9. If they say to us, “Wait there until we come to you,” we will stay where we are and not go up to them.
10. But if they say, “Come up to us,” we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.’
11. So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. ‘Look!’ said the Philistines. ‘The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.’
12. The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, ‘Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.’So Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, ‘Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’
13. Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him.
14. In that first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.a
15. Then panic struck the whole army – those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties – and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.b
16. Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.
17. Then Saul said to the men who were with him, ‘Muster the forces and see who has left us.’ When they did, it was Jonathan and his armour-bearer who were not there.
18. Saul said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ark of God.’ (At that time it was with the Israelites.)c
19. While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, ‘Withdraw your hand.’
20. Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.
21. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22. When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.
23. So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
24. Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!’ So none of the troops tasted food.