Study Desk

And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adiured the people, saying, Cursed bee the man that eateth any foode vntill euening, that I may be auenged on mine enemies: so none of the people tasted any food.

And all they of the land came to a wood, and there was honie vpon the ground.

And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honie dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

But Ionathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath; wherefore he put foorth the ende of the rodde that was in his hand, and dipt it in an hony combe, 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 Ionathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes haue beene enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honie:

How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoile of their enemies which they found? for had there not beene now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aiialon: and the people were very faint.

And the people flewe vpon the spoile, and tooke sheepe, and oxen, and calues, and slew them on the ground, and the people did eate them with the blood.

Then they tolde Saul, saying, Behold, the people sinne against the Lord, in that they eate with the blood. And he said, Yee haue transgressed: roule a great stone vnto mee this day.

And Saul said, Disperse your selues among the people, and say vnto them, Bring me hither euery man his oxe, and euery man his sheepe, and slay them here, and eat, and sinne not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought euery man his oxe with him that night, and slew them there.

And Saul built an altar vnto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built vnto the Lord.

And Saul saide, Let vs goe downe after the Philistines by night, and spoile them vntil the morning light, and let vs not leaue a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoeuer seemeth good vnto thee. Then said the priest, Let vs draw neere hither vnto God.

And Saul asked counsell of God, Shall I goe downe after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliuer them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

And Saul said, Draw yee neere hither all the chiefe of the people: and know and see, wherein this sinne hath beene this day.

For as the Lord liueth, which saueth Israel, though it bee in Ionathan my sonne, he shall surely die: But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

Then said he vnto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I, and Ionathan my sonne will be on the other side. And the people said vnto Saul, Doe what seemeth good vnto thee.

Therefore Saul saide vnto the Lord God of Israel, Giue a perfect lot. And Saul and Ionathan were taken: but the people escaped.

And Saul said, Cast lots betweene me and Ionathan my sonne. And Ionathan was taken.

Then Saul said to Ionathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Ionathan tolde him, and said, I did but taste a litle hony with the end of the rodde that was in mine hand, and loe, I must die.

And Saul answered, God do so, and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Ionathan.

And the people said vnto Saul, Shall Ionathan die, who hath wrought this great saluation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liueth, there shal not one haire of his head fall to the ground: for hee hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Ionathan, that hee died not.

Then Saul went vp from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their owne place.