Jonathan Eats Honey

²⁴ The Israelites became very hungry that day. That’s because Saul had forced the army to make a promise. He had said, “None of you must eat any food before evening comes. You must not eat until I’ve paid my enemies back for what they did. If you do, may you be under a curse!” So none of the troops ate any food at all.

²⁵ The whole army entered the woods. There was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When they went into the woods, they saw the honey dripping out of a honeycomb. No one put any of the honey in his mouth. They were afraid of the curse that would come if they broke their promise. ²⁷ But Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father had forced the army to make a promise. Jonathan had a long stick in his hand. He reached out and dipped the end of it into the honeycomb. He put some honey in his mouth. It gave him new life. ²⁸ Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the army to make a promise that everyone must obey. He said, ‘None of you must eat any food today. If you do, may you be under a curse!’ That’s why the men are weak and ready to faint.”

²⁹ Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how I gained new life after I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ Our soldiers took food from their enemies today. Suppose they had eaten some of it. How much better off they would have been! Even more Philistines would have been killed.”

³¹ That day the Israelites struck down the Philistines. They killed them from Mikmash to Aijalon. By that time they were tired and worn out. ³² They grabbed what they had taken from their enemies. They killed some of the sheep, cattle and calves right there on the ground. They ate the meat while the blood was still in it. ³³ Then someone said to Saul, “Look! The men are sinning against the Lord. They’re eating meat that still has blood in it.”

Saul said to them, “You have broken your promise. Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ He continued, “Go out among the men. Tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep. Kill them here and eat them. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.’ ”

So that night everyone brought the ox he had taken and killed it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to honor the Lord. It was the first time he had done that.

³⁶ Saul said, “Let’s go down and chase after the Philistines tonight. Let’s not leave even one of them alive. Let’s take everything they have before morning.”

“Do what you think is best,” they replied.

But the priest said, “Let’s ask God for advice first.”

³⁷ So Saul asked God, “Should I go down and chase after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God didn’t answer him that day.

³⁸ Saul said to the leaders of the army, “Come here. Let’s find out what sin has been committed today. ³⁹ The Lord is the one who rescues Israel. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that the sinner must die. He must die even if he’s my son Jonathan.” But no one said anything.

⁴⁰ Then Saul said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there. I and my son Jonathan will stand over here.”

“Do what you think is best,” they replied.

⁴¹ Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel. He said, “Why haven’t you answered your servant today? If I or my son Jonathan is to blame, answer with Urim. But if the Israelites are to blame, answer with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen by casting lots. The other men were cleared of blame. ⁴² Saul said, “Cast the lot to find out whether I or my son Jonathan is to blame.” And Jonathan was chosen.

⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”

So Jonathan told him, “I used the end of my stick to get a little honey and taste it. And now do I have to die?”

⁴⁴ Saul said, “Jonathan, I must certainly put you to death. If I don’t, may God punish me greatly.”

⁴⁵ But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan be put to death? Never! He has saved Israel in a wonderful way. He did it today with God’s help. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that not even one hair on Jonathan’s head will fall to the ground.” So the men rescued Jonathan. He wasn’t put to death.

⁴⁶ Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines. They went back to their own land.