1 Samuel 14:24-46

24Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were in distressH5065 thatH1931 dayH3117, for SaulH7586 had placed the troopsH5971 under an oathH422, sayingH559, “Cursed isH779 the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 any foodH3899 beforeH5704 eveningH6153, before I have taken vengeanceH5358 on my enemiesH341.” So noneH3808H3605 of the troopsH5971 tastedH2938 any foodH3899.

25Then allH3605H776 the troops enteredH935 the forestH3293, and there wasH1961 honeyH1706 onH5921 the groundH6440H7704. 26And whenH5971 they enteredH935H413 the forestH3293 and sawH2009 the flowingH1982 honeyH1706, not one of themH369 putH5381 his handH3027 toH413 his mouthH6310, becauseH3588 they fearedH3372 the oathH7621.

27Jonathan, howeverH3129, had notH3808 heard thatH8085 his fatherH1 had bound the peopleH5971 with the oathH7650. So he reached outH7971 the endH7097 of the staffH4294 in his handH3027, dippedH2881 it into the honeycombH3295H1706, and putH7725 his handH3027 toH413 his mouthH6310, and his eyesH5869 brightenedH7200.1 28ThenH6030 oneH376 of the soldiersH5971 told himH559, “Your fatherH1 bound the troopsH5971H559 with a solemn oathH7650, sayingH7650, ‘Cursed isH779 the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 todayH3117.’ That is why the peopleH5971 are faintH5888.”

29“My fatherH1 has brought troubleH5916 to the landH776,” JonathanH3129 repliedH559. “Just lookH7200H4994 at howH3588 my eyesH5869 have brightenedH215 becauseH3588 I tastedH2938 a littleH4592 of thisH2088 honeyH1706. 30How much better it would have beenH637H3588 ifH3863 the troopsH5971 had eaten freelyH398 todayH3117 from the plunderH7998 they tookH4672H3588 from their enemiesH341! Would notH6258H3808 the slaughterH4347 of the PhilistinesH6430 have been much greaterH7235?”

31ThatH1931 dayH3117, after the Israelites had struck downH5221 the PhilistinesH6430 from MichmashH4363 to AijalonH357, the peopleH5971 were veryH3966 faintH5888. 32So they rushed greedilyH6213 toH413 the plunderH7998, takingH3947 sheepH6629, cattleH1241, and calvesH1121H1241. They slaughtered themH7819 on the groundH776 and ateH398H5971 meat withH5921 the blood still in itH1818.

33Then someone reportedH5046 to SaulH7586: “LookH2009, the troopsH5971 are sinningH2398 against the LORDH3068 by eatingH398 meat withH5921 the blood still in itH1818.”

“You have broken faithH898,” said SaulH559. “RollH1556 a largeH1419 stoneH68 over hereH413 at onceH3117.” 34Then heH7586 saidH559, “GoH6327 among the troopsH5971 and tellH559 them, ‘Each manH376 must bringH5066 meH413 his oxH7794H376 or his sheepH7716, slaughterH7819 them in thisH2088 place, and then eatH398. Do notH3808 sinH2398 against the LORDH3068 by eatingH398 meat withH413 the blood still in itH1818.’”

So that nightH3915 everyoneH3605H5971H376 broughtH5066 his oxH7794H3027 and slaughteredH7819 it thereH8033. 35Then SaulH7586 builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LORDH3068; it was the firstH2490 time he had builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LORDH3068.

36And SaulH7586 saidH559, “Let us go downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430 by nightH3915 and plunderH962 them untilH5704 dawnH216H1242, leavingH7604 noH3808 manH376 alive!”

“DoH6213 whatH3605 seems goodH2896 to youH5869,” the troops repliedH559.

But the priestH3548 saidH559, “We must consultH7126H413 GodH430 hereH1988.”

37So SaulH7586 inquiredH7592 of GodH430, “Shall I go downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430? Will You give themH5414 into the handH3027 of IsraelH3478?”

But God did notH3808 answer himH6030 thatH1931 dayH3117.

38Therefore SaulH7586 saidH559, “ComeH5066 hereH1988, allH3605 you leadersH6438 of the troopsH5971, and let us investigateH3045H7200 howH4100 thisH2063 sinH2403 has occurredH1961 todayH3117. 39As surely asH3588 the LORDH3068 who savesH3467 IsraelH3478 livesH2416, evenH3588 ifH518 it isH3426 my sonH1121H3588 JonathanH3129, he must dieH4191!”

But not oneH369 of the troopsH5971 saidH6030 a wordH3605.

40Then Saul saidH559 toH413 allH3605 IsraelH3478, “YouH859 standH1961 on oneH259 sideH5676, and IH589 and my sonH1121 JonathanH3129 will standH1961 on the otherH259 sideH5676.”

“DoH6213 what seems goodH2896 to youH5869,” the troopsH5971H413H7586 repliedH559.

41So SaulH7586 saidH559 toH413 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respondH3051 with ThummimH8549.”2 And JonathanH3129 and SaulH7586 were selectedH3920, but the peopleH5971 were cleared of the chargeH3318.

42Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “CastH5307 the lot between meH996 andH996 my sonH1121 JonathanH3129.” And JonathanH3129 was selectedH3920.

43“TellH5046 me whatH4100 you have doneH6213,” SaulH7586 commandedH559H413 himH3129.

So JonathanH3129H559 toldH5046 him, “I only tastedH2938 a littleH4592 honeyH1706 with the endH7097 of the staffH4294 thatH834 was in my handH3027. And nowH2005 I must dieH4191?”

44And SaulH7586 declaredH559, “May GodH430 punish meH3541H6213, and ever soH3541 severelyH3254, if you, JonathanH3129, do notH3588 surely dieH4191!”

45But the peopleH5971 saidH559 toH413 SaulH7586, “Must JonathanH3129 dieH4191—he whoH834 accomplishedH6213 suchH2063 a greatH1419 deliveranceH3444 for IsraelH3478? NeverH2486! As surely as the LORDH3068 livesH2416, notH518 a hairH8185 of his headH7218 will fallH5307 to the groundH776, forH3588 withH5973 God’s helpH430 he has accomplished thisH6213 todayH3117H2088.”

So the peopleH5971 rescuedH6299 JonathanH3129, and he did notH3808 dieH4191. 46Then SaulH7586 gave upH5927 his pursuitH310 of the PhilistinesH6430, and the PhilistinesH6430 returnedH1980 to their own landH4725.