1 Samuel 14:24-46 And the men of Israel were distressed on that day. For Saul had commanded the people, saying, Cursed is the man that eats food until evening, so that I may be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

MKJV⁽ⁱ⁾ ²⁴ And the men of Israel were distressed on that day. For Saul had commanded the people, saying, Cursed is the man that eats food until evening, so that I may be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. ²⁵ And all the men of the land came into a forest, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ And when the people had come into the woods, behold, a flow of honey! But no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. ²⁷ But Jonathan did not hear when his father made the people swear. And he put forth the end of the rod in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth. And his eyes were lightened. ²⁸ And one from the people answered and said, Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats food this day. And the people were weary. ²⁹ Then Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. Please see how my eyes have been lightened because I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much more if the people had happened to eat freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For would not there have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? ³¹ And they struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint. ³² And the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and killed them on the ground. And the people ate with the blood. ³³ And they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah in that they eat with the blood. And he said, You have transgressed. Roll a great stone to me today. ³⁴ And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, Let each one bring his ox here, and each man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat. And do not sin against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And each man of all the people brought his ox in his hand that night, and killed them there. ³⁵ And Saul built an altar to Jehovah. The same was the first altar that he built to Jehovah. 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 all that seems good to you. Then the priest said, Let us draw near here to God. ³⁷ And Saul asked counsel of God: Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He answered him not that day. ³⁸ And Saul said, Draw near here, all the chief of the people, and know and see what this sin has been today. ³⁹ For, as Jehovah lives, He who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people who answered. ⁴⁰ Then he said to all Israel, You be on one side, and Jonathan my son and I will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you. ⁴¹ And Saul said to Jehovah, the God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. ⁴² And Saul said, Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan. And Jonathan was taken. ⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jonathan told him and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod in my hand. Behold me, I must die. ⁴⁴ And Saul answered, God do so and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan. ⁴⁵ And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked out this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! As Jehovah lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, so that he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul went up from following the Philistines. And the Philistines went to their own place.