14. So was the first attack in which Jonathan and his armor bearer killed about twenty men within about half of a furrow in an acre of an open field.
15. Then there was terror in the camp, in the open field, and among all the army of the garrison. Even the raiders trembled. The earth shook, and it became a very great panic.
16. And the lookouts of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw that the multitude surged back and forth.
17. Saul said to the troops that were with him, “Please call the roll and see who has gone from us.” So they called the roll and found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not present.
18. Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the ark of God” (for the ark of God was at that time with the Israelites).
19. While Saul was still speaking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more, so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”
20. Then Saul and all the troops who were with him were assembled on command and came up to the battle, and look! Each Philistine’s sword was against his friend; and there was a very great confusion.
21. The Hebrews who had been for the Philistines previously, who had gone up with them into the camp all around, even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22. All the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, so even they pursued them closely in the battle.
23. So on that day Yahweh delivered Israel, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
24. Now the men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, because Saul had made the army take an oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats any food until evening, when I will have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the army tasted any food.
25. (Now all the people of the land used to go into the forest, for there was honey on the surface of the ground.)
26. When the army came to the forest, look! There was honey flowing, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the army was afraid of the solemn oath.
27. However, Jonathan had not heard about the oath of his father with the army, so he extended the end of the staff which was in his hand, and he dipped it into the honeycomb. Then he put his hand to his mouth and his eyes gleamed.
28. Then a man from the army informed him and said, “Your father made the army swear a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today,’ ” so the army is exhausted.
29. Then Jonathan said, “My father has brought trouble on the land! See now that my eyes have brightened because I have tasted a little of this honey.
30. How much more could have been done if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder of their enemies that they had found! For now the loss among the Philistines is not great.”