23. And the Lord saved Israel on that day. But the fight continued as far as Bethaven.
24. And the men of Israel were joined together on that day. And Saul made the people swear, saying, "Cursed be the man who will eat bread, until evening, until I am avenged of my enemies." And the entire people did not consume bread.
25. And all the common people went into a forest, in which there was honey on the surface of the field.
26. And so the people entered the forest, and there appeared flowing honey, but no one drew his hand near his mouth. For the people were afraid of the oath.
27. But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people to an oath. And so he extended the top of the staff that he was holding in his hand, and he dipped it in a honeycomb. And he turned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were brightened.
28. And in response, one of the people said, "Your father has bound the people by an oath, saying: 'Cursed be the man who will eat any bread this day.' " (For the people were faint.)
29. And Jonathan said: "My father has troubled the land. You have seen for yourselves that my eyes were brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30. How much more so, if the people had eaten from the plunder that they find with their enemies? Would not a greater slaughter have been accomplished among the Philistines?"
31. Therefore, on that day, they struck down the Philistines, from Michmash as far as Aijalon. But the people were exceedingly wearied.
32. And turning to the spoils, they took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and they slew them on the ground. And the people ate with blood.
33. Then they reported to Saul, saying that the people had sinned against the Lord, eating with blood. And he said: "You have transgressed. Roll a great stone to me, here and now."
34. And Saul said: "Disperse yourselves among the common people, and tell each one of them to bring to me his ox and his ram, and to slay them upon this stone, and to eat, so that you will not sin against the Lord, in eating with blood." And so, each one, out of all the people, brought his ox, by his own hand, throughout the night. And they slew them there.
35. Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. And so, it was then that he first began to build an altar to the Lord.
36. And Saul said: "Let us fall upon the Philistines by night, and lay waste to them even until the morning light. And let us not leave behind a man among them." And the people said, "Do all that seems good in your eyes." And the priest said, "Let us draw near to God in this place."
37. And Saul consulted the Lord: "Shall I pursue the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hands of Israel?" And he did not respond to him on that day.
38. And Saul said: "Bring here every single leader of the people. And we shall know and see by whom this sin was committed this day.
39. As the Lord lives, who is the Saviour of Israel, even if it were done by my son Jonathan, without retraction he shall die." In this, no one among all the people contradicted him.
40. And he said to all of Israel, "Separate yourselves on one side, and I, with my son Jonathan, will be on the other side." And the people responded to Saul, "Do what seems good in your eyes."