1 Samuel 14:24-46

24Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were hard-pressedH5065 on that dayH3117, for SaulH7586 had 1putH422 the peopleH5971 underH422 oathH422, sayingH559, “CursedH779 be the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 2beforeH5704 eveningH6153, and before I have avengedH5358 myself on my enemiesH340.” So noneH3808H3605 of the peopleH5971 tastedH2938 foodH3899. 25AllH3605 the people of the landH776 enteredH935 the forestH3293, and there was honeyH1706 on the groundH6440H7704. 26When the peopleH5971 enteredH935 the forestH3293, beholdH2009, 3there was honeyH1706 drippingH1982; but noH369 man putH5381 his handH3027 to his mouthH6310, becauseH3588 the peopleH5971 fearedH3372 the oathH7621. 27However, JonathanH3083 had not heardH8085 it when his fatherH1 putH7650 the peopleH5971 underH7650 oathH7650; so 4he putH7971 outH7971 the endH7097 of the staffH4294 that was in his handH3027 and dippedH2881 it in the honeycombH3295H1706, and putH7725 his handH3027 to his mouthH6310, and 5his eyesH5869 6brightenedH215. 28Then oneH376 of the peopleH5971 respondedH6030 and saidH559, “Your fatherH1 strictlyH7650 putH7650 the peopleH5971 underH7650 oathH7650, sayingH559, ‘CursedH779 be the manH376 whoH834 eatsH398 foodH3899 todayH3117.’” And the peopleH5971 were wearyH5888. 29Then JonathanH3083 saidH559, “7My fatherH1 has troubledH5916 the landH776. SeeH7200 nowH4994 that my eyesH5869 have brightenedH215 becauseH3588 I tastedH2938 a littleH4592 of thisH2088 honeyH1706. 30HowH637 muchH637H3588 moreH637H3588, ifH3863 only the peopleH5971 had freelyH398 eatenH398 todayH3117 of the spoilsH7998 of their enemiesH340 whichH834 they foundH4672! For nowH6258 the defeatH4347 among the PhilistinesH6430 has not beenH7235 greatH7235.”

31They attackedH5221 the PhilistinesH6430 that dayH3117 from 8MichmashH4363 to 9AijalonH357. But the peopleH5971 were veryH3966 tiredH5888. 32So 10the peopleH5971 loudlyH5860 rushedH5860 upon the spoilsH7998, and tookH3947 sheepH6629, oxenH1241, and calvesH1121H1241, and slaughteredH7819 them on the groundH776; and the peopleH5971 ateH398 them 11with the bloodH1818. 33Then observers informedH5046 SaulH7586, sayingH559, “LookH2009, the peopleH5971 are 12sinningH2398 against the LordH3068 by eatingH398 meat with the bloodH1818.” And he saidH559, “You have actedH898 treacherouslyH898; rollH1556 a largeH1419 rockH68 to me todayH3117.” 34Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “DisperseH6327 yourselvesH6327 among the peopleH5971 and sayH559 to them, ‘EachH376 oneH376 of you bringH5066 me his oxH7794 or his sheepH7716, and slaughterH7819 it hereH2088 and eatH398; and do not sinH2398 against the LordH3068 by eatingH398 it with the bloodH1818.’” So allH3605 the peopleH5971 broughtH5066 them that nightH3915, eachH376 oneH376 his oxH7794 13with him, and they slaughteredH7819 them thereH8033. 35And 14SaulH7586 builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LordH3068; it wasH2490 the firstH2490 altarH4196 that he builtH1129 to the LordH3068.

36Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “Let’s goH3381 downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430 by nightH3915 and takeH962 plunderH962 among them untilH5704 the morningH1242 lightH216, and let’s not leaveH7604 a manH376 among them aliveH7604.” And they saidH559, “DoH6213 whateverH3605 seems goodH2896 15to you.” So 16the priestH3548 saidH559, “Let’s approachH7126 GodH430 hereH1988.” 37So SaulH7586 17inquiredH7592 of GodH430: “Shall I goH3381 downH3381 afterH310 the PhilistinesH6430? Will You handH5414H3027 them overH5414 to IsraelH3478?” But 18He did not answerH6030 him on that dayH3117. 38Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “1920ComeH5066 hereH1988, allH3605 you 21leadersH6438 of the peopleH5971, and investigateH3045 and seeH7200 howH4100 thisH2088 sinH2403 has happenedH1961 todayH3117. 39For 22as the LordH3068 livesH2416, who savesH3467 IsraelH3478, evenH3588 ifH518 it is in my sonH1121 JonathanH3083, he shall assuredlyH3588H4191 dieH4191!” But not oneH369 of allH3605 the peopleH5971 answeredH6030 him. 40Then he saidH559 to allH3605 IsraelH3478, “You shall be on oneH259 sideH5676, and I and my sonH1121 JonathanH3083 will be on the otherH259 sideH5676.” And the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “DoH6213 whatH2896 seems goodH2896 23to you.” 41Therefore, SaulH7586 saidH559 to the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, “24GiveH3051 a 25perfectH8549 lot.” And JonathanH3083 and SaulH7586 were selectedH3920 byH3920 lotH3920, but the peopleH5971 26were exoneratedH3318. 42Then SaulH7586 saidH559, “CastH5307 lots betweenH996 me and my sonH1121 JonathanH3083.” And JonathanH3083 was selectedH3920 byH3920 lotH3920.

43So SaulH7586 saidH559 to JonathanH3083, “27TellH5046 me whatH4100 you have doneH6213.” And JonathanH3083 toldH5046 him, and saidH559, “28I did indeedH2938 tasteH2938 a littleH4592 honeyH1706 with the endH7097 of the staffH4294 that was in my handH3027. HereH2009 I am, I must dieH4191!” 44And SaulH7586 saidH559, “29May GodH430 doH6213 the sameH3541 to me and moreH3254 alsoH3541, for 30you shall certainlyH4191 dieH4191, JonathanH3083!” 45But the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “Must JonathanH3083 dieH4191, he whoH834 has 31broughtH6213 aboutH6213 thisH2088 greatH1419 32victoryH3444 in IsraelH3478? FarH2486 from it! As the LordH3068 livesH2416, 33not even a hairH8185 of his headH7218 shall fallH5307 to the groundH776, becauseH3588 34he has workedH6213 with GodH430 thisH2088 dayH3117.” So the peopleH5971 35rescuedH6299 JonathanH3083 and he did not dieH4191. 46Then SaulH7586 wentH5927 upH5927 from 36pursuingH310 the PhilistinesH6430, and the PhilistinesH6430 wentH1980 to their own placeH4725.