Saul and his son Jonathan saw what was done； but were not able to
defend the land； having no more than six hundred men with them。
But as he； and his son； and Abiah the high priest； who was of the
posterity of Eli the high priest； were sitting upon a pretty high
hill； and seeing the land laid waste； they were mightily
disturbed at it。 Now Saul's son agreed with his armor…bearer；
that they would go privately to the enemy's camp； and make a
tumult and a disturbance among them。 And when the armor…bearer
had readily promised to follow him whithersoever he should lead
him； though he should be obliged to die in the attempt； Jonathan
made use of the young man's assistance； and descended from the
hill； and went to their enemies。 Now the enemy's camp was upon a
precipice which had three tops； that ended in a small but sharp
and long extremity； while there was a rock that surrounded them；
like lines made to prevent the attacks of an enemy。 There it so
happened； that the out…guards of the camp were neglected； because
of the security that here arose from the situation of the place；
and because they thought it altogether impossible； not only to
ascend up to the camp on that quarter； but so much as to come
near it。 As soon； therefore； as they came to the camp； Jonathan
encouraged his armor…bearer； and said to him； 〃Let us attack our
enemies； and if； when they see us； they bid us come up to them；
take that for a signal of victory； but if they say nothing； as
not intending to invite us to come up； let us return back again。〃
So when they were approaching to the enemy's camp； just after
break of day； and the Philistines saw them； they said one to
another； 〃The Hebrews come out of their dens and caves：〃 and they
said to Jonathan and to his armor…bearer； 〃Come on； ascend up to
us； that we may inflict a just punishment upon you； for your rash
attempt upon us。〃 So Saul's son accepted of that invitation； as
what signified to him victory； and he immediately came out of the
place whence they were seen by their enemies： so he changed his
place； and came to the rock； which had none to guard it； because
of its own strength； from thence they crept up with great labor
and difficulty； and so far overcame by force the nature of the
place； till they were able to fight with their enemies。 So they
fell upon them as they were asleep； and slew about twenty of
them； and thereby filled them with disorder and surprise；
insomuch that some of them threw away their entire armor and
fled； but the greatest part； not knowing one another； because
they were of different nations； suspected one another to be
enemies； （for they did not imagine there were only two of the
Hebrews that came up；） and so they fought one against another；
and some of them died in the battle； and some； as they were
flying away； were thrown down from the rock headlong。
3。 Now Saul's watchmen told the king that the camp of the
Philistines was in confusion； then he inquired whether any body
was gone away from the army； and when he heard that his son； and
with him his armor…bearer； were absent； he bade the high priest
take the garments of his high priesthood； and prophesy to him
what success they should have； who said that they should get the
victory； and prevail against their enemies。 So he went out after
the Philistines； and set upon them as they were slaying one
another。 Those also who had fled to dens and caves； upon hearing
that Saul was gaining a victory； came running to him。 When；
therefore； the number of the Hebrews that came to Saul amounted
to about ten thousand； he pursued the enemy； who were scattered
all over the country； but then he fell into an action； which was
a very unhappy one； and liable to be very much blamed； for；
whether out of ignorance or whether out of joy for a victory
gained so strangely； （for it frequently happens that persons so
fortunate are not then able to use their reason consistently；） as
he was desirous to avenge himself； and to exact a due punishment
of the Philistines； he denounced a curse （13） upon the Hebrews：
That if any one put a stop to his slaughter of the enemy； and
fell on eating； and left off the slaughter or the pursuit before
the night came on； and obliged them so to do； he should be
accursed。 Now after Saul had denounced this curse； since they
were now in a wood belonging to the tribe of Ephraim； which was
thick and full of bees； Saul's son； who did not hear his father
denounce that curse； nor hear of the approbation the multitude
gave to it； broke off a piece of a honey…comb； and ate part of
it。 But； in the mean time； he was informed with what a curse his
father had forbidden them to taste any thing before sun…setting：
so he left off eating； and said his father had not done well in
this prohibition； because； had they taken some food； they had
pursued the enemy with greater rigor and alacrity； and had both
taken and slain many more of their enemies。
4。 When； therefore； they had slain many ten thousands of the
Philistines； they fell upon spoiling the camp of the Philistines；
but not till late in the evening。 They also took a great deal of
prey and cattle； and killed them； and ate them with their blood。
This was told to the king by the scribes； that the multitude were
sinning against God as they sacrificed； and were eating before
the blood was well washed away； and the flesh was made clean。
Then did Saul give order that a great stone should be rolled into
the midst of them； and he made proclamation that they should kill
their sacrifices upon it； and not feed upon the flesh with the
blood； for that was not acceptable to God。 And when all the
people did as the king commanded them； Saul erected an altar
there； and offered burnt…offerings upon it to God （14） This was
the first altar that Saul built。
5。 So when Saul was desirous of leading his men to the enemy's
camp before it was day； in order to plunder it； and when the
soldiers were not unwilling to follow him； but indeed showed
great readiness to do as he commanded them； the king called
Ahitub the high priest； and enjoined him to know of God whether
he would grant them the favor and permission to go against the
enemy's camp； in order to destroy those that were in it。 And when
the priest said that God did not give any answer； Saul replied；
〃And not without some cause does God refuse to answer what we
inquire of him； while yet a little while ago he declared to us
all that we desired beforehand； and even prevented us in his
answer。 To be sure there is some sin against him that is
concealed from us； which is the occasion of his silence。 Now I
swear by him himself； that though he that hath committed this sin
should prove to be my own son Jonathan； I will slay him； and by
that means will appease the anger of God against us； and that in
the very same manner as if I were to punish a stranger； and one
not at all related to me； for the same offense。〃 So when the
multitude cried out to him so to do； he presently set all the
rest on one side； and he and his son stood on the other side； and
he sought to discover the offender by lot。 Now the lot appeared
to fall upon Jonathan himself。 So when he was asked by his father
what sin he had been guilty of； and what he was conscious of in
the course of his life that might be esteemed instances of guilt
or profaneness； his answer was this； 〃O father； I have done
nothing more than that yesterday； without knowing of the curse
and oath thou hadst denounced； while I was in pursuit of the
enemy； I tasted of a honey…comb。〃 But Saul sware that he would
slay him； and prefer the observation of his oath before all the
ties of birth and of nature。 And Jonathan was not dismayed at
this threatening of death； but； offering himself to it generously
and undauntedly； he said； 〃Nor do I desire you； father； to spare
me： death will be to me very acceptable； when it proceeds from
thy piety； and after a glorious victory； for it is the greatest
consolation to me that I leave the Hebrews victorious over the
Philistines。〃 Hereupon all the people were very sorry； and
greatly afflicted for Jonathan； and they sware that they would
not overlook Jonathan； and see him die； who was the author of
their victory。 By which means they snatched him out of the danger
he was in from his father's curse； while they made their prayers
to God also for the young man； that he would remit his sin。
6。 So Saul； having slain about sixty thousand of the enemy；
returned home to his own city； and reigned happily： and he also
fought against the neighboring nations； and subdued the
Ammonites； and Moabites； and Philistines； and Edomites； and
Amalekites； as also the king of Zobah。 He had three male
children； Jonathan； and Isui； and Melchishua； with Merab and
Michal his daughters。 He had also Abner； his uncle's son； for the
captain of his host： that uncle's name was Ner。 Now Ner； and Kish
the father of Saul； were brothers。 Saul had also a great many
chariots and horsemen； and against whomsoever he made war he
returned conqueror； and advanced the affairs of the Hebrews to a
great degree of success and prosperity； and made them superior to
other nations； and he made such of the young men as were
remarkable for tallness and comeliness the guards of his body。
CHAPTER 7。
Saul's War With The Amalekites； And Conquest Of Them。
1。 Now Samuel came unto Saul； and said to him； that he was sent
by God to put him in mind that God had preferred him before all
others； and ordained him king； that he therefore ought to be
obedient to him； and to submit to his authority； as considering；
that though he had the dominion over the other tribes； yet that
God had the dominion over him； and over all things。 That
accordingly God said to him； that 〃because the Amalekites did the
Hebrews a great deal of mischief while they were in the
wilderness； and when； upon their coming out of Egypt； they were
making their way to that country which is now their own； I enjoin
thee to punish the Amalekites； by making war upon them； and when
thou hast subdued them； to leave none of them alive； but to
pursue them through every age； and to slay them； beginning with
the women and the infants； and to require this as a punishment