20. Saul and all the troops with him assembled and went into battle. They found Philistine soldiers killing their fellow soldiers in wild confusion.
21. The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before this and had been stationed in the camp now joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22. When all the men of Israel who had been hiding in the mountains of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also pursued the Philistines in battle.
23. So the Lord saved Israel that day.Now, the battle moved beyond Beth Aven.
24. Israel’s soldiers were driven hard that day. Saul made the troops swear, “Cursed is anyone who eats food before the evening comes and before I’ve gotten revenge on my enemies.” So none of his troops tasted any food.
25. The entire land had honeycombs, and there was honey on the ground.
26. When the troops entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth, because the troops were afraid of violating their oath.
27. Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father forced the troops to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth, his eyes lit up.
28. Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the troops to take a solemn oath: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’”Now, the army was exhausted.
29. Jonathan answered, “My father has brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey?
30. If only the troops had eaten some of the enemies’ food, which they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.”
31. That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the troops were thoroughly exhausted.
32. So the troops seized the Philistines’ belongings. They took sheep, cows, and calves, and butchered them on the ground. The troops ate the meat with blood still in it.
33. Some ⌊soldiers⌋ told Saul, “The troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.”Saul replied, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large rock over to me now.”
34. Then Saul said, “Spread out through the troops, and tell them, ‘Each of you, bring me your ox or your sheep, and butcher it here, and eat. But don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.’”So each of the soldiers brought his ox with him that night and butchered it there.