1 En dag sa Jonathan, Sauls sønn, til sin unge våpenbærer: La oss gå over til filisternes vaktpost der borte. Men han sa ingenting til sin far.

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.

2 Saul ventet fortsatt i utkanten av Geba, under granatepletreet i Migron. Det var omkring seks hundre mann med ham.

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;

3 Ahia, sønn av Ahitub, bror til Ikabod, sønn av Pinehas, sønn av Eli, Herrens prest i Silo, hadde efoden. Folket visste ikke at Jonathan hadde gått.

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.

4 Mellom passene, der Jonathan forsøkte å nå filisternes vakter, var det en bratt klippe på den ene siden og en annen på den andre siden; den ene het Bozes og den andre Sene.

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.

5 Den ene klippen lå nord for Mikmas, den andre sør for Geba.

The one rock went up on the north in front of Michmash and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan sa til sin unge våpenbærer: La oss gå over til disse uomskårne mennene. Kanskje vil Herren hjelpe oss, for ingenting hindrer Herren i å gi seier, enten det er få eller mange.

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.

7 Våpenbæreren svarte: Gjør alt du har i tankene. Jeg er med deg, uansett hva du bestemmer deg for.

And his servant said to him, Do whatever is in your mind: see, I am with you in every impulse of your heart.

8 Jonathan sa da: Se, vi vil vise oss for disse mennene.

Then Jonathan said, Now we will go over to these men and let them see us.

9 Hvis de sier til oss: Vent der til vi kommer ned til dere, så vil vi bli stående der vi er og ikke gå opp til dem.

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.

10 Men hvis de sier: Kom opp til oss, vil vi gå opp, for da har Herren gitt dem i våre hender. Dette skal være tegnet for oss.

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.

11 De gjorde seg synlige for filisternes vakt, og filisterne sa: Se, hebreerne kommer ut fra sine skjulesteder.

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.

12 Vaktene ropte til Jonathan og hans våpenbærer: Kom opp til oss, så skal vi lære dere noe! Da sa Jonathan til sin våpenbærer: Følg meg, for Herren har gitt dem i Israels hender.

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.

13 Jonathan klatret opp på hender og føtter, med sin våpenbærer bak seg. Filisterne falt for Jonathans angrep, og våpenbæreren hans drepte dem etter ham.

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.

14 Ved det første slaget felte Jonathan og hans våpenbærer omkring tjue mann på et område på omtrent en halv mål.

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.

15 Det oppstod stor frykt blant troppene, både i leiren og på marken, og vaktpostene skalv av angst; til og med jorden ristet, og det ble frykt fra Gud.

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.

16 Sauls vakter i Geba i Benjamins land så at hæren strømmet av sted, hit og dit.

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.

17 Da sa Saul til folket som var med ham: Tell folket og se hvem som har gått bort fra oss. Og da de hadde talt, så de at Jonathan og våpenbæreren hans ikke var der.

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.

18 Saul sa til Ahia: Ta efoden hit. For han bar efoden den gang foran Israel.

And Saul said to Ahijah, Let the ephod come here. For he went before Israel with the ephod at that time.

19 Mens Saul snakket med presten, ble larmen fra filisternes leir sterkere og sterkere; Saul sa til presten: Trekk hånden tilbake.

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.

20 Saul og folket som var med ham samlet seg, og de gikk inn i slaget, og hver manns sverd var vendt mot hans sidemann, og det var stor forvirring.

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.

21 Hebreerne som tidligere hadde vært med filisterne og gått opp med dem til leiren, sluttet seg nå til israelittene som var med Saul og Jonathan.

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.

22 Og alle israelsmenn som hadde gjemt seg i Efraims fjellområder, hørte at filisterne var på flukt, og de fulgte etter dem i kamp.

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.

23 Den dagen ga Herren Israel seier, og kampen spredte seg videre til Bet-aven.

So the Lord made Israel safe that day: and the fight went over to Beth-aven.

24 Folket var med Saul, omtrent tjue tusen mann, og kampen spredte seg over hele Efraims fjellområder. Men Saul gjorde en stor feil den dagen ved å legge folket under ed: Forbannet er den som spiser før kvelden kommer og jeg har hevnet meg på fiendene mine. Så ingen smakte mat.

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.

25 Hele folket gikk inn i et skogsområde, hvor det rant honning.

And there was honey on the face of the field, and all the people came to the honey, the bees having gone from it;

26 Men ingen rakte hånden til munnen fordi de fryktet edsavleggelsen.

But not a man put his hand to his mouth for fear of the curse.

27 Men Jonathan hadde ikke hørt at faren hadde pålagt folket eden. Han rakte ut staven i hånden, dyppet spissen i honningkakene og førte hånden til munnen; da lyste øynene hans opp.

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.

28 En av mennene sa: Din far la folket under en streng ed og sa: Forbannet er den som spiser mat i dag. Og folket var utmattet.

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.

29 Da sa Jonathan: Min far har gjort stor skade for landet. Se hvordan øynene mine lyser etter at jeg har smakt litt honning!

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.

30 Hvor mye bedre ville det ikke vært om folket hadde spist rikelig av byttet de tok fra fiendene; det ville ført til enda større nederlag for filisterne!

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?

31 Den dagen beseiret de filisterne fra Mikmas til Ajalon, men folket var utmattet på grunn av sult.

That day they overcame the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were feeble from need of food.

32 De kastet seg over byttet, tok sauer, okser og kalver, drepte dem på bakken og spiste kjøttet med blodet i.

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.

33 Da ble det sagt til Saul: Se, folket synder mot Herren ved å spise kjøttet med blodet. Saul sa: Rull en stor stein hit til meg.

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.

34 Så sa Saul: Gå ut blant folket og si til dem: La hver mann komme hit til meg med sin okse og sitt lam, slakt dem her og spis, men synd ikke mot Herren ved å spise kjøttet med blodet. Så kom alle folket om natten med sine okser og slaktet dem.

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.

35 Saul bygde et alter for Herren; dette var det første alteret han bygde for Herren.

And Saul put up an altar to the Lord: this was the first altar which he put up to the Lord.

36 Saul sa: La oss dra ned etter filisterne om natten og ødelegge dem til morgenen kommer. Gjør det som synes riktig for deg, sa folket. Da sa presten: La oss nærme oss Gud.

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.

37 Saul spurte Gud: Skal jeg dra ned etter filisterne? Vil du gi dem i Israels hender? Men han fikk ikke noe svar den dagen.

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.

38 Da sa Saul: Kom hit, alle folkets ledere, og finn ut hva denne synden skyldes i dag.

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.

39 Ved den levende Herren, Israels frelser, selv om det gjelder min sønn Jonathan, skal han dø. Men ikke en mann i folket svarte ham.

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.

40 Da sa han til hele Israel: Stå på den ene siden, så skal jeg og Jonathan, min sønn, stå på den andre siden. Folket svarte: Gjør det som synes godt for deg.

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.

41 Saul sa til Herren, Israels Gud: Hvorfor har du ikke svart meg i dag? Er det synd hos meg eller hos Jonathan, min sønn, la Urim gi svar, men hvis det er hos ditt folk Israel, la Thummim gi svar. Ved Herrens avgjørelse ble Saul og Jonathan valgt ut, mens folket ble frikjent.

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.

42 Da sa Saul: Gi din avgjørelse mellom meg og min sønn Jonathan. Og Jonathan ble utpekt.

And Saul said, Give your decision between my son Jonathan and me. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Saul sa til Jonathan: Fortell meg hva du har gjort. Jonathan svarte: Jeg smakte litt honning på enden av staven som jeg hadde i hånden. Og se, jeg må dø.

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.

44 Saul sa: Måtte Gud straffe meg hardt hvis du ikke skal dø, Jonathan.

And Saul said, May God's punishment be on me if death is not your fate, Jonathan.

45 Men folket sa til Saul: Skal Jonathan dø, han som har gitt denne store seieren til Israel? Det må ikke skje! Ved den levende Herren, ikke et hår på hans hode må falle til jorden, for han har samarbeidet med Gud i dag. Slik kjøpte folket Jonathan fri fra døden.

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.

46 Saul holdt opp med å forfølge filisterne, og de dro hjem.

Then Saul, turning back, went after the Philistines no longer: and the Philistines went back to their place.

47 Da Saul hadde sikret sin kongeposisjon over Israel, kjempet han mot alle sine fiender på alle kanter: Moab, ammonittene, Edom, Zobas konger og filisterne. Overalt der han snudde seg, vant han.

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.

48 Han gjorde store bragder og slo amalekittene og befridde Israel fra dem som hadde plyndret dem.

And he did great things, and overcame the Amalekites, and made Israel safe from the hands of their attackers.

49 Sønnene til Saul var Jonathan, Jisjvi og Malkisjua. Navnene på hans døtre var Merab, den eldste, og Mikhal, den yngste.

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;

50 Navnet på Sauls kone var Ahinoam, datter av Ahimaas; lederen for hæren hans var Abner, sønn av Ner, som var Sauls onkel.

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.

51 Kisj, far til Saul, og Ner, far til Abner, var sønner av Abiel.

Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were sons of Abiel.

52 Så lenge Saul levde, var krigen mot filisterne bitter, og hver gang Saul så en modig eller en dyktig mann, holdt han ham i nærheten av seg selv.

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.