30. How much more if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? Would there not have been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31. And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, but the people were very faint.
32. Therefore, the people flew upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slew them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood.
33. Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed; roll a great stone unto me this day.
34. And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people and tell each one to bring his ox and his sheep here unto me and slay them here and eat and do not sin against the Lord in eating with the blood. And of all the people, each one brought his ox with him that night and slew them there.
35. And Saul built an altar unto the Lord; the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord.
36. And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatever seems good unto thee. Then the priest said, Let us draw near unto God here.
37. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.
38. Then Saul said, Bring here all the chief of the people and know and see by whom this sin has been this day.
39. For, as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40. Then he said unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seems good unto thee.
41. Therefore, Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Show who is without blemish. And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people went out free.
42. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43. Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; must I die for this.
44. And Saul answered, God do so and more also, for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.