1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. 2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4 ¶ And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 9 If 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. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. 11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow . 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another . 17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there . 18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
19 ¶ And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 21 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.
24 ¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. 26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. 29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? 31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. 32 And 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.
33 ¶ Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. 34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
36 ¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. 41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot . And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and , lo, I must die. 44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 ¶ So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them . 48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
Jonatani unonginilila Bafilisitiya
1 Kwakati limwe zhuba Jonatani nkololo wa Saulo kadwa nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kati, “Ngatiyende, ku ikwata tje babhayani be Bafilisitiya tjandiyeno.” Koga wakabe asabudza tate babe. 2 Saulo wakabe egala ku ndzibo we Gibiya kusi kwe nti we pomegiranate mu Migironi, ana bathu bangabe mazana ali matathatu (600). 3 Mubali kwakabe kuna Ahija nkololo wa Ahitubu, batatenini babe ili Ikhabodi, Ahija iwoyu, batategulu babe bakabe bali Finihasi nkololo wa Eli mpirisiti wa Yahwe mu Shilo. Ahija wakabe e ambala khiba ye bupirisiti. Ipapo bathu bakabe basingazibe kuti Jonatani wayenda.
4 Mu nkoto we dombo wakabe Jonatani eshoko bhuda ndiwo, eyenda ku ikwata tje babhayani be Bafilisitiya, kwakabe kuna shongwe dzimile dzakashongoloka dzakabe dzinging'wa pakati kwadzo, zina le imwe shongwe lakabe liyi Bhozezi imwe iye Sene. 5 Imwe shongwe yakabe yakashongoloka ili ku bunandzwa kulingisana ne Mikimashi, imwe ilimile ku burwa kulingisana ne Gebha.
6 Jonatani wakadwa nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kati, “Ngatiyende ku ikwata tje babhayani ibabaje basakathumbigwa, pamwe Yahwe banowotibhatsha, akuna tjingama Yahwe mbeli kutitjidza nge bunji kene nge bushomanana.”
7 Nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kandwa kati, “Thamani tjimwe ne tjimwe tjamakakumbula, dwililani, ndowoma namwi mu tjimwe ne tjimwe.”
8 Jonatani kandwa kakale kati, “Kwakalulwama, towotjulukila ku bali, tikabazwilakidza. 9 Ha bangatidwa beti, ‘Imani ipapo kuswikilila tizha kumuli, towoma ipapo patinowobe tilipo, atitowotathila ku bali.’ 10 Koga ha bangatidwa beti, ‘Tathilani ngeno, towotathila ku bali, ngobe tjowobe tjili tjilakidzo mutili kuti Yahwe batipa kukunda.’ ”
11 Ndizo bose bakazwilakidza ku babhayani be Bafilisitiya. Bafilisitiya bakati bebabona bakati, “Bonani! Bahebheru banobhuda mu mimwina yabakabe bakabgwata muili.” 12 Balume be babhayani bakamimilila Jonatani ne nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe beti, “Izhani ngeno, towomulakidza tjamunoshaka!”
Ndizo Jonatani kadwa nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kati, “Undisale shule, ngobe Yahwe bapa Iziraela kukunda.” 13 Jonatani wakatathila pezhugwi nge maboko ne makumbo awe, nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe akantobela. Jonatani kanginilila Bafilisitiya kabatema kabaligila pasi, ngono nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe, kazha shule kukwe, kabakowobedza. 14 Mu kuthasela kwabo kwe kutanga Jonatani ne nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe bakabulaya balume bangaswika makumi mabili mu pathu pakaashama kungabe gwamu le ndima ye ng'ombe. 15 Kukabe ne kupaluka moyo kukulu mu ikwata tje babhayani bose be Bafilisitiya bakabe bali mu mishasha ne bakabe bali ku magwilo ne bakabe bali batoleli, shango ikatengenyeka, bose bakabe ne kutja. Kutja ikoku kwakabe kudwa ku Ndzimu.
Bafilisitiya banokundiwa
16 Balindi ba Saulo mu Gibiya mu ntuthu we Bhenjamini bakalinga, ngono bakabona mbunga we bathu uwundumuka utizhila yeno na yeno. 17 Ndizo Saulo kadwa babhayani baakabe anabo kati, “Danani mazina mubone kuti ndiboani bangabe basipo mutili.” Kwakati basinobe badana mazina, ngono bakawana Jonatani ne nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe basipo.
18 Saulo kadwa Ahija kati, “Zhisa ngeno Bhokisi le Tjidumano tje Ndzimu.” Ngobe mu tjibaka itjetjo Bhokisi le Tjidumano tje Ndzimu lakabe liyenda ne Baiziraela. 19 Kwakati Saulo atjalebeleka ne mpirisiti, zhoba imu mishasha ye Bafilisitiya ikakulila mbeli. Saulo kadwa mpirisiti kati, “Letjedza.” 20 Ipapo Saulo ne bathu bose bakabe banaye bakakubungana bakayenda ku ngwa, bakawana Bafilisitiya bebulayana ne makanu abo, ndizo kukabe ne kudziyana kukulu kwazo. 21 Bahebheru bakabe bagala bana Bafilisitiya, bakayenda nabo ku ngwa, bakabashandukila, ngono bakabgwilila ku Baiziraela bakabe bana Saulo na Jonatani. 22 Kwakati Baiziraela bose bakabe babgwata mu shango ye matuthu ye Ifureimi, behwa kuti Bafilisitiya banotizha, na ibo bakatatana nabo mu ngwa. 23 Mu zhuba ilelo Yahwe bakagwila Baiziraela, ngono ngwa ikanopinda Bhetiaveni.
Zwiyitikalo shule kwe ngwa
24 Mu zhuba ilelo bathu be Iziraela bakadziyidzika kwazo, ngobe Saulo wakatunisa bathu kati, “Kube ne bhiso munli nthu unowoja zojiwa kutangila zhuba lingina, ndisathu azwibgwilizila mu zwita zwangu.” Ndizo akuna nlume wakalabila zojiwa. 25 Bathu ibaba bose bakangina mu ishaka, bawana butji gwe nyutji pasi. 26 Kwakati babhayani beswika mu ishaka, butji gwe nyutji gudotha, ngono akuna ne wakatola kayisa ku nlomo, ngobe bakatja tjisungo. 27 Koga Jonatani wakabe asahwa kuti tate babe batunisa bathu, ndizo katola lukombo gwaakabe akabhata kabhayila theswi yago mu mape e nyutji, kayisa luboko ku nlomo uwe, mesho awe kabe epenya. 28 Ngono mmwe we babhayani kandwa kati, “Tate babo bakatunisa bathu beti, ‘Una bhiso iye unowoja zojiwa mu zhuba la nasi. Ndizo bathu bakafa nge zhala.’ ”
29 Jonatani kabe eti, “Tate badziyidza shango, bona sekwa mesho angu wopenya ndiko, ngobe ndalabila butji gushomanana. 30 Apa kobe kusayita, ha babhayani babe baja zwabo bakasungunuka zojiwa zwabatapa nasi mu zwita zwabo, ngwenu kobe kusabulawa Bafilisitiya nge bunji kene?”
31 Mu zhuba ilelo, Baiziraela basinobulaya Bafilisitiya kudwa mu Mikimashi kunoti ku Aijaloni, bakabe batjinengetela nge zhala. 32 Ndizo bakawila zojiwa zwabatapa pezhugwi, bakatola pkhwizi ne ng'ombe ne phulu, bakazwibhayila pasi koga, bakaja nyama ibhizha malopa. 33 Ndizo mmwe kanobikila Saulo eti, “Lingani, bathu banothamila Yahwe tjibi ngoja nyama ibhizha malopa.” Saulo kashandula eti, “Mathama nlandu, kunguludzilani bgwe gulu kundili.” 34 Saulo kabadwa kati, “Yendani ku bathu, ngono mubadwe muti, ‘Mmwe ne mmwe azhise ng'ombe kene pkhwizi, bazhe bazwibhayile ipapa, bazwije, basithamile Yahwe tjibi ngoja nyama ibhizha malopa.’ ” Ndizo mmwe ne mmwe kazhisa ng'ombe iye busiku igogu kaibhayila ipapo. 35 Saulo kabakila Yahwe Tjibeso tje zwibhayilo, tjakabe tjili tje kutanga etjibaka.
36 Saulo kabe eti, “Atitobeleni Bafilisitiya busiku, tibakikithidze kuswikila mangwanana kuyedza, kushete ne ng'ompela wabo watinowosiya etjila.”
Babhayani bakashandula beti, “Thama tjaunobona tjakakululwamila tokubhatsha.”
Ngono mpirisiti kabe eti, “Ngatizwisedzedzeni ku Ndzimu ipapa.”
37 Ndizo Saulo kabhuzwa Ndzimu eti, “Apa nditobele Bafilisitiya, mothama kuti bakundiwe nge Baiziraela kene?” Koga Ndzimu ukasin'dabile Zhuba ilelo. 38 Saulo kabe eti, “Izhani ngeno mose imwi batungamili be ikwata tje babhayani, ngatishakeni kuti kwathamwa tjibi tjipi nasi. 39 Ndolebesa ndotuna na Yahwe banotjila ibo bakagwila Iziraela, ha kuli kuti kumu nkololo wangu Jonatani, ndolebesa unowofa!” Koga mu bathu bose ibabo ukuna wakanshandula. 40 Saulo kadwa Baiziraela bose kati, “Imwi mume ikoko, imi ne nkololo wangu Jonatani towoma ndingeno.” Ngono bathu bakadabila beti, “Thama tjaunobona tjakakululwamila naswi tiyapobo.”
41 Ndizo Saulo katembezela Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela kati, “Imwi Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela, ini musadabila nlanda wenyu nasi kene? Koga ha nlandu uwoyu uli mundili kene mu nkololo wangu Jonatani, imwi Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela mupe Urimu, koga ha nlandu uli mu bathu benyu Baiziraela mupe Thumimu.” Kukakandigwa kukabhakhwa Jonatani na Saulo, bathu bakasungunuka. 42 Ndizo Saulo kabe eti, “Kandilani pakati kwangu ne nkololo wangu Jonatani.” Ngono kukabhakhwa Jonatani.
43 Saulo kadwa Jonatani kati, “Undibudze, wathamani kene?”
Jonatani kambudza kati, “Ndakalabila butji gwe nyutji bushomanana nge theswi ye lukombo gwandakabe ndakabhata, yezo ndipano, ndingafa?”
44 Saulo kati, “Ndzimu undilobe upaphulula, ha usingake ukafa, Jonatani.”
45 Bathu bakabhuzwa Saulo bakati, “Apa Jonatani unofa kene? Iye wakathama kukunda kukulu zwingapa mu Iziraela! Ndodwa! Totuna na Yahwe banotjila tjoselele, akuna vudzi mu nsholo uwe linowowila pasi, ngobe wathama ikoku nasi nge bhatsho ye Ndzimu.” Ndizo bathu bakasunungula Jonatani, ngono akasife. 46 Ndizo Saulo kaletjedza kutatana ne Bafilisitiya, ngono Bafilisitiya bakayenda kanyi kwabo. 47 Kwakati Saulo asinotola bushe gwe Iziraela, kabhayana ne zwita zwizwe zose pamwe ne pamwe, Moabu ne Baamoni ne Edomu na bomambo be Zobha, nenge Bafilisitiya, kumwe ne kumwe kwaakabe elingako wakabe ekunda. 48 Wakagwa akasima tjilopa, kakunda Baamaleki, kasunungula Baiziraela mu maboko e bakabe bakabatapa.
49 Ipapo bakololo ba Saulo bakabe ili Jonatani na Ishivi na Malikishuwa. Zina le nkololokadzi uwe hwola lakabe liyi Merabhu ntjetjana kuyi Mikhali. 50 Zina le nkadzi wa Saulo lakabe liyi Ahinoami nkololokadzi wa Ahimaazi. Zina le ntungamili we babhayani babe lakabe liyi Abineri nkololo wa Neri batatenini ba Saulo. 51 Kishi wakabe ali tate ba Saulo, ngono Neri ali tate ba Abineri, bakabe bali bakololo ba Abiele.
52 Kwakabe kuli ngwa yakasima ne Bafilisitiya mu misi yose ya Saulo, kwakabe kuti Saulo ebona nlume wakasima kene ali ngwi wakasima tjilopa kazwitolegwa iye kunshingisa.