The Bible in Basic English BBE
Orthodox Jewish Bible OJB
1 Now one day Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was with him, looking after his arms, Come, let us go over to the Philistine force over there. But he said nothing to his father.
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4 Now the day came to pass, that Yonatan Ben Sha’ul said unto the na’ar (young man) that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the outpost of the Pelishtim (Philistines), that is on the other side. But he told not aviv.
2 And Saul was still waiting in the farthest part of Geba, under the fruit-tree in Migron: there were about six hundred men with him;
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And Sha’ul tarried in the outskirts of Giveah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron; and HaAm (the people, the army) that were with him were about shesh me’ot ish (six hundred men);
3 And Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, who had the ephod. And the people had no idea that Jonathan had gone.
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And Achiyah Ben Achituv, the ach of Ikhavod Ben Pinchas Ben Eli, kohen Hashem in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. And HaAm knew not that Yonatan was gone.
4 Now between the narrow roads over the mountains by which Jonathan was making his way to the Philistines' forces, there was a sharp overhanging rock on one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: one was named Bozez and the other Seneh.
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And between the passes, by which Yonatan sought to go over unto the outpost of the Pelishtim, there was a rocky cliff on the one side, and a rocky cliff on the other side; and the shem of the one was Botzetz, and the shem of the other Seneh.
5 The one rock went up on the north in front of Michmash and the other on the south in front of Geba.
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The one steep rock faced north opposite Michmash, and the other southward toward Giveah.
6 And Jonathan said to his young servant who had his arms, Come, let us go over to the armies of these men who have no circumcision: it may be that the Lord will give us help, for there is no limit to his power; the Lord is able to give salvation by a great army or by a small band.
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And Yonatan said to the na’ar that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the outpost of these arelim (uncircumcised); it may be that Hashem will act for us; for nothing restrains Hashem l’hoshi’a (to save), by many or by few.
7 And his servant said to him, Do whatever is in your mind: see, I am with you in every impulse of your heart.
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And his armor-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine lev; turn thee; hineni, I am with thee according to thy lev.
8 Then Jonathan said, Now we will go over to these men and let them see us.
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Then said Yonatan, Hinei, we will pass over unto these anashim, and we will show ourselves unto them.
9 If they say to us, Keep quiet where you are till we come to you; then we will keep our places and not go up to them.
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If they say thus unto us, Stand still until we come to you; then we will stand still tachteinu (in our place), and will not go up unto them.
10 But if they say, Come up to us; then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands: and this will be the sign to us.
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But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up; for Hashem hath delivered them into yadenu (our hand, power): and this shall be haot (the sign) unto us.
11 And they let the Philistine force see the two of them: and the Philistines said, Look! the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have taken cover.
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And both of them showed themselves unto the outpost of the Pelishtim (Philistines); and the Pelishtim said, Hinei, the Ivrim (Hebrews) come forth out of the chorim (holes) where they had hid themselves.
12 And the armed men of the force gave Jonathan and his servant their answer, saying, Come up here to us, and we will let you see something. Then Jonathan said to his servant, Come up after me: for the Lord has given them up into the hands of Israel.
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And the anashim of the outpost answered Yonatan and his armor-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will teach you a thing. And Yonatan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me, for Hashem hath delivered them into the yad Yisroel.
13 And Jonathan went up, gripping with his hands and his feet, his servant going up after him; and the Philistines gave way before Jonathan when he made an attack on them, and his servant put them to death after him.
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And Yonatan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armor-bearer after him; and they fell before Yonatan; and his armorbearer slaughtered behind him.
14 And at their first attack, Jonathan and his servant put to the sword about twenty men, all inside the space of half an acre of land.
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And that first attack, which Yonatan and his armorbearer made, killed about esrim ish (twenty men), within an area of half a yoke [i.e., the area an oxen yoke could plow in one day, or rather, half of that].
15 And there was great fear in the tents and in the field and among all the men of the armed force, and the attackers were shaking with fear; even the earth was moved with a great shaking and there was a fear as from God.
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And there was fearful panic in the machaneh, in the sadeh, and among kol haAm; the outpost, and the raiders, they also trembled, and ha’aretz quaked; so it was a cheredat Elohim (a panic from Elohim).
16 And the watchmen of Saul, looking out from Geba in the land of Benjamin, saw all the army flowing away and running here and there.
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And the tzofim (watchmen, lookouts, sentries) of Sha’ul in Giveat Binyamin looked; and, hinei, the multitude melted away, and they went in all directions.
17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Let everyone be numbered and let us see who has gone from us. And when they had been numbered, it was seen that Jonathan and his servant were not there.
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Then said Sha’ul unto HaAm that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, hinei, Yonatan and his armor-bearer were not there.
18 And Saul said to Ahijah, Let the ephod come here. For he went before Israel with the ephod at that time.
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And Sha’ul said unto Achiyah, Bring here the Aron HaElohim. For the Aron HaElohim was at that time with the Bnei Yisroel there.
19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the noise in the tents of the Philistines became louder and louder; and Saul said to the priest, Take back your hand.
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And it came to pass, while Sha’ul talked to the kohen [i.e., Achiyah], that the tumult that was in the machaneh Pelishtim went on and increased; and Sha’ul said unto the kohen, Withdraw thine yad [i.e., let’s go].
20 And Saul and all the people with him came together and went forward to the fight: and every man's sword was turned against the man at his side, and there was a very great noise.
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And Sha’ul and kol HaAm that were with him assembled themselves, and they went to the milchamah; and, hinei, every cherev ish was against his fellow, and there was mehumah gedolah me’od (a very great confusion).
21 Then the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines for some time, and had gone up with them to their tents, turning round were joined to those who were with Saul and Jonathan.
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Moreover the Ivrim (Hebrews) that were with the Pelishtim (Philistines) before that time, which went up with them into the machaneh from the country round about, even they also turned to be with them of Yisroel that were with Sha’ul and Yonatan.
22 And all the men of Israel who had taken cover in the hill-country of Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines had been put to flight, went after them, attacking them.
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Likewise all the Ish Yisroel which had hid themselves in Har Ephrayim, when they heard that the Pelishtim fled, even they also followed hard after them in the milchamah (battle).
23 So the Lord made Israel safe that day: and the fight went over to Beth-aven.
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So Hashem saved Yisroel that day; and the milchamah continued raging even unto Beit Aven.
24 And all the people were with Saul, about twenty thousand men, and the fight was general through all the hill-country of Ephraim; but Saul made a great error that day, by putting the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes food before evening comes and I have given punishment to those who are against me. So the people had not a taste of food.
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And the Ish Yisroel were distressed that day; for Sha’ul had bound under oath HaAm, saying, Arur (cursed) be the ish that eateth lechem before erev, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of HaAm tasted lechem.
25 And there was honey on the face of the field, and all the people came to the honey, the bees having gone from it;
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And all they of HaAretz came to the wood; and there was devash on the surface of the sadeh.
26 But not a man put his hand to his mouth for fear of the curse.
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And when HaAm were come into the wood, hinei, the devash was oozing; but no one put his yad to his mouth; for HaAm feared the shevuah (oath).
27 But Jonathan, having no knowledge of the oath his father had put on the people, stretching out the rod which was in his hand, put the end of it in the honey, and put it to his mouth; then his eyes were made bright.
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But Yonatan heard not when aviv bound HaAm with the oath; wherefore he put forth the end of the matteh (staff) that was in his yad, and dipped it in a honeycomb of the devash, and put his yad to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.
28 Then one of the people said to him, Your father put the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes any food this day. And the people were feeble, needing food.
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Then answered an ish from HaAm, and said, Avicha strictly bound HaAm with an oath, saying, Arur (cursed) be the ish that eateth lechem this day. And HaAm were faint with famished exhaustion.
29 Then Jonathan said, My father has made trouble come on the land: now see how bright my eyes have become because I have taken a little of this honey.
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Then said Yonatan, Avi hath troubled HaAretz; see, now, how mine eyes hath brightened, because I tasted a little of this devash.
30 How much more if the people had freely taken their food from the goods of those who were fighting against them! would there not have been much greater destruction among the Philistines?
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How much more, if only HaAm had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For would there not have been now a much greater makkah (slaughter) among the Pelishtim (Philistines)?
31 That day they overcame the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were feeble from need of food.
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And they drove back the Pelishtim that day from Michmash to Ayalon; and HaAm were very faint.
32 And rushing at the goods taken in the fight, the people took oxen and sheep and young oxen, and put them to death there on the earth, and had a meal, taking the flesh with the blood in it.
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And the people flew upon the plunder, and took tzon, and bakar, and calves and butchered them on the ground; and HaAm did eat them with the dahm.
33 Then it was said to Saul, See, the people are sinning against the Lord, taking the blood with the flesh. And he said to those who gave him the news, Now let a great stone be rolled to me here.
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Then they told Sha’ul, saying, Hinei, HaAm sin against Hashem, in that they eat with the dahm. And he said, Ye have dealt treacherously; today roll an even gedolah (large stone) over here to me.
34 And Saul said, Go about among the people and say to them, Let every man come here to me with his ox and his sheep, and put them to death here, and take his meal: do no sin against the Lord by taking the blood with the flesh. So all the people took their oxen with them that night and put them to death there.
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Then Sha’ul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me here every ish his shor (ox), and every ish his seh, and you make shochet slaughter of them here, and eat; and sin not against Hashem in eating with the dahm. And kol HaAm brought every ish his shor with him that lailah, and made shochet slaughter of them there.
35 And Saul put up an altar to the Lord: this was the first altar which he put up to the Lord.
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And Sha’ul built a Mizbe’ach unto Hashem; it was the first time that he built a Mizbe’ach unto Hashem.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, attacking them till the morning, till there is not a man of them living. And they said, Do whatever seems right to you. Then the priest said, Let us come near to God.
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And Sha’ul said, Let us go down after the Pelishtim by lailah, and plunder them until the ohr haboker, and let us not leave an ish of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth tov in thine eyes. Then said the kohen [Achiyah], Let us draw near here unto HaElohim [to inquire of G-d].
37 And Saul, desiring directions from God, said, Am I to go down after the Philistines? will you give them up into the hands of Israel? But he gave him no answer that day.
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And Sha’ul asked counsel of Elohim, Shall I go down after the Pelishtim? Wilt Thou deliver them into the yad Yisroel? But He did not answer him on that day.
38 And Saul said, Come near, all you chiefs of the people, and let us get word from God and see in whom is this sin today.
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And Sha’ul said, Draw ye near here, all the pinnot (corners, chiefs of] HaAm; and know and see wherein this chattat hath been this day.
39 For, by the living Lord, the saviour of Israel, even if the sinner is Jonathan, my son, death will certainly be his fate. But not a man among all the people gave him any answer.
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For, as Hashem the Moshia Yisroel liveth, though it be in Yonatan beni (my son), he shall surely die. But there was none among kol HaAm that answered him.
40 Then he said to all Israel, You be on one side, and I with Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do whatever seems good to you.
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Then said he unto kol Yisroel, Be ye on one side, and I and Yonatan beni will be on the other side. And HaAm said unto Sha’ul, Do what seemeth tov in thine eyes.
41 Then Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, Why have you not given me an answer today? If the sin is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord God of Israel, give Urim, and if it is in your people Israel, give Thummim. And by the decision of the Lord, Saul and Jonathan were marked out, and the people went free.
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Therefore Sha’ul said unto Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Give a tamim (perfect lot). And Sha’ul and Yonatan were taken by lot; but HaAm escaped [from being taken by lot].
42 And Saul said, Give your decision between my son Jonathan and me. And Jonathan was taken.
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And Sha’ul said, Cast lots between me and Yonatan beni (my son). And Yonatan was taken by lot.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Give me an account of what you have done. And Jonathan gave him the story and said, Certainly I took a little honey on the end of my rod; and now death is to be my fate.
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Then Sha’ul said to Yonatan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Yonatan told him, and said, I did but taste a little devash with the end of the matteh that was in mine yad, and, hineni, I must die.
44 And Saul said, May God's punishment be on me if death is not your fate, Jonathan.
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And Sha’ul answered, Elohim do so and more also if thou shalt not surely die, Yonatan.
45 And the people said to Saul, Is death to come to Jonathan, the worker of this great salvation for Israel? Let it not be so: by the living Lord, not one hair of his head is to be touched, for he has been working with God today. So the people kept Jonathan from death.
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And HaAm said unto Sha’ul, Shall Yonatan die, who hath wrought this Yeshuah HaGedolah (Great Salvation, Deliverance, Rescue) in Yisroel? Chalilah (far be it!); as Hashem liveth, there shall not one hair of his rosh fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with Elohim this day. So HaAm rescued Yonatan, that he died not.
46 Then Saul, turning back, went after the Philistines no longer: and the Philistines went back to their place.
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Then Sha’ul stopped following the Pelishtim; and the Pelishtim withdrew to their own makom.
47 Now when Saul had taken his place as ruler of Israel, he made war on those who were against him on every side, Moab and the Ammonites and Edom and the kings of Zobah and the Philistines: and whichever way he went, he overcame them.
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So Sha’ul took the melachah (kingdom, establishment of sovereignty) over Yisroel, and fought against all his oyevim on every side, against Moav, and against the Bnei Ammon, and against Edom, and against the melachim of Tzovah, and against the Pelishtim; and everywhere he turned himself, he terrorized them.
48 And he did great things, and overcame the Amalekites, and made Israel safe from the hands of their attackers.
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And he gathered an army, and struck Amalek, and delivered Yisroel out of the hands of them that plundered them.
49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and these are the names of his daughters: the older was named Merab and the younger Michal;
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Now the Bnei Sha’ul were Yonatan, and Yishvi, and Malki-Shu’a; and the shmot of his two banot were these; the shem of the bechirah (first born [daughter]), Merav, and the shem of the younger Michal;
50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, brother of Saul's father.
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And the shem of eshet Sha’ul was Achino’am Bat Achima’atz; and the shem of the Sar of his Tzeva was Avner Ben Ner and Ner was dod Sha’ul (uncle of Sha’ul).
51 Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were sons of Abiel.
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And Kish was Avi Sha’ul; Ner Avi Avner was ben Aviel.
52 All through the life of Saul there was bitter war against the Philistines; and whenever Saul saw any strong man or any good fighting man, he kept him near himself.
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And there was milchamah chazakah against the Pelishtim all the days of Sha’ul; and when Sha’ul saw any ish gibbor, or any valiant man, he recruited him.
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The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.