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1. One day Jonathan, Saul's son, said to the officer who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine camp on the other side." But Jonathan did not tell his father.
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1. Now it came to pass H1961 upon a day H3117 , that Jonathan H3083 the son H1121 of Saul H7586 said H559 unto H413 the young man H5288 that bore H5375 his armor H3627 , Come H1980 , and let us go over H5674 to H413 the Philistines H6430 ' garrison H4673 , that H834 is on the other side H4480 H5676 H1975 . But he told H5046 not H3808 his father H1 .
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2. Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree at the threshing floor near Gibeah. He had about six hundred men with him.
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2. And Saul H7586 tarried H3427 in the uttermost part H7097 of Gibeah H1390 under H8478 a pomegranate tree H7416 which H834 is in Migron H4051 : and the people H5971 that H834 were with H5973 him were about six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 ;
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3. One man was Ahijah who was wearing the holy vest. (Ahijah was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub. Ichabod was the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh.) No one knew Jonathan had left.
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3. And Ahiah H281 , the son H1121 of Ahitub H285 , Ichabod H350 's brother H251 , the son H1121 of Phinehas H6372 , the son H1121 of Eli H5941 , the LORD H3068 's priest H3548 in Shiloh H7887 , wearing H5375 an ephod H646 . And the people H5971 knew H3045 not H3808 that H3588 Jonathan H3083 was gone H1980 .
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4. There was a steep slope on each side of the pass that Jonathan planned to go through to reach the Philistine camp. The cliff on one side was named Bozez, and the cliff on the other side was named Seneh.
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4. And between H996 the passages H4569 , by which H834 Jonathan H3083 sought H1245 to go over H5674 unto H5921 the Philistines H6430 ' garrison H4673 , there was a sharp H8127 rock H5553 on the one H4480 H2088 side H4480 H5676 , and a sharp H8127 rock H5553 on the other H4480 H2088 side H4480 H5676 : and the name H8034 of the one H259 was Bozez H949 , and the name H8034 of the other H259 Seneh H5573 .
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5. One cliff faced north toward Micmash. The other faced south toward Geba.
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5. The forefront H8127 of the one H259 was situated H4690 northward H4480 H6828 over against H4136 Michmash H4363 , and the other H259 southward H4480 H5045 over against H4136 Gibeah H1387 .
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6. Jonathan said to his officer who carried his armor, "Come. Let's go to the camp of those men who are not circumcised. Maybe the Lord will help us. The Lord can give us victory if we have many people, or just a few."
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6. And Jonathan H3083 said H559 to H413 the young man H5288 that bore H5375 his armor H3627 , Come H1980 , and let us go over H5674 unto H413 the garrison H4673 of these H428 uncircumcised H6189 : it may be that H194 the LORD H3068 will work H6213 for us: for H3588 there is no H369 restraint H4622 to the LORD H3068 to save H3467 by many H7227 or H176 by few H4592 .
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7. The officer who carried Jonathan's armor said to him, "Do whatever you think is best. Go ahead. I'm with you."
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7. And his armorbearer H3627 H5375 said H559 unto him, Do H6213 all H3605 that H834 is in thine heart H3824 : turn H5186 thee; behold H2009 , I am with H5973 thee according to thy heart H3824 .
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8. Jonathan said, "Then come. We will cross over to the Philistines and let them see us.
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8. Then said H559 Jonathan H3083 , Behold H2009 , we H587 will pass over H5674 unto H413 these men H376 , and we will discover ourselves H1540 unto H413 them.
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9. If they say to us, 'Stay there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are. We won't go up to them.
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9. If H518 they say H559 thus H3541 unto H413 us, Tarry H1826 until H5704 we come H5060 to H413 you ; then we will stand still H5975 in our place H8478 , and will not H3808 go up H5927 unto H413 them.
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10. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, and the Lord will let us defeat them. This will be the sign for us."
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10. But if H518 they say H559 thus H3541 , Come up H5927 unto H5921 us ; then we will go up H5927 : for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into our hand H3027 : and this H2088 shall be a sign H226 unto us.
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11. When both Jonathan and his officer let the Philistines see them, the Philistines said, "Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in!"
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11. And both H8147 of them discovered themselves H1540 unto H413 the garrison H4673 of the Philistines H6430 : and the Philistines H6430 said H559 , Behold H2009 , the Hebrews H5680 come forth H3318 out of H4480 the holes H2356 where H834 H8033 they had hid themselves H2244 .
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12. The Philistines in the camp shouted to Jonathan and his officer, "Come up to us. We'll teach you a lesson!" Jonathan said to his officer, "Climb up behind me, because the Lord has given the Philistines to Israel!"
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12. And the men H376 of the garrison H4675 answered H6030 H853 Jonathan H3083 and his armorbearer H3627 H5375 , and said H559 , Come up H5927 to H413 us , and we will show H3045 you a thing H1697 . And Jonathan H3083 said H559 unto H413 his armorbearer H3627 H5375 , Come up H5927 after H310 me: for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel H3478 .
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13. So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, and his officer climbed just behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines as he went, and his officer killed them as he followed behind him.
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13. And Jonathan H3083 climbed up H5927 upon H5921 his hands H3027 and upon H5921 his feet H7272 , and his armorbearer H3627 H5375 after H310 him : and they fell H5307 before H6440 Jonathan H3083 ; and his armorbearer H3627 H5375 slew H4191 after H310 him.
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14. In that first fight Jonathan and his officer killed about twenty Philistines over a half acre of ground.
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14. And that first H7223 slaughter H4347 , which H834 Jonathan H3083 and his armorbearer H3627 H5375 made H5221 , was H1961 about twenty H6242 men H376 , within as it were a half H2677 acre H4618 of land H7704 , which a yoke H6776 of oxen might plow .
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15. All the Philistine soldiers panicked -- those in the camp and those in the raiding party. The ground itself shook! God had caused the panic.
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15. And there was H1961 trembling H2731 in the host H4264 , in the field H7704 , and among all H3605 the people H5971 : the garrison H4673 , and the spoilers H7843 , they H1992 also H1571 trembled H2729 , and the earth H776 quaked H7264 : so it was H1961 a very great H430 trembling H2731 .
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16. Saul's guards were at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin when they saw the Philistine soldiers running in every direction.
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16. And the watchmen H6822 of Saul H7586 in Gibeah H1390 of Benjamin H1144 looked H7200 ; and, behold H2009 , the multitude H1995 melted away H4127 , and they went H1980 on beating down H1986 one another .
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17. Saul said to his army, "Check to see who has left our camp." When they checked, they learned that Jonathan and his officer were gone.
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17. Then said H559 Saul H7586 unto the people H5971 that H834 were with H854 him, Number H6485 now H4994 , and see H7200 who H4310 is gone H1980 from H4480 H5973 us . And when they had numbered H6485 , behold H2009 , Jonathan H3083 and his armorbearer H3627 H5375 were not H369 there .
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18. So Saul said to Ahijah the priest, "Bring the Ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.)
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18. And Saul H7586 said H559 unto Ahiah H281 , Bring hither H5066 the ark H727 of God H430 . For H3588 the ark H727 of God H430 was H1961 at that H1931 time H3117 with the children H1121 of Israel H3478 .
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19. While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp was growing. Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Put your hand down!"
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19. And it came to pass H1961 , while H5704 Saul H7586 talked H1696 unto H413 the priest H3548 , that the noise H1995 that H834 was in the host H4264 of the Philistines H6430 went on H1980 and increased H1980 H7227 : and Saul H7586 said H559 unto H413 the priest H3548 , Withdraw H622 thine hand H3027 .
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20. Then Saul gathered his army and entered the battle. They found the Philistines confused, striking each other with their swords!
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20. And Saul H7586 and all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 were with H854 him assembled themselves H2199 , and they came H935 to H5704 the battle H4421 : and, behold H2009 , every man H376 's sword H2719 was H1961 against his fellow H7453 , and there was a very H3966 great H1419 discomfiture H4103 .
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21. Earlier, there were Hebrews who had served the Philistines and had stayed in their camp, but now they joined the Israelites with Saul and Jonathan.
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21. Moreover the Hebrews H5680 that were H1961 with the Philistines H6430 before H865 that time H8032 , which H834 went up H5927 with H5973 them into the camp H4264 from the country round about H5439 , even they H1992 also H1571 turned to be H1961 with H5973 the Israelites H3478 that H834 were with H5973 Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3083 .
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22. When all the Israelites hidden in the mountains of Ephraim heard that the Philistine soldiers were running away, they also joined the battle and chased the Philistines.
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22. Likewise all H3605 the men H376 of Israel H3478 which had hid themselves H2244 in mount H2022 Ephraim H669 , when they heard H8085 that H3588 the Philistines H6430 fled H5127 , even they H1992 also H1571 followed hard H1692 after H310 them in the battle H4421 .
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23. So the Lord saved the Israelites that day, and the battle moved on past Beth Aven.
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23. So the LORD H3068 saved H3467 H853 Israel H3478 that H1931 day H3117 : and the battle H4421 passed over H5674 unto H853 Beth H1007 -aven.
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24. The men of Israel were miserable that day because Saul had made an oath for all of them. He had said, "No one should eat food before evening and before I finish defeating my enemies. If he does, he will be cursed!" So no Israelite soldier ate food.
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24. And the men H376 of Israel H3478 were distressed H5065 that H1931 day H3117 : for Saul H7586 had adjured H422 H853 the people H5971 , saying H559 , Cursed H779 be the man H376 that H834 eateth H398 any food H3899 until H5704 evening H6153 , that I may be avenged H5358 on mine enemies H4480 H341 . So none H3808 H3605 of the people H5971 tasted H2938 any food H3899 .
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25. Now the army went into the woods, where there was some honey on the ground.
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25. And all H3605 they of the land H776 came H935 to a wood H3293 ; and there was H1961 honey H1706 upon H5921 H6440 the ground H7704 .
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26. They came upon some honey, but no one took any because they were afraid of the oath.
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26. And when the people H5971 were come H935 into H413 the wood H3293 , behold H2009 , the honey H1706 dropped H1982 ; but no H369 man put H5381 his hand H3027 to H413 his mouth H6310 : for H3588 the people H5971 feared H3372 H853 the oath H7621 .
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27. Jonathan had not heard the oath Saul had put on the army, so he dipped the end of his stick into the honey and lifted some out and ate it. Then he felt better.
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27. But Jonathan H3083 heard H8085 not H3808 when his father H1 charged the people with the oath H7650 H853 H5971 : wherefore he put forth H7971 H853 the end H7097 of the rod H4294 that H834 was in his hand H3027 , and dipped H2881 it H853 in a honeycomb H3295 H1706 , and put H7725 his hand H3027 to H413 his mouth H6310 ; and his eyes H5869 were enlightened H215 .
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28. Then one of the soldiers told Jonathan, "Your father made an oath for all the soldiers. He said any man who eats today will be cursed! That's why they are so weak."
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28. Then answered H6030 one H376 of the people H4480 H5971 , and said H559 , Thy father H1 straitly charged the people with an oath H7650 H7650 H853 H5971 , saying H559 , Cursed H779 be the man H376 that H834 eateth H398 any food H3899 this day H3117 . And the people H5971 were faint H5888 .
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29. Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the land! See how much better I feel after just tasting a little of this honey!
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29. Then said H559 Jonathan H3083 , My father H1 hath troubled H5916 H853 the land H776 : see H7200 , I pray you H4994 , how H3588 mine eyes H5869 have been enlightened H215 , because H3588 I tasted H2938 a little H4592 of this H2088 honey H1706 .
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30. It would have been much better for the men to eat the food they took from their enemies today. We could have killed many more Philistines!"
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30. How much more H637 H3588 , if haply H3588 H3863 the people H5971 had eaten freely H398 H398 today H3117 of the spoil H4480 H7998 of their enemies H341 which H834 they found H4672 ? for H3588 had there not H3808 been now H6258 a much greater H7235 slaughter H4347 among the Philistines H6430 ?
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31. That day the Israelites defeated the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon. After that, they were very tired.
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31. And they smote H5221 the Philistines H6430 that H1931 day H3117 from Michmash H4480 H4363 to Aijalon H357 : and the people H5971 were very H3966 faint H5888 .
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32. They had taken sheep, cattle, and calves from the Philistines. Now they were so hungry they killed the animals on the ground and ate them, without draining the blood from them!
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32. And the people H5971 flew H6213 upon H413 the spoil H7998 , and took H3947 sheep H6629 , and oxen H1241 , and calves H1121 H1241 , and slew H7819 them on the ground H776 : and the people H5971 did eat H398 them with H5921 the blood H1818 .
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33. Someone said to Saul, "Look! The men are sinning against the Lord. They're eating meat without draining the blood from it!" Saul said, "You have sinned! Roll a large stone over here now!"
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33. Then they told H5046 Saul H7586 , saying H559 , Behold H2009 , the people H5971 sin H2398 against the LORD H3068 , in that they eat H398 with H5921 the blood H1818 . And he said H559 , Ye have transgressed H898 : roll H1556 a great H1419 stone H68 unto H413 me this day H3117 .
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34. Then he said, "Go to the men and tell them that each person must bring his ox and sheep to me and kill it here and eat it. Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat without draining the blood from it." That night everyone brought his animals and killed them there.
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34. And Saul H7586 said H559 , Disperse yourselves H6327 among the people H5971 , and say H559 unto them , Bring me hither H5066 H413 every man H376 his ox H7794 , and every man H376 his sheep H7716 , and slay H7819 them here H2088 , and eat H398 ; and sin H2398 not H3808 against the LORD H3068 in eating H398 with H413 the blood H1818 . And all H3605 the people H5971 brought H5066 every man H376 his ox H7794 with H3027 him that night H3915 , and slew H7819 them there H8033 .
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35. Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. It was the first altar he had built to the Lord.
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35. And Saul H7586 built H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD H3068 : the same was the first H2490 altar H4196 that he built H1129 unto the LORD H3068 .
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36. Saul said, "Let's go after the Philistines tonight and rob them. We won't let any of them live!" The men answered, "Do whatever you think is best." But the priest said, "Let's ask God."
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36. And Saul H7586 said H559 , Let us go down H3381 after H310 the Philistines H6430 by night H3915 , and spoil H962 them until H5704 the morning H1242 light H216 , and let us not H3808 leave H7604 a man H376 of them . And they said H559 , Do H6213 whatsoever H3605 seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee . Then said H559 the priest H3548 , Let us draw near H7126 hither H1988 unto H413 God H430 .
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37. So Saul asked God, "Should I chase the Philistines? Will you let us defeat them?" But God did not answer Saul at that time.
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37. And Saul H7586 asked counsel H7592 of God H430 , Shall I go down H3381 after H310 the Philistines H6430 ? wilt thou deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel H3478 ? But he answered H6030 him not H3808 that H1931 day H3117 .
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38. Then Saul said to all the leaders of his army, "Come here. Let's find out what sin has been done today.
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38. And Saul H7586 said H559 , Draw ye near H5066 hither H1988 , all H3605 the chief H6438 of the people H5971 : and know H3045 and see H7200 wherein H4100 this sin H2403 hath been H1961 this H2063 day H3117 .
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39. As surely as the Lord lives who has saved Israel, even if my son Jonathan did the sin, he must die." But no one in the army spoke.
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39. For H3588 , as the LORD H3068 liveth H2416 , which saveth H3467 H853 Israel H3478 , though H3588 H518 it be H3426 in Jonathan H3083 my son H1121 , he shall surely die H4191 H4191 . But there was not a man H369 among all H4480 H3605 the people H5971 that answered H6030 him.
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40. Then Saul said to all the Israelites, "You stand on this side. I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side." The men answered, "Do whatever you think is best."
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40. Then said H559 he unto H413 all H3605 Israel H3478 , Be H1961 ye H859 on one H259 side H5676 , and I H589 and Jonathan H3083 my son H1121 will be H1961 on the other H259 side H5676 . And the people H5971 said H559 unto H413 Saul H7586 , Do H6213 what seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee.
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41. Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, "Give me the right answer." And Saul and Jonathan were picked; the other men went free.
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41. Therefore Saul H7586 said H559 unto H413 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 , Give H3051 a perfect H8549 lot . And Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3083 were taken H3920 : but the people H5971 escaped H3318 .
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42. Saul said, "Now let us discover if it is I or Jonathan my son who is guilty." And Jonathan was picked.
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42. And Saul H7586 said H559 , Cast H5307 lots between H996 me and Jonathan H3083 my son H1121 . And Jonathan H3083 was taken H3920 .
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43. Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told Saul, "I only tasted a little honey from the end of my stick. And must I die now?"
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43. Then Saul H7586 said H559 to H413 Jonathan H3083 , Tell H5046 me what H4100 thou hast done H6213 . And Jonathan H3083 told H5046 him , and said H559 , I did but taste H2938 H2938 a little H4592 honey H1706 with the end H7097 of the rod H4294 that H834 was in mine hand H3027 , and , lo H2009 , I must die H4191 .
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44. Saul said, "Jonathan, if you don't die, may God punish me terribly."
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44. And Saul H7586 answered H559 , God H430 do H6213 so H3541 and more H3254 also H3541 : for H3588 thou shalt surely die H4191 H4191 , Jonathan H3083 .
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45. But the soldiers said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die? Never! He is responsible for saving Israel today! As surely as the Lord lives, not even a hair of his head will fall to the ground! Today Jonathan fought against the Philistines with God's help!" So the army saved Jonathan, and he did not die.
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45. And the people H5971 said H559 unto H413 Saul H7586 , Shall Jonathan H3083 die H4191 , who H834 hath wrought H6213 this H2063 great H1419 salvation H3444 in Israel H3478 ? God forbid H2486 : as the LORD H3068 liveth H2416 , there shall not H518 one hair H4480 H8185 of his head H7218 fall H5307 to the ground H776 ; for H3588 he hath wrought H6213 with H5973 God H430 this H2088 day H3117 . So the people H5971 rescued H6299 H853 Jonathan H3083 , that he died H4191 not H3808 .
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46. Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and they went back to their own land.
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46. Then Saul H7586 went up H5927 from following H4480 H310 the Philistines H6430 : and the Philistines H6430 went H1980 to their own place H4725 .
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47. When Saul became king over Israel, he fought against Israel's enemies all around. He fought Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the king of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere Saul went he defeated Israel's enemies.
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47. So Saul H7586 took H3920 the kingdom H4410 over H5921 Israel H3478 , and fought H3898 against all H3605 his enemies H341 on every side H5439 , against Moab H4124 , and against the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 , and against Edom H123 , and against the kings H4428 of Zobah H6678 , and against the Philistines H6430 : and whithersoever H3605 H834 he turned H6437 himself , he vexed H7561 them .
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48. He fought bravely and defeated the Amalekites. He saved the Israelites from their enemies who had robbed them.
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48. And he gathered H6213 a host H2428 , and smote H5221 H853 the Amalekites H6002 , and delivered H5337 H853 Israel H3478 out of the hands H4480 H3027 of them that spoiled H8154 them.
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49. Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. His older daughter was named Merab, and his younger daughter was named Michal.
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49. Now the sons H1121 of Saul H7586 were H1961 Jonathan H3083 , and Ishui H3440 , and Melchi H4444 -shua : and the names H8034 of his two H8147 daughters H1323 were these ; the name H8034 of the firstborn H1067 Merab H4764 , and the name H8034 of the younger H6996 Michal H4324 :
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50. Saul's wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
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50. And the name H8034 of Saul H7586 's wife H802 was Ahinoam H293 , the daughter H1323 of Ahimaaz H290 : and the name H8034 of the captain H8269 of his host H6635 was Abner H74 , the son H1121 of Ner H5369 , Saul H7586 's uncle H1730 .
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51. Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
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51. And Kish H7027 was the father H1 of Saul H7586 ; and Ner H5369 the father H1 of Abner H74 was the son H1121 of Abiel H22 .
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52. All Saul's life he fought hard against the Philistines. When he saw strong or brave men, he took them into his army.
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52. And there was H1961 sore H2389 war H4421 against H5921 the Philistines H6430 all H3605 the days H3117 of Saul H7586 : and when Saul H7586 saw H7200 any H3605 strong H1368 man H376 , or any H3605 valiant H2428 man H1121 , he took H622 him unto H413 him.
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