se and disorder among the Philistines kept on
increasing. Therefore, Saul said to the priest, "Do not wait to consult
Jehovah!"

Then Saul and all the people that were with him gathered together and
went into battle. And every Philistine's sword was turned upon his
fellow, so that there was a very great confusion among them. The Hebrews
who once were on the side of the Philistines and who had joined their
army also went over to the side of the Israelites who were with Saul and
Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel who were hiding in the
highlands of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines had fled,
closely followed them in the battle. So Jehovah delivered Israel that
day, and the battle passed over beyond Bethhoron. But Saul made a great
mistake that day, for he strictly commanded the people, saying, "The man
who shall eat any food until evening and until I take vengeance on my
enemies shall be punished." So none of the people tasted food.

Now there was honey on the surface of the ground; and when the people
came to the forest, they saw a stream of honey, but no one put his hand
to his mouth, for the people feared the punishment. But Jonathan had not
heard when his father commanded the people. Therefore he reached out the
end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and
put his hand to his mouth, and he felt refreshed. Then one of the people
spoke up and said, "Your father strictly commanded the people, saying,
'The man who eats food this day shall be punished.'" But Jonathan
replied, "My father has brought great trouble on the land. See how I
have been refreshed because I tasted a little of this honey. If only the
people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies, many more
of the Philistines would have been slain."

Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take
spoil until daybreak, and let us not leave one of them." They said, "Do
whatever you think best." But the priest said, "Let us ask of God." So
Saul asked of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou
deliver them over to Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.
Therefore Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and find
out who has done wrong to-day. For as surely as Jehovah the deliverer of
Israel lives, even though it be Jonathan my son, he shall die." But not
one of the people answered him.

Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonatha