-domori domo janniŋ wulaaroo, janniŋ n ka n joo n jawoolu to.” Bituŋ wo tiloo muumee moo maŋ feŋ domo. 25 Ì bee taata fo yiroolu be siyaariŋ daameŋ, ì ye a tara liyo be dulaa bee to. 26 Kabiriŋ ì dunta jee, ì ye a je, yiroolu baloo bee be faariŋ liyo la, bari moo maŋ feŋ domo, kaatu ì bee silata Sawulu la dankaroo la le. 27 Bari Yonatani maŋ a moyi, biriŋ a faamaa ye moolu silandi ñiŋ dankari kuwo la. Bituŋ dokoo meŋ be a bulu, a ye a bula liikaañoo kono, a ye liyo doo domo. Kataba kiliŋ a ñaalu fanuta.
28 Wo to le kee kiliŋ ko, “Konkoo ye m̀ bee lamfundi le, bari i faamaa ye ǹ silandi le, aduŋ a ko, ‘Dankoo be moo-wo-moo muta la le, niŋ a ye domori-wo-domori domo bii tiloo la.’ ”
29 Yonatani ko, “M faamaa ye bankoo bee le toora. A juubee, n semboo muruta naŋ ñaameŋ, kabiriŋ ŋa ñiŋ liindiŋo nene. 30 A be kekuu la le nuŋ bii, niŋ a ye a tara, ǹ na moolu ye domoroolu domo, ì ye mennu buusi Filisitinkoolu bulu, kabiriŋ ì ye ì noo keloo la. I miira doroŋ, ì be Filisitinkoolu nankamoo meŋ faa la nuŋ.”
31 Wo luŋo Banisirayilankoolu ye Filisitinkoolu noo keloo la le. Ì ye ì kelendi le ka bo Mikimasi fo Ayaloni. Bari wo waatoo konkoo ye Banisirayilankoolu lamfundi baake le. 32 Bituŋ ì borita ka buusi feŋolu taa, ì ye mennu buusi ì jawoolu bulu. Ì ye saajiyolu, ninsoolu aniŋ ninsiriŋolu taa, ì ye ì kanateyi wo loo to, aduŋ yeloo be suboo bala ñaa-wo-ñaa, ì ye a domo wo le ñaama.
33 Bituŋ moo doo ko Sawulu ye ko, “A juubee, kewolu fele ì ka junube kuwo ke Yaawe la ka suboo domo, meŋ ye yeloo soto a bala.”
A ko ì ye ko, “Ñiŋ mu junube kuu baa le ti. Ali bere baa birimintiŋ naŋ jaŋ siiñaa kiliŋ.” 34 Wo to le a ko, “Ali taa moolu kono, ali ye a fo, ì ye ì la ninsoolu niŋ ì la saajiyolu samba naŋ jaŋ, ì ye ì kanateyi, ì ye a domo. Ì maŋ ñaŋ na junuboo ke la Yaawe la ka suboo domo, yeloo be meŋ bala.” Bituŋ wo suutoo ì bee ye ì la ninsoolu naati, ì ye ì faa jee.
35 Bituŋ Sawulu ye sadaabodulaa* loo Yaawe ye. Aduŋ wo le keta sadaabodulaa foloo ti, a ye meŋ loo Yaawe ye.
Sawulu lafita Yonatani faa la
36 Sawulu ko a la kewolu ye ko, “Ali ŋà taa Filisitinkoolu boyinkaŋ suutoo, ŋà ì kasaara fo fanoo ye ke, ŋà ì bee faa.” Ì ye a jaabi ko, “Feŋ-wo-feŋ beteyaata ite fee, i si wo ke.” Bari piriisoo ko, “Ali ŋà Alla ñininkaa foloo.” 37 Bituŋ Sawulu ye Alla ñininkaa. A ko, “Ŋà taa Filisitinkoolu boyinkaŋ baŋ? I be ì duŋ na Banisirayilankoolu bulu le baŋ?” Bari wo luŋo Alla maŋ a danku.
38 Wo to le Sawulu ko moolu la ñaatonkoolu ye ko, “Ali naa jaŋ, ŋà junuboo la kuwo kisikisi, meŋ keta jaŋ bii. 39 A be koyiriŋ ñaameŋ ko Yaawe be baluuriŋ ne meŋ ye nooroo dii Banisirayila la, moo-wo-moo maŋ a kekuu, a be faa la le. Hani niŋ a ye a tara, n dinkewo Yonatani le mu.” Bari moo maŋ feŋ fo.
40 Bituŋ Sawulu naata a fo Banisirayilankoolu bee ye ko, “Alitolu ye loo jana. Nte niŋ n dinkewo Yonatani be loo la jaŋ ne.”
Ì ye a jaabi ko, “Feŋ-wo-feŋ beteyaata i fee, i si wo ke.”
41 Sawulu ko Yaawe ye ko, “Muŋ ne ye a tinna, bii i maŋ n danku? Yaawe Banisirayilankoolu la Alla, n danku niŋ bere buuñaariŋolu la. Niŋ a ye a tara, Yonatani le boyita waraŋ nte, i danku niŋ Urimu la, bari niŋ i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu le taa mu, i si i danku niŋ Tummimu la.” Dankuroo naata ke Sawulu niŋ Yonatani la karoo le la, bituŋ moolu seneyaata.
42 Wo to le Sawulu ko, “Ali alikuuroo* ke n niŋ Yonatani teema.” Kabiriŋ ì ye a ke, Yonatani le fintita.
43 Bituŋ Sawulu ye Yonatani ñininkaa ko, “I ye muŋ ne ke? A fo n ye.” Yonatani ye a jaabi ko, “Ŋa liindiŋ ne domo niŋ dokoo la, meŋ be m buloo kono. M fele, m pareeta le ka faa.” 44 Sawulu ko a ye ko, “Allamaa Alla ye kiitiyo teyi n niŋ i teema, niŋ a ye a tara, ite Yonatani maŋ faa.”
45 Bari moolu ko Sawulu ye ko, “Fo Yonatani meŋ ye ñiŋ kañee baa saabu Banisirayilankoolu ye, ñanta faa la le baŋ? Hanii! A be koyiriŋ ñaameŋ ko Alla be baluuriŋ ne, hani kuntiña kese kiliŋ ne te bo la a kuŋo to. Yonatani ye ñiŋ ke niŋ Alla la deemaaroo le la bii.” Bituŋ moolu ye Yonatani tankandi saayaa ma.
46 Kabiriŋ wo keta, Sawulu ye i foño ka taa Filisitinkoolu waliŋ, bituŋ ì seyita ì fansuŋ bankoo kaŋ.
Sawulu ye a jawoolu mennu noo
47 Kabiriŋ Sawulu keta Banisirayilankoolu la mansa ti, jawoolu be daa-wo-daa, a ye ì bee kelendi le. Mowabinkoolu, Ammoninkoolu, Edomunkoolu, Soba mansoolu, aniŋ Filisitinkoolu, a ye wolu bee kelendi le. A ye keloo ke daa-wo-daa, a ka wolu noo le. 48 A ka keloo ke le ko kelejawaroo, aduŋ wo ye a tinna le, hani Amalekinkoolu, a ye ì noo keloo la. A ye Banisirayilankoolu tankandi boyinkaŋo bee ma.
Sawulu la dimbaayaa
49 Sawulu dinkewolu mu Yonatani, Isiwi, aniŋ Malikisuwa le ti. A dimmusu keebaa too mu Merabu le ti, bituŋ a dimmusu labaŋo, wo mu Mikali le ti. 50 A la musoo too mu Ahinowamu le ti. Ahinowamu le keta Ahimaasi dimmusoo ti. Sawulu la kelekuntiyo too mu Abuna le ti, aduŋ Abuna mu Neri dinkewo le ti. Neri, wo mu Sawulu faandiŋ ne ti. 51 Sawulu faamaa Kisi aniŋ Abuna faamaa Neri mu Abiyeli dinkewolu le ti.
52 Sawulu la baluwo bee kono, a ye keloo kandindi Filisitinkoolu kaŋ ne. Aduŋ niŋ a ye kee fatiŋo je waati-wo-waati, a ka a taa le, a ye a bulandi a la kelediŋ kafoo kono.
