24. The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

25. All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.

26. When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.

27. But JONATHAN didn't hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod who was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.

28. Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food today.'" The people were faint.

29. Then JONATHAN said, "My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30. How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines."

31. They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;

32. and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

33. Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people are sinning against The LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood."He said, "You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!"

34. Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, 'Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don't sin against the LORD in eating meat with the blood.'" All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.

35. Saul built an altar to The LORD. This was the first altar that he built to The LORD.

36. Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them."They said, "Do whatever seems good to you."Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."

37. Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he didn't answer him that day.

38. Saul said, "Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been today.

39. For, as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is 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 be on one side, and I and JONATHAN my son will be on the other side."The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

41. Therefore Saul said to The LORD, the God of Israel, "Show the right."JONATHAN and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.

42. Saul said, "Cast lots between me and JONATHAN my son."JONATHAN was selected.

43. Then Saul said to JONATHAN, "Tell me what you have done!"JONATHAN told him, and said, "I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die."