16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and saw the multitude of Philistines running away, knocking one another down as they ran. 17Then Saul ordered the people who were with him to take muster, and see who is missing from among us. And when they had counted, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing. 18And Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19And while Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the army of the Philistines continued and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand” (essentially “Never mind”). 20And Saul assembled all his people and went into battle; and they found the Philistines in great confusion – with every Philistine's sword used against his fellow soldier. 21And even the Hebrews from the surrounding country, who had been with the Philistines gone up with them into their camp, turned to join with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 22And also, all the Israelites who had hidden in Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, pursued them in the battle. 23So on that day, the LORD saved Israel; and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven. 24And the men of Israel were distressed that day; because Saul had solemnly charged the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats any food until evening, that I may be avenged on my enemies”. So none of the people tasted any food. 25And all they of the land came to a forest; and there was honey upon the ground. 26And when the people had come into the forest, behold, the honey was dripping, but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people with the oath; so, therefore, he put dipped the end of the rod in his hand into a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were brightened. 28Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats any food this day’”. And the people were faint. 29Then Jonathan said, “My father has unnecessarily troubled the land; look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much better, if all the men had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For would there not been an even greater slaughter among the Philistines?”

31And they struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon; and the people were very weak and exhausted. 32And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they ate with the blood”. And he said, “You have transgressed; find and roll a great stone over to me this day”. 34And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, “Bring every man’s ox or his sheep here to me, and slay them here, and eat; and not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood”. And all the men brought them killed them there that night. 35And Saul built an altar unto the LORD; it was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

36And Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light, and not leave one of them alive”. And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you”. Then the priest said, “Let us draw near here to God.” 37And Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day. 38And Saul said, “Draw near here, all the leaders of the people; and let us find out where this sin has been committed this day. 39For, as the LORD lives, Who saves Israel, even if it be in Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die”. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40Then he said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and Jonathan, my son, will stand on the other side”. And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you”. 41Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot”. And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan, my son”. And Jonathan was taken. 43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done”. And Jonathan told him, and said, “I did taste just a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and, lo, I must die”. 44And Saul answered, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan”. 45And the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for all he has done with God this day.” So, the people rescued Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines returned to their own place.

47So Saul took over the kingdom Israel, and fought against all its enemies on every side, against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, the Philistines; and wherever he turned himself, he defeated them. 48And he gathered an army, and struck the Amalekites, and rescued Israel out of the hands that plundered them.

49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were Merab, the older, and Michal, the younger. 50And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.

52And there was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any strong or valiant man, he took him for his army.