Study Desk

All the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, so even they pursued them closely in the battle.

So on that day Yahweh delivered Israel, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.

Now the men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, because Saul had made the army take an oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats any food until evening, when I will have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the army tasted any food.

However, Jonathan had not heard about the oath of his father with the army, so he extended the end of the staff which was in his hand, and he dipped it into the honeycomb. Then he put his hand to his mouth and his eyes gleamed.

Then a man from the army informed him and said, "Your father made the army swear a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today,'" so the army is exhausted.

So they reported it to Saul, saying, "Look! The troops are sinning against Yahweh by eating the animals with the blood!" And he said, "You have dealt treacherously! Roll to me a large stone today!"

Then Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the troops and say to them, ‘Bring to me each one his ox and each his sheep and slaughter them in this place and eat, but do not sin against Yahweh by eating the animals with the blood.'" So all the troops brought them, each leading his ox in his hand that night, and slaughtered it there.

Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and let us plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave alive a man among them." So they said, "Do all that is good in your eyes." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here."

So Saul inquired of God, "Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him on that day.

Then Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, so that we find out what the sin was this day.

So Saul said, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him and said, "I merely tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die."

Then Saul said, "So may God do to me and more, you will certainly die today, Jonathan!"

But the army said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who accomplished this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not a hair from his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the army ransomed Jonathan and he did not die.

So Saul took the kingship over Israel, and he fought all around against his enemies, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. He inflicted punishment against all who rebelled.

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Yahweh sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. So then, listen to the words of Yahweh!

So then, go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that is his! You must not spare him, but kill both man and woman, both child and nursing infant, both ox and sheep, both camel and donkey.'"

Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, leave! Withdraw from among the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you with them. You have shown loyal love to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites left from among the Amalekites.

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop and let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night." So he said to him, "Speak."

So then, please pardon my sin and return with me so that I can worship Yahweh."

Then he said, "I have sinned! Now please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so that I can worship Yahweh your God."