³¹ They struck down the Philistines that day from ^(A)Michmash to ^(B)Aijalon. And the people were very ^(C)faint. ³² The people ^(D)pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them ^(E)with the blood. ³³ Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating ^(F)with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.”^{[a] 34} And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. ³⁵ And Saul ^(G)built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

³⁶ Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But ^(H)the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” ³⁷ And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” ^(I)But he did not answer him that day. ³⁸ And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. ³⁹ For ^(J)as the Lord lives who saves Israel, ^(K)though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. ⁴⁰ Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” ⁴¹ Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”^{[b] (L)}And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. ⁴² Then Saul said, ^(M)“Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, ^(N)“Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, ^(O)“I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” ⁴⁴ And Saul said, ^(P)“God do so to me and more also; ^(Q)you shall surely die, Jonathan.” ⁴⁵ Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! ^(R)As the Lord lives, ^(S)there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel's Enemies

⁴⁷ When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, ^(T)against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of ^(U)Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. ⁴⁸ And he did valiantly ^(V)and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

^49 (W)Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was ^(X)Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. ⁵⁰ And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. ^(Y)And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, ^(Z)Saul's uncle. ^51 (AA)Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of ^(AB)Abiel.

⁵² There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, ^(AC)he attached him to himself.