1 Samuel 14:35-46

New American Standard Bible

³⁵ And ^(A)Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

³⁶ Then Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let’s not leave a man among them alive.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good ^[a]to you.” So ^(B)the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.” ³⁷ So Saul ^(C)inquired of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But ^(D)He did not answer him on that day. ³⁸ Then Saul said, “^(E)[b]Come here, all you ^[c]leaders of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. ³⁹ For ^(F)as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall assuredly die!” But not one of all the people answered him. ⁴⁰ Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good ^[d]to you.” ⁴¹ Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “^(G)Give a ^[e]perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people ^[f]were exonerated. ⁴² Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected by lot.

⁴³ So Saul said to Jonathan, “^(H)Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “^(I)I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” ⁴⁴ And Saul said, “^(J)May God do the same to me and more also, for ^(K)you shall certainly die, Jonathan!” ⁴⁵ But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, he who has ^[g]brought about this great ^[h]victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, ^(L)not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because ^(M)he has worked with God this day.” So the people ^[i]rescued Jonathan and he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul went up from ^[j]pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.