1Samuel:14:24-48

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* And the men of Israel were distressed that day : for Saul had adjured the people , saying , Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening , that I may be avenged on mine enemies . So none of the people tasted any food . * And all they of the land came to a wood ; and there was honey upon the ground . * And when the people were come into the wood , behold , the honey dropped ; but no man put his hand to his mouth : for the people feared the oath . * But Jonathan heard not when his father charged 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 were enlightened . * Then answered one of the people , and said , Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath , saying , Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day . And the people were faint . * 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 . * How much more , if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found ? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines ? * And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon : and the people were very faint . * And the people flew 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * And Saul built an altar unto the LORD : the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD . * 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 . * 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 . * And Saul said , Draw ye near hither , all the chief of the people : and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day . * For , as the LORD liveth , which saveth Israel , though it be in Jonathan my son , he shall surely die . But there was not a man among all the people that answered him . * 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 . * Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel , Give a perfect lot . And Saul and Jonathan were taken : but the people escaped . * And Saul said , Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son . And Jonathan was taken . * Then Saul said to Jonathan , Tell me what thou hast done . And Jonathan told him , and said , I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand , and , lo , I must die . * And Saul answered , God do so and more also : for thou shalt surely die , Jonathan . * 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 . * Then Saul went up from following the Philistines : and the Philistines went to their own place . * So Saul took the kingdom over Israel , and fought against all his enemies on every side , against Moab , and against the children of Ammon , and against Edom , and against the kings of Zobah , and against the Philistines : and whithersoever he turned himself , he vexed them . * And he gathered an host , and smote the Amalekites , and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them .

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