8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover our selves 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 un∣to the garison 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 garison answered Jo∣nathan and his armour-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing . And Jona∣than said unto his armour-bearer, 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 armour-bearer after him : and they fell before Jonathan, and his armour∣bearer slew after him .
14 And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer 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 gari∣son, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked : so it was a very great trem∣bling.
16 And the Watch-men of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked: and behold, the multitude mel∣ted 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 numbred, behold Jona∣than and his armour-bearer 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 battel, and behold, every mans sword was against his fellow , and there was a very great discom∣fiture.
21 Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp , from the countrey 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 battel.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battel 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 even∣ing, that I may be avenged on mine enemies : so none of the people tasted any food .