1 Samuel 14:24-46
Saul’s Oath Makes the People Weary
24Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day. And Saul had aput the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food 1before evening and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25Now all the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26So the people entered the forest, and behold, athere was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the sworn oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under a sworn oath; therefore, ahe 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 bhis eyes brightened. 28Then one of the people answered and said, “Your father strictly put the people under a sworn oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29Then Jonathan said, “aMy father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30“How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”
31Then they struck among the Philistines that day from aMichmash to bAijalon. And the people were very weary. 32aSo the people 1rushed greedily upon the spoil, and they took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them bwith the blood. 33Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are asinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.” 34And Saul said, “Scatter 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 Yahweh by eating with the blood.’” So all the people that night brought each one his ox 1with him and slaughtered it there. 35And aSaul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.
36Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good in your eyes.” So athe priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37And Saul aasked of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But bHe did not answer him on that day. 38And Saul said, “aDraw near here, all you 1chiefs of the people, and know and see how this sin has happened today. 39“For aas Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely 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 Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good in your eyes.” 41Therefore, Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “aGive a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “aTell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “bI indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die!” 44And Saul said, “aMay God do 1this to me and more also, for byou shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has 1brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, anot one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for bhe has worked with God this day.” So the people 2redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. 46Then Saul went up from 1pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.