References (83)
And Saul chose for himself 3,000 men from Israel, of whom 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash [meaning: "hidden place"; probably present-day Mukmas, 11 km northeast of Jerusalem] and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with [his son] Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin [the city of Gibeah in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, see also ]. He sent the rest of the people each to his tent.
And Jonathan struck the Philistine garrison that was in Geva [masculine form of "hill"] and the Philistines heard about it. And Saul blew the shofar throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear." [On four occasions in the Books of Samuel, the Hebrew spelling Geva (masculine form of the word "hill") is used instead of Giva (the more common feminine form of "hill" used twelve times in the Books of Samuel). It probably refers to the same place, but the author may have wanted to give a different emphasis. Geva is used in , ; ; and Giva in ; ; , ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; . The phrase Giva-Benjamin is used in verses 2, 15, and , and the reason may be to recall the tragic event in .]
And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were with them stayed in Geva-Benjamin [here the masculine form Geva is used instead of the usual feminine Giva], but the Philistines were encamped in Michmash.
And when the days of war came, there was no sword or spear to be found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and Jonathan (only Saul and Jonathan had personal weapons).
And it came to pass one day that Jonathan, Saul's son, said to the young man who carried his armor [his armor bearer], "Come, let us go over to the Philistine camp on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord (Yahweh) in Shiloh [where the tabernacle was], who wore an ephod [the sacred priestly vest, see ]. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
And in the pass, where Jonathan had intended to cross over to the Philistine camp, there was a steep rocky cliff on one side and a steep rocky cliff on the other side, and the name of one was Botsets and the name of the other was Sene. [Botsets means sparkling or "surpasses white" and Sene means "thorny."]
And Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the camp of these uncircumcised men [], for perhaps the Lord (Yahweh) will do it for us, since there is no hindrance to the Lord (Yahweh) in saving by many or by few."
And Jonathan said, "Behold, we will go over to the men and show ourselves to them.
And the men in the camp spoke to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, saying, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Then Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, "Come up after me, for the Lord (Yahweh) has given them into the hand of Israel."
And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armour-bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer slew them after him.
And the first slaughter that Jonathan and his armour-bearer made was about twenty men, within half a plough furrow on a ploughed field (acre).
[The exact size of a ploughed field is unknown, but it is probably the area that a pair of oxen could plough in a day. The word used is Hebr. tsemed, which means span/yoke, see also ; ; . The area is estimated to be about 0.5 hectares, which corresponds to the old Nordic unit of area, the acre (equivalent to the area of land that could be sown with one barrel of seed). The distance here is half the length of a plow furrow, which is about 35 meters if it is a square field measuring 70x70 meters.]
And Saul said to the people [the army] who were with him, "Count and see who has left us." And when they had counted, it appeared that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
And the Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to the camp around, they also turned (changed sides) and were with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
But Jonathan did not hear when his father bound the people with the oath, and he stretched out the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and brought it to his mouth, and his eyes became clear.
And Jonathan said, "My father has brought disaster (created great problems) upon the land; I beg you, my eyes have been opened when I tasted a little of this honey.
For as the Lord (Yahweh) lives, who saves Israel, if it is through Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among the people who answered him.
So he said to all Israel, "You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what is good in your eyes."
And Saul said to the Lord (Yahweh), the God of Israel (Elohim), "Declare what is right." And the lot fell on Saul and Jonathan, but the people escaped.
And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." And the lot fell on Jonathan.
And Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him and said, "I did taste a little honey with the tip of my staff that was in my hand. Here I am (I take responsibility – Hebr. hineni). I shall die."
Saul replied, "God (Elohim) will do so and more besides; you shall surely die, Jonathan."
But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die? Who has given this great victory to Israel? Away with it, the Lord (Yahweh) lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has fought with God (Elohim) today."
And these are the sons of Saul: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua; and his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger was Michal.
And it came to pass, when he [David] had finished speaking with Saul, that Jonathan's soul was knit to David's soul (person), and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (as himself).
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.
And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
[Exchanging robes and weapons with each other is part of all the ceremonies associated with entering into a blood covenant. Although only a few details are mentioned here, we understand that David and Jonathan entered into a complete blood covenant. Otherwise, this would not have been mentioned, since it is something that is never done in any other situation. At that time, it was sufficient to mention one of the associated rituals, without giving a complete account, because everyone knew what it meant.]
Saul spoke to Jonathan, his son, and to all his servants, that they should [find a way to] kill David. [This is Saul's fifth attempt to kill David.] But Saul's son Jonathan was very fond of (really admired, was very attached to) David.
So Jonathan told David this [warned him] and said, "Saul, my father, is seeking to kill you, therefore I beg you, be on your guard (protect yourself) tomorrow. Stay in a secluded place and hide.
And Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, for he has not sinned against you, and his work has been very good for you [and for the whole kingdom].
And Saul listened to Jonathan's voice (took his words to heart) and Saul promised (swore an oath): "As the Lord (Yahweh) lives, he shall not be put to death."
Jonathan called David and told him everything that had been said. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before [and served both militarily and with music, see verses 8-9].
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah [because Saul was there, see ] and came and said to Jonathan [in Gibeah], "What have I done? What is my offense? What is my sin before your father [Saul], that he seeks my life (my soul)?"
But David swore again and said, "Your father knows very well that I have found favor (undeserved love – Hebr. chen) in your eyes. He says, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be saddened,' and as surely as the Lord (Yahweh) lives and as you yourself (your soul) live, there is only one step between me and death."
And Jonathan said to David, "What does your soul desire, that I may do it for you?"
And David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, when I should sit with the king to eat; let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third day at evening.
And Jonathan said, "Far be it from me, if I knew that evil was determined upon you by my father, would I not tell you?"
And David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father's answer is harsh (heavy, binding like a yoke)?"
And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field."
So they both went out into the field. []
There Jonathan said to David, "The Lord (Yahweh) is the God (Elohim) of Israel [he is my witness]—when I hear from my father at this time tomorrow or the day after [the third day], behold, if it is good toward David, shall I not send to you and reveal it to you?
– The Lord (Yahweh) do so to Jonathan. And more than that: If it pleases my father to harm you, I will tell you and send you away so that you may go in peace (shalom); and the Lord (Yahweh) be with you, as he has been with my father.
And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: "And the Lord (Yahweh) will require it from the hand of David's enemies."
And Jonathan made David swear again, because of the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own life (his own soul).
And Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, your seat will be empty.
And the king sat on his chair as at other times, on his chair by the wall, and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.
And it came to pass on the morning after the new moon, which was the second day, that David's place was empty, and Saul said to Jonathan, "Why has the son of Jesse [David] not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"
And Jonathan answered Saul, "David asked me for permission to leave to go to Bethlehem,
And Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a rebellious rebel, did I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?
And Jonathan answered Saul his father and said, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"
And Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down. Therefore Jonathan knew that his father had determined to kill David.
And Jonathan rose from the table in burning anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he mourned for David and because his father had put shame upon him.
And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field at the time which he and David had appointed, and a little lad was with him.
And when the boy had come to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to the boy and said, "Is not the arrow before you?"
And Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry, hurry, don't stop." And Jonathan's boy picked up the arrow and came to his master.
But the boy knew nothing, only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them into the city."
And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace (shalom), since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord (Yahweh) and said, 'The Lord (Yahweh) shall be [witness] between me and you and between our descendants (between my seed and your seed) forever.
And he [David] arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the forest and strengthened (Hebr. chazaq) his hand in God (Elohim). [Jonathan urged David to be confident and courageous in the certainty that God is with him. The Lord uses the same word (Hebr. chazaq) when he encourages Joshua, see , , .]
And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord (Yahweh). And David stayed in the forest, and Jonathan went to his house.
And the Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul's sons.
David asked him, "How are things [in the war against the Philistines in the north]? Please tell me!"
He replied, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have also fallen and died, and Saul and Jonathan, his son, are also dead."
David asked the young man who told him this, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan, his son, are dead?"
And they lamented and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord (Yahweh) and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
And David lamented (mourned; sang monotonously and drawn out – Hebr. qinen) this lament (Hebr. qina) over Saul and over Jonathan, his son,
From the blood of the slain,
from the fat (human flesh) of the mighty,
Jonathan's bow does not return,
and Saul's sword did not return empty.
Saul and Jonathan,
beloved and beautiful in their lives,
even in their death they were not separated,
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle.
Jonathan is slain on his high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan,
you have been very pleasant to me,
wonderful was your love to me,
more than the love of women.
[In this verse, which is a parenthesis, Jonathan's son Mephibosheth is introduced.] Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in both feet. He was 5 years old when the report from Jezreel came about Saul and Jonathan. [Both Mephibosheth's father and grandfather had died in the battle of Gilboa in the valley of Jezreel, see . Mephibosheth's (Israel's heir to the throne) life was now at stake, as all potential successors were usually eliminated by new rulers.] His nurse [who was responsible for Mephibosheth when Jonathan went into battle] picked him up and fled, but during the chaotic escape he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
[Although the details are not given here, it is likely that the Philistines took control of the entire region and were heading south to plunder Saul's capital, Gibeah (; , just north of Jerusalem), where Mephibosheth was located. The text gives no details about how he fell; perhaps they jumped from a wall and he broke his legs, or suffered nerve damage to his neck that left him lame. Regardless, this must have created deep feelings of guilt in the nurse, who in a difficult situation tried to protect him, but an accident occurred and the child became disabled. The name Mephibosheth means "crushes shame"; outside the Books of Samuel, he is also called Merib-Baal, see ; . The mention of Mephibosheth here also has a literary point; in the next verse, it is mentioned how Saul's son Ish-Bosheth, which means "man of shame," dies. The author wants to give hope; the shame will be crushed. Mephibosheth will play a decisive role in future events, see ; ; .]
And David said, "Is there anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness (loving care – Hebr. chesed) for Jonathan's sake?"
The king asked, "Is there anyone left of Saul's house (family) so that I may show God's (Elohim's) kindness (Hebr. chesed) to him?" Ziba answered the king, "Jonathan still has a son who is crippled in both feet."
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself on the ground. But David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Here is your servant."
And David said to him, "Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness (Hebr. chesed) for the sake of Jonathan your father. I will restore all the land of your father Saul, and you shall always eat bread at my table."
But the king saved Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, Saul's son, because of the oath of the Lord (Yahweh) between them, between David and Jonathan, Saul's son.
And David went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-Gilead, who had stolen them from the open place at Beth-Shan, where the Philistines had hung them, on the day the Philistines struck Saul at Gilboa.
And he brought them up from there, the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and gathered the bones of those who were hanged.
And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of his father Kish. And they did all that the king commanded. And afterward, God (Elohim) was propitiated toward the land.
Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Avinadav, and Eshbaal [Ish-Boshet, see ].
Jonathan's son was Merib-Baal [Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, see ], and Merib-Baal became the father of Mic.
Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
Jonathan's son was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal became the father of Micah.
The Philistines pressed hard against Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua.
