1 Samuel 14:24-46

GOD’S WORD Translation

²⁴ Israel’s soldiers were driven hard that day. Saul made the troops swear, “Cursed is anyone who eats food before the evening comes and before I’ve gotten revenge on my enemies.” So none of his troops tasted any food. ²⁵ The entire land had honeycombs,^[a] and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When the troops entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth, because the troops were afraid of violating their oath.

²⁷ Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father forced the troops 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. ²⁸ Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the troops to take a solemn oath: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’ ”

Now, the army was exhausted. ²⁹ Jonathan answered, “My father has brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey? ³⁰ If only the troops had eaten some of the enemies’ food, which they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.”

³¹ That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the troops were thoroughly exhausted. ³² So the troops seized the Philistines’ belongings. They took sheep, cows, and calves, and butchered them on the ground. The troops ate the meat with blood still in it. ³³ Some ⌞soldiers⌟ told Saul, “The troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.”

Saul replied, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large rock over to me now.” ³⁴ Then Saul said, “Spread out through the troops, and tell them, ‘Each of you, bring me your ox or your sheep, and butcher it here, and eat. But don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.’ ”

So each of the soldiers brought his ox with him that night and butchered it there.

³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.

³⁶ Saul said ⌞to his men⌟, “Let’s attack the Philistines tonight and take their possessions until the light of dawn. And let’s not leave any of them ⌞alive⌟.”

“Do whatever you think is best,” they responded.

But the priest said, “Let’s consult God first.”

³⁷ Then Saul asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But he received no answer that day.

³⁸ So Saul ordered all the leaders of the troops, “Come here! Find out what sin was committed today. ³⁹ I solemnly swear, as the Lord and Savior of Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan ⌞who did it⌟, he must die.” But not one of the soldiers replied.

⁴⁰ Saul told all Israel, “You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.”

“Do whatever you think is best,” the troops responded to Saul.

⁴¹ Then Saul said to the Lord, “O God of Israel, why didn’t you answer me today? If this sin is mine or my son Jonathan’s, Lord God of Israel, ⌞let the priest⌟ draw Urim. But if it is in your people Israel,^[b] ⌞let him⌟ draw Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, and the people were freed ⌞from guilt⌟.

⁴² “Choose between me and my son Jonathan,” Saul said. Then Jonathan was chosen.

⁴³ “Tell me,” Saul asked Jonathan. “What did you do?”

So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey on the tip of the staff I had in my hand. And for that I am to die?”

⁴⁴ Saul said, “May God do worse things to me than are in this curse if you do not die, Jonathan!”

⁴⁵ The troops asked Saul, “Should Jonathan die after he has won this great victory in Israel? That would be unthinkable! We solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground, because he has done this with God’s help today.” So the troops rescued Jonathan from death. ⁴⁶ Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines. So the Philistines returned to their own land.