1Samuel:14:24-48

nsb@1Samuel:14:24 @ And all the people were with Saul. There were about twenty thousand men. The fight was general through all the mountains of Ephraim. Saul made a great error that day. He put the people under an oath, saying: »Let that man be cursed who eats any food before evening. I have taken vengeance on my enemies.« So the people did not eat.

nsb@1Samuel:14:25 @ All the people came to the forest. There was honey on the ground. The bees had gone from it.

nsb@1Samuel:14:26 @ When the people entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth. The people were afraid of violating their oath.

nsb@1Samuel:14:27 @ Jonathan had not heard that his father forced the people to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth his eyes lit up.

nsb@1Samuel:14:28 @ Then one of the people told him: »Your father forced the people to take a solemn oath, saying: Cursed is anyone who eats food today.« That is why the people were exhausted.

nsb@1Samuel:14:29 @ Jonathan answered: »My father brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey?

nsb@1Samuel:14:30 @ »If only the people had eaten some of the enemies food they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:31 @ That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the people were thoroughly exhausted.

nsb@1Samuel:14:32 @ They grabbed the food they had captured from the Philistines and started eating. They even killed sheep and cows and calves right on the ground and ate the meat without draining the blood.

nsb@1Samuel:14:33 @ Someone told Saul: »The army is disobeying Jehovah by eating meat before the blood drains out.« »You are right,« Saul answered. »They are being unfaithful to Jehovah! Hurry! Roll a big rock over here.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:34 @ »Then tell everyone in camp to bring their cattle and lambs to me. They can kill the animals on this rock and then eat the meat. That way no one will disobey Jehovah by eating meat with blood still in it.« That night the people brought their cattle over to the big rock and killed them there.

nsb@1Samuel:14:35 @ It was the first altar Saul had built for offering sacrifices to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:14:36 @ Saul said: »Let us attack the Philistines again while it is still dark. We can fight them all night. Let us kill them and take everything they own!« The people answered: »We will do whatever you want.« Ahijah the priest said: »Wait! Let us ask God what we should do.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:37 @ Saul asked God: »Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win?« This time God did not answer.

nsb@1Samuel:14:38 @ Saul called his army officers together and said: »We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering.

nsb@1Samuel:14:39 @ »I promise by the living Jehovah, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.« But no one said anything.

nsb@1Samuel:14:40 @ Then Saul said to them: »All of you stand over there. Jonathan and I will stand over here.« »Do whatever you think best,« they answered.

nsb@1Samuel:14:41 @ Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, give a perfect lot. Jonathan and Samuel were taken, but the people escaped.

nsb@1Samuel:14:42 @ Then Saul said: »Cast lots to decide between my son Jonathan and me.« And Jonathan was indicated.

nsb@1Samuel:14:43 @ Then Saul asked Jonathan: »What have you done?« Jonathan answered: »I ate a little honey with the stick I was holding. Here I am. I am ready to die.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:44 @ Saul said: »May God strike me dead if you are not put to death!«

nsb@1Samuel:14:45 @ But the people said to Saul: »Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death?« »No! We promise by the living Jehovah that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with Gods help.« So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.

nsb@1Samuel:14:46 @ After that, Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines. The Philistines went back to their own territory.

nsb@1Samuel:14:47 @ After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere: the people of Moab, of Ammon, and of Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. He was victorious wherever he fought.

nsb@1Samuel:14:48 @ He fought heroically and defeated even the people of Amalek. He saved the Israelites from all attacks.

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