34. Then Saul said, “Go to the men and tell them that each one must bring his bull and sheep to me. Then the men must kill their bulls and sheep here. Don’t sin against the Lord! Don’t eat meat that still has blood in it.” That night everyone brought their animals and killed them there.
35. Then Saul built an altar for the Lord. Saul himself began building that altar for the Lord.
36. Saul said, “Let’s go after the Philistines tonight. We will take everything from them. We will kill them all!” The army answered, “Do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God.”
37. So Saul asked God, “Should I go chase the Philistines? Will you let us defeat the Philistines?” But God did not answer Saul that day.
38. So Saul said, “Bring all the leaders to me! Let’s find who committed the sin today.
39. I swear by the Lord who saves Israel, that even if my own son Jonathan sinned, he must die.” None of the people said a word.
40. Then Saul said to all the Israelites, “You stand on this side. I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” The soldiers answered, “As you wish, sir.”
41. Then Saul prayed, “Lord, God of Israel, why haven’t you answered me today? Show us who sinned. If it was I or my son Jonathan, give Urim. But if it was your people Israel who sinned, give Thummim.” Saul and Jonathan were shown to be the ones who sinned, and the people went free.
42. Saul said, “Throw them again to show the guilty one—me or my son Jonathan.” Jonathan was shown to be the one.
43. Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told Saul, “I only tasted a little honey from the end of my stick. Should I die for doing that?”
44. Saul said, “I made an oath and asked God to punish me if I didn’t keep it. Jonathan, you must die.”
45. But the soldiers said to Saul, “Jonathan led Israel to a great victory today. Must Jonathan die? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair of Jonathan’s head will fall to the ground! God helped Jonathan fight against the Philistines today.” So the people saved Jonathan from death.
46. Saul did not chase the Philistines. The Philistines went back to their place.
47. Saul took full control of Israel and fought all the enemies who lived around Israel. Saul fought Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the king of Zobah, and the Philistines. He defeated Israel’s enemies wherever he went.
48. Saul was very brave. He saved Israel from all the enemies who tried to take things from the Israelites. He even defeated the Amalekites.