1 Samuel 14:27-46

1 Samuel 14:27-46

[27] But Jonathan  heard  not when his father  the people  with the oath:  wherefore he put forth  the end  of the rod  that was in his hand,  and dipped  it in an honeycomb,  and put  his hand  to his mouth;  and his eyes  [28] Then answered  one  of the people,  and said,  Thy father  straitly  the people  with an oath,  saying,  Cursed  be the man  that eateth  any food  this day.  And the people  were faint.  [29] Then said  Jonathan,  My father  hath troubled  the land:  see,  I pray you, how mine eyes  have been enlightened,  because I tasted  a little  of this honey.  [30] How much more,  if haply  the people  had eaten  to day  of the spoil  of their enemies  which they found?  for had there not been now a much greater  slaughter  among the Philistines?  [31] And they smote  the Philistines  that day  from Michmash  to Aijalon:  and the people  were very  faint.  [32] And the people  upon the spoil,  and took  sheep,  and oxen,  and calves,  and slew  them on the ground:  and the people  did eat  them with the blood.  [33] Then they told  Saul,  saying,  Behold, the people  sin  against the LORD,  in that they eat  with the blood.  And he said,  Ye have transgressed:  roll  a great  stone  unto me this day.  [34] And Saul  said,  Disperse  yourselves among the people,  and say  unto them, Bring me hither  every man  his ox,  and every man  his sheep,  and slay  them here, and eat;  and sin  not against the LORD  in eating  with the blood.  And all the people  brought  every man  his ox  with him  that night,  and slew  them there. [35] And Saul  built  an altar  unto the LORD:  the same was the first  altar  that he built  unto the LORD.  [36] And Saul  said,  Let us go down  after  the Philistines  by night,  and spoil  them until the morning  light,  and let us not leave  a man  of them. And they said,  Do  whatsoever seemeth  good  unto thee. Then said  the priest,  Let us draw near  hither  unto God.  [37] And Saul  asked  counsel of God,  Shall I go down  after  the Philistines?  wilt thou deliver  them into the hand  of Israel?  But he answered  him not that day.  [38] And Saul  said,  Draw ye near  hither,  all the chief  of the people:  and know  and see  wherein  this sin  hath been this day.  [39] For, as the LORD  liveth,  which saveth  Israel,  though it be  in Jonathan  my son,  he shall surely  But there was not a man among all the people  that answered  [40] Then said  he unto all Israel,  Be ye on one  side,  and I and Jonathan  my son  will be on the other  side.  And the people  said  unto Saul,  Do  what seemeth  good  unto thee. [41] Therefore Saul  said  unto the LORD  God  of Israel,  Give  a perfect  lot. And Saul  and Jonathan  were taken:  but the people  escaped.  [42] And Saul  said,  Cast  lots between me and Jonathan  my son.  And Jonathan  was taken.  [43] Then Saul  said  to Jonathan,  Tell  me what thou hast done.  And Jonathan  told  him, and said,  I did but  a little  honey  with the end  of the rod  that was in mine hand,  I must die.  [44] And Saul  answered,  God  do so  and more also:  for thou shalt surely  Jonathan.  [45] And the people  said  unto Saul,  Shall Jonathan  die,  who hath wrought  this great  salvation  in Israel?  God forbid:  as the LORD  liveth,  there shall not one hair  of his head  fall  to the ground;  for he hath wrought  with God  this day.  So the people  rescued  Jonathan,  that he died  not. [46] Then Saul  went up  from following  the Philistines:  went  to their own place.