it before the
night came on, and obliged them so to do, he should be accursed. Now
after Saul had denounced this curse, since they were now in a wood
belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, which was thick and full of bees,
Saul's son, who did not hear his father denounce that curse, nor hear
of the approbation the multitude gave to it, broke off a piece of a
honey-comb, and ate part of it. But, in the mean time, he was informed
with what a curse his father had forbidden them to taste any thing
before sun-setting: so he left off eating, and said his father had not
done well in this prohibition, because, had they taken some food, they
had pursued the enemy with greater rigor and alacrity, and had both
taken and slain many more of their enemies.

4. When, therefore, they had slain many ten thousands of the
Philistines, they fell upon spoiling the camp of the Philistines, but
not till late in the evening. They also took a great deal of prey and
cattle, and killed them, and ate them with their blood. This was told to
the king by the scribes, that the multitude were sinning against God as
they sacrificed, and were eating before the blood was well washed away,
and the flesh was made clean. Then did Saul give order that a great
stone should be rolled into the midst of them, and he made proclamation
that they should kill their sacrifices upon it, and not feed upon the
flesh with the blood, for that was not acceptable to God. And when all
the people did as the king commanded them, Saul erected an altar there,
and offered burnt-offerings upon it to God [14] This was the first altar
that Saul built.

5. So when Saul was desirous of leading his men to the enemy's camp
before it was day, in order to plunder it, and when the soldiers were
not unwilling to follow him, but indeed showed great readiness to do as
he commanded them, the king called Ahitub the high priest, and enjoined
him to know of God whether he would grant them the favor and permission
to go against the enemy's camp, in order to destroy those that were
in it. And when the priest said that God did not give any answer, Saul
replied, "And not without some cause does God refuse to answer what we
inquire of him, while yet a little while ago he declared to us all that
we desired beforehand, and even prevented us in his answer. To be sure
there is some sin against him that is concealed from us, which is the
occasion of his silence. Now I swear by him himself, that though he that