28
Then answeredone of the people, and said, Thy fatherstraitlycharged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.[a]
29
Then saidJonathan, My father hath troubled the land:see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30
How much more, if haply the people had eatenfreely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greaterslaughter among the Philistines?
31
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were veryfaint.
32
And the peopleflew* upon the spoil, and tooksheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
33
Then they toldSaul,saying, Behold, the peoplesin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed:[b]roll a greatstone unto me this day.
34
And Saulsaid, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the peoplebrought every man his ox with him[c] that night, and slew them there.
35
And Saulbuilt an altar unto the LORD: the same was the firstaltar that he built unto the LORD.
36
And Saulsaid, Let us go downafter the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morninglight, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemethgood unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw nearhither unto God.
37
And Saulasked counsel of God, Shall I go downafter the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38
And Saulsaid, Draw ye nearhither, all the chief[d] of the people: and know and seewherein this sin hath been this day.