build an altar to the Lord.
14:36. And Saul said: Let us fall upon the Philistines by night, and
destroy them till the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.
And the people said: Do all that seemeth good in thy eyes. And the
priest said: Let us draw near hither unto God.
14:37. And Saul consulted the Lord: Shall I pursue after the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? And he
answered him not that day.
14:38. And Saul said: Bring hither all the corners of the people: and
know, and see by whom this sin hath happened to day.
14:39. As the Lord liveth, who is the Saviour of Israel, if it was done
by Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die. In this none of the people
gainsayed him.
14:40. And he said to all Israel: Be you on one side and I, with
Jonathan, my son, will be on the other side. And the people answered
Saul: Do what seemeth good in thy eyes.
14:41. And Saul said to the Lord: O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by
which we may know, what the meaning is, that thou answerest not thy
servant to day: If this iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan, give a
proof: or if this iniquity be in thy people, give holiness. And Jonathan
and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.
14:42. And Saul said: Cast lots between me, and Jonathan, my son. And
Jonathan was taken.
Jonathan was taken... Though Jonathan was excused from sin, through
ignorance of the prohibition, yet God was pleased on this occasion to
let the lot fall upon him, to shew unto all the great obligation of
obedience to princes and parents.
14:43. And 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, which was in my hand, and behold I must die.
14:44. And Saul said: May God do so and so to me, and add still more:
for dying thou shalt die, O Jonathan.
14:45. And the people said to Saul: Shall Jonathan then die, who hath
wrought this great salvation in Israel? this must not be: As the Lord
liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he
hath wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that
he should not die.
14:46. And Saul went back, and did not pursue after the Philistines: and
the Philistines went to their own places.
14:47. And Saul having his kingdom established over Israel, fought
against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the
children of Ammon, an
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