6. Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on now, let’s go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.”
7. His armor bearer said, “Go ahead. Do what you think best. I’m with you all the way.”
29-30. Jonathan said, “My father has imperiled the country. Just look how quickly my energy has returned since I ate a little of this honey! It would have been a lot better, believe me, if the soldiers had eaten their fill of whatever they took from the enemy. Who knows how much worse we could have whipped them!”
31-32. They killed Philistines that day all the way from Micmash to Aijalon, but the soldiers ended up totally exhausted. Then they started plundering. They grabbed anything in sight—sheep, cattle, calves—and butchered it where they found it. Then they glutted themselves—meat, blood, the works.
33-34. Saul was told, “Do something! The soldiers are sinning against God. They’re eating meat with the blood still in it!”Saul said, “You’re biting the hand that feeds you! Roll a big rock over here—now!” He continued, “Disperse among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring your oxen and sheep to me and butcher them properly here. Then you can feast to your heart’s content. Please don’t sin against God by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”And so they did. That night each soldier, one after another, led his animal there to be butchered.
35. That’s the story behind Saul’s building an altar to God. It’s the first altar to God that he built.
36. Saul said, “Let’s go after the Philistines tonight! We can spend the night looting and plundering. We won’t leave a single live Philistine!”“Sounds good to us,” said the troops. “Let’s do it!”But the priest slowed them down: “Let’s find out what God thinks about this.”