1 Samuel 14:26-46

26When the people entered the forest, behold, 1there was honey dripping; but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath. 27However, Jonathan had not heard it when his father put the people under oath; so 2he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and 3his eyes 4brightened. 28Then one of the people responded and said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29Then Jonathan said, “5My father has troubled the land. See now that my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if only the people had freely eaten today of the spoils of their enemies which they found! For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

31They attacked the Philistines that day from 6Michmash to 7Aijalon. But the people were very tired. 32So 8the people loudly rushed upon the spoils, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them 9with the blood. 33Then observers informed Saul, saying, “Look, the people are 10sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a large rock to me today.” 34Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating it with the blood.’” So all the people brought them that night, each one his ox 11with him, and they slaughtered them there. 35And 12Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36Then Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let’s not leave a man among them alive.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good 13to you.” So 14the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.” 37So Saul 15inquired of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But 16He did not answer him on that day. 38Then Saul said, “1718Come here, all you 19leaders of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. 39For 20as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall assuredly die!” But not one of all the people answered him. 40Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good 21to you.” 41Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “22Give a 23perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people 24were exonerated. 42Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected by lot.

43So Saul said to Jonathan, “25Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “26I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44And Saul said, “27May God do the same to me and more also, for 28you shall certainly die, Jonathan!” 45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, he who has 29brought about this great 30victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, 31not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because 32he has worked with God this day.” So the people 33rescued Jonathan and he did not die. 46Then Saul went up from 34pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.