إنتصارات يوناثان المفاجئة
1 وفي أحدِ الأيّامِ قالَ يوناثانُ بنُ شاوُلَ لِحامِلِ سِلاحِهِ: «تَعالَ نعبُرُ إلى مَخفَرِ الفلِسطِيِّينَ في الجانِبِ الآخَرِ» وهذا دونَ أنْ يُخبِرَ أباهُ. 2 وكانَ شاوُلُ في طَرَفِ جَبعَةَ تَحتَ شجرَةِ رُمَّانٍ في مِغرونَ، ومعَهُ نحوَ سِتُّ مئةِ رَجُلٍ. 3 وكانَ أخِيَّا بنُ أخيطوبَ، أخي إيخابودَ بنِ فِنحاسَ بنِ عالي، كاهنِ الرّبِّ في شيلوهَ لابِسا أفودا. ولم يكُنِ العَسكَرُ على عِلْمٍ بِذَهابِ يوناثانَ. 4 وكانَ بَينَ المَعابِرِ الّتي أرادَ يوناثانُ أنْ يَعبُرَها إلى مَخفَرِ الفلِسطيِّينَ صَخرَةٌ ثابِتَةٌ مِنْ هذِهِ الجِهةِ وصَخرَةٌ ثابِتَةٌ مِنْ تِلكَ الجِهةِ، اسمُ الواحدةِ بُوصيصُ والأخرى سَنَةُ. 5 وبُوصيصُ قائِمَةٌ مِنْ جِهةِ الشَّمالِ مُقابِلَ مِخماسَ، وسَنَةُ مِنَ الجَنوبِ مُقابِلَ جَبعَ.
6 فقالَ يوناثانُ لِحامِلِ سِلاحِهِ: «تَعالَ نَعبُرُ إلى مَخفَرِ أُولئِكَ الفلِسطيِّينَ لعلَّ الرّبَّ يُوَفِّقُنا. فلا شيءَ يَمنَعُ الرّبَّ مِنْ أنْ يَنصُرَنا علَيهِم، سَواءَ كانَ عدَدُنا كثيرا أم قليلا». 7 فقالَ لَه حامِلُ سِلاحِهِ: «إفعَلْ ما تريدُ. تَقدَّمْ، فأنا معَكَ». 8 فقالَ يوناثانُ: «نَعبُرُ إليهِم ونُظهِرُ لهُم أنفُسَنا، 9 فإنْ قالوا: قِفا حتّى نَصِلَ إليكُما، نَقِفُ ولا نَصعَدُ إليهِم. 10 وإنْ قالوا لنا: إصعَدا إلينا، نَصعَدُ، لأنَّ قولَهُم هذا علامةٌ على أنَّ الرّبَّ إلهَنا سَلَّمَهُم إلى أيدينا». 11 فأظهَرا أنفُسَهُما لِلفلِسطيِّينَ، فقالَ الفلِسطيُّونَ: «هَا العِبرانِـيُّونَ خارِجونَ مِنَ الكُهوفِ الّتي اختَبأوا فيها». 12 وقالوا لِـيوناثانَ وحامِلِ سِلاحِهِ: «إصعَدا إلينا لِنُخبِركُما شيئا». فقالَ يوناثانُ لِحامِلِ سِلاحِهِ: «إصعَدْ ورائي لأنَّ الرّبَّ سَلَّمَهُم إلى يَدِ بني إِسرائيلَ». 13 وصَعِدَ يوناثانُ على يَديهِ ورِجلَيهِ، وحامِلُ سِلاحِهِ وراءَهُ، فسَقَطَ الفلِسطيُّونَ أمامَ يوناثانَ وكانَ حامِلُ سِلاحِهِ يُجهِزُ علَيهِم وراءَهُ. 14 فقَتَلوا في تِلكَ الضَّربةِ الأولى نحوَ عِشرينَ رجلا في أرضٍ مِساحَتُها سِتُّون ذِراعا. 15 فحلَّ الرُّعبُ في المُعسكَرِ وفي البرِّيَّةِ حَولَهُ وفي أفرادِ المَخفَرِ، وارتَعَدَ المُهاجِمونَ أيضا، واهتزَّتِ الأرضُ كما لو وقَعَ رُعبٌ مِنَ اللهِ.
هزيمة الفلسطيِّين
16 ورأى رِجالُ شاولَ الّذينَ يُراقِبونَ في جَبعةَ بأرضِ بنيامينَ جُموعَ الفلِسطيِّينَ يَفرُّونَ هارِبـينَ في كُلِّ جِهةٍ. 17 فقالَ شاوُلُ لِلَّذينَ معَهُ: «تَفقَّدوا الجُنودَ واعرِفوا مَنْ غابَ مِنْ عِندِنا». فتَفقَّدوهُم، فإذا يوناثانُ وحامِلُ سِلاحِهِ غائِبانِ. 18 فقالَ شاوُلُ لأخيَّا الكاهِنِ «جِئني بالأفودِ». وكانَ أخيَّا هوَ الّذي يَحمِلُ الأفودَ أمامَ بَني إِسرائيلَ في ذلِكَ اليومِ. 19 فما كادَ يَفرَغُ شاوُلُ مِنْ كلامِهِ معَ الكاهنِ أخيَّا، حتّى تَزايَدَ الضَّجيجُ في مُعَسكَرِ الفلِسطيِّينَ وتكاثَرَ، فقالَ شاوُلُ لِلكاهنِ: «لا تَقِفْ». 20 وصاحَ شاوُلُ وجميعُ الّذينَ معَهُ ونَزَلوا إلى المعرَكَةِ، حيثُ كانَ الفلِسطيُّونَ يَضرِبونَ بَعضُهُم بَعضا بِالسُّيوفِ، وهُم في فوضى عظيمةٍ. 21 وانضَمَّ أيضا إلى الّذينَ كانوا معَ شاوُلَ ويوناثانَ مِنْ بَني إِسرائيلَ جماعةٌ مِنَ العِبرانيِّينَ انحازوا إلى جانِبِ الفلِسطيِّينَ مِنْ قَبلُ، وصَعِدوا معَهُم إلى المُعسكَرِ. 22 وسَمِـعَ جميعُ رِجالِ إِسرائيلَ الّذينَ اختَبأوا في جبَلِ أفرايمَ بِهَزيمةِ الفلِسطيِّينَ، فانضَمُّوا إليهِم هُم أيضا وحارَبوا. 23 وخلَّصَ الرّبُّ بَني إِسرائيلَ في ذلِكَ اليومِ، وانتَقَلتِ الحربُ إلى بَيتِ آوِنَ.
أحداث ما بعد الحرب
24 في ذلِكَ اليومِ فرَضَ شاوُلُ على رِجالِهِ صَوما كبـيرا، حلَّفَهُم وقالَ: «مَلعونٌ كُلُّ مَنْ يَذوقُ طَعاما إلى المساءِ حتّى أنتَقِمَ مِنْ أعدائي». فلم يَذُقْ أحدٌ مِنهُم طَعاما. 25 وجاؤوا كُلُّهُم إلى الغابِ، وكانَ عسَلٌ على الأرضِ. 26 ودخَلوا الغابَ، فإذا العسَلُ يَسيلُ، فلم يَمُدَّ أحدٌ يَدَهُ إلى فَمِهِ خوفا مِنَ اليمينِ الّتي حَلَفَها. 27 ولكنَّ يوناثانَ ما سَمِـعَ أباهُ يُحَلِّفُهُم، فمَدَّ طَرَفَ العَصَا الّتي بِيَدهِ، وغمَسَها في شَهدِ العسَلِ، ورَدَّها إلى فَمِهِ وذاقَهُ فانتعَشَتْ نفْسُهُ. 28 فقالَ لَه أحدُهُم: «أبوكَ حَلَّفَ الرِّجالَ وقالَ: «مَلعونٌ كُلُّ مَنْ يَذوقُ اليومَ طَعاما». وإذ رأى يوناثانُ الجميعَ مُرهَقينَ، 29 أجابَ: «أبـي ضايَقَ الجميعَ. أُنظُروا كيفَ انتَعَشَتْ نفْسي لأنِّي ذُقتُ قليلا مِنْ هذا العسَلِ، 30 فكيفَ لو أكَلَ الرِّجالُ اليومَ مِنْ غنيمةِ أعدائِهِمِ الّتي غَنِموها؟ أفَما كانَت هَزيمةُ الفلِسطيِّينَ أعظَمَ؟»
31 وهزَمَ رِجالُ إِسرائيلَ الفلِسطيِّينَ في ذلِكَ اليومِ مِنْ مِخماسَ إلى أيالونَ، فخارَتْ قُواهُم جِدًّا. 32 وانقَضُّوا على الغَنيمةِ وأخَذوا غنَما وبقَرا وعُجولا، وذبَحوا على الأرضِ وأكَلوا لَحما بِدَمِهِ. 33 فقيلَ لِشاوُلَ: «خَطئَ الشَّعبُ أمامَ الرّبِّ لأنَّهُم أكَلوا لحما بِدَمِهِ». فقالَ شاوُلُ: «خانوا وَصيَّةَ الرّبِّ. دَحرِجوا إليَّ الآنَ صخرَةً كبـيرةً». 34 ثُمَّ قالَ: «إنتَشِروا في كُلِّ مكانٍ وقولوا للنَّاسِ أنْ يأتوا إليَّ بِبقَرِهِم وغنَمِهِم، فيَذبَحوها هُنا ولا يَخطأوا إلى الرّبِّ ويأكُلوا اللَّحمَ بِدَمِهِ». فقَدَّمَ كُلُّ واحدٍ مِنَ الشَّعبِ ثَورَهُ بَيدِهِ في تِلكَ اللَّيلةِ، وذبَحوا هُناكَ. 35 وبَنى شاوُلُ مذبَحا وكانَ أوَّلَ مذبَحٍ بَناهُ لِلرّبِّ.
36 وقالَ شاوُلُ: «لِنَنزِلْ وراءَ الفلِسطيِّينَ ليلا ونَنهبهُم إلى الفجرِ ولا نُبقِ حَيًّا». فقالوا: «إفعَلْ ما تَراهُ حسَنا». فقالَ الكاهنُ: «لِنَسألِ اللهَ». 37 فسألَ شاوُلُ اللهَ: «هل أُهاجِمُ الفلِسطيِّينَ؟ هل تُسلِّمُهُم إلى أيدي بَني إِسرائيلَ؟» فما أجابَهُ اللهُ في ذلِكَ اليومِ. 38 فقالَ شاوُلُ «تَقَدَّموا إلى هُنا، يا جميعَ زُعماءِ الشَّعبِ، وانظُروا لِتَعرِفوا مَنِ ارتَكَبَ الخطيئةَ اليومَ. 39 حَيٌّ الرّبُّ الّذي خلَّصَ بَني إِسرائيلَ حتّى لو كانَ هذا الخاطِـئُ يوناثانَ ابني، موتا ليَموتُ». فما أجابَهُ أحدٌ مِنَ الشَّعبِ. 40 فقالَ لهُم: «كونوا أنتُم في جِهةٍ، وأنا وابني يوناثانُ في جِهَةٍ». فقالوا: «إفعَلْ ما تَراهُ حسَنا». 41 فقالَ شاوُلُ لِلرّبِّ إلهِ إِسرائيلَ: «لِماذا لم تُجِبْ عبدَكَ اليومَ؟ إنْ كانَت هذِهِ الخطيئةُ فيَّ أو في ابني يوناثانَ، أيُّها الرّبُّ إلهُ إِسرائيلَ، فأجبْني بالأُوريمِ، وإنْ كانَت في شعبِكَ بَني إِسرائيلَ فأجِبْني بالتُّمِّيمِ». فأصابَتِ القُرعةُ يوناثانَ وشاوُلَ، وخرَجَ الشَّعبُ بَريئا. 42 فقالَ شاوُلُ: «ألقوا القُرعةَ بَيني وبَينَ يوناثانَ ابني». فأصابَت يوناثانَ. 43 فقالَ شاوُلُ لِـيوناثانَ: «أخبِرْني ماذا فعَلتَ». فأخبَرَهُ، قالَ: «ذُقتُ بِرأسِ العَصَا الّتي بِيَدي قليلا مِنَ العسَلِ. فها أنا مُستَعِدٌّ أنْ أموتَ». 44 فقالَ شاوُلُ: «عاقبَني اللهُ وزادَ عِقابـي إنْ لم تَمُتْ يا يوناثانُ». 45 فقالَ الشَّعبُ لِشاوُلَ: «أيَموتُ يوناثانُ الّذي أحرَزَ هذا النَّصرَ العظيمَ لِبَني إِسرائيلَ؟ لا، حيٌّ الرّبُّ لا تسقُطْ شَعرَةٌ مِنْ رأسِهِ على الأرضِ، لأنَّهُ عَمِلَ مشيئةَ اللهِ في هذا اليومِ». فأنقَذَ الشَّعبُ يوناثانَ مِنَ الموتِ. 46 ثمَّ انصرَفَ شاولُ مِنَ اللِّحاقِ بِالفلِسطيِّينَ الّذينَ عادوا إلى أرضِهِم.
47 وحارَبَ شاوُلُ أعداءَهُ المُحيطينَ بِهِ بَعدَ أنْ تَولَّى المُلْكَ على إِسرائيلَ، فحارَبَ المُوآبِيِّينَ وبَني عَمُّونَ والأدوميِّينَ ومُلوكَ صوبَةَ والفلِسطيِّينَ مُنتَصرا حيثُما اتَّجَهَ. 48 وقاتلَ بِشَجاعةٍ وضرَبَ بَني عَماليقَ وأنقَذَ بَني اسرائيلَ مِنْ أيدي ناهبـيهِم. 49 وكانَ لِشاوُلَ بَنونَ هُم يوناثانُ ويِشويُ ومَلكيشوعُ، وابنَتانِ هُما: ميرَبُ الكُبرى، وميكالُ الصُّغرى. 50 وكانَ اسمُ زَوجَتِهِ أخينوعَمَ بِنتَ أخيمَعْصَ، واسمُ رئيسِ جُندِهِ أبنيرَ بنَ نيرَ عَمُّ شاوُلَ. 51 وكانَ قَيسُ أبو شاوُلَ، ونيرُ أبو أبنيرَ كانا ابنَي أبـيئيلَ.
52 وكانَتِ الحربُ على الفلِسطيِّينَ شَديدةً طولَ أيّامِ شاوُلَ. وكانَ شاوُلُ يَضُمُّ إليهِ كُلَّ رَجُلٍ جبَّارٍ أو شُجاعٍ يَراهُ.
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.