hath committed this sin should prove to be my own son Jonathan, I will
slay him, and by that means will appease the anger of God against us,
and that in the very same manner as if I were to punish a stranger,
and one not at all related to me, for the same offense." So when the
multitude cried out to him so to do, he presently set all the rest on
one side, and he and his son stood on the other side, and he sought to
discover the offender by lot. Now the lot appeared to fall upon Jonathan
himself. So when he was asked by his father what sin he had been guilty
of, and what he was conscious of in the course of his life that might
be esteemed instances of guilt or profaneness, his answer was this, "O
father, I have done nothing more than that yesterday, without knowing of
the curse and oath thou hadst denounced, while I was in pursuit of the
enemy, I tasted of a honey-comb." But Saul sware that he would slay him,
and prefer the observation of his oath before all the ties of birth and
of nature. And Jonathan was not dismayed at this threatening of death,
but, offering himself to it generously and undauntedly, he said, "Nor do
I desire you, father, to spare me: death will be to me very acceptable,
when it proceeds from thy piety, and after a glorious victory; for it is
the greatest consolation to me that I leave the Hebrews victorious over
the Philistines." Hereupon all the people were very sorry, and greatly
afflicted for Jonathan; and they sware that they would not overlook
Jonathan, and see him die, who was the author of their victory. By which
means they snatched him out of the danger he was in from his father's
curse, while they made their prayers to God also for the young man, that
he would remit his sin.

6. So Saul, having slain about sixty thousand of the enemy, returned
home to his own city, and reigned happily: and he also fought against
the neighboring nations, and subdued the Ammonites, and Moabites, and
Philistines, and Edomites, and Amalekites, as also the king of Zobah. He
had three male children, Jonathan, and Isui, and Melchishua; with Merab
and Michal his daughters. He had also Abner, his uncle's son, for the
captain of his host: that uncle's name was Ner. Now Ner, and Kish the
father of Saul, were brothers. Saul had also a great many chariots and
horsemen, and against whomsoever he made war he returned conqueror, and
advanced the affairs of the Hebrews to a great degree of success and
prosperity, and made t