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1 Samuel / Saul's Pursuit and Jonathan's Exploits
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Hannah's Prayer for a Son Hannah Presents Samuel to the Lord Hannah's Song of Praise Eli's Corrupt Sons and Samuel's Childhood Prophecy of Judgment on Eli's House Samuel's Call and the Lord's Word to Eli Israel Defeated and the Ark Captured Eli's Death and the Birth of Ichabod The Ark Brings Judgment in Philistine Cities The Ark Returned to Israel Samuel Judges Israel and Delivers Them at Mizpah Israel Demands a King Saul Chosen and Given Signs Saul Proclaimed King by Lot Saul's Victory at Jabesh-Gilead Saul Confirmed as King at Gilgal Samuel's Farewell and Exhortation to Israel Saul's Unauthorized Sacrifice and Rebuke Philistine Pressure and Israel's Lack of Arms Jonathan's Bold Assault and Victory Saul's Rash Oath and Its Consequences Saul's Pursuit and Jonathan's Exploits Saul's Family and Mighty Men Saul's Disobedience and Rejection as King David Anointed by Samuel David Serves Saul and Eases His Torment David and Goliath David's Rise and Saul's Jealousy Saul's Attempts on David's Life and Jonathan's Intervention David and Jonathan's Covenant David at Nob: Bread and Goliath's Sword David Feigns Madness at Gath David Gathers Followers and Seeks Priestly Aid Massacre at Nob and Abiathar Joins David David Delivers Keilah and Inquires of God Saul's Pursuit, Ziphite Betrayal, and David's Escape David Spares Saul in a Cave Nabal's Folly and Abigail's Intervention David Again Spares Saul in His Camp David Seeks Refuge with Achish Saul and the Witch of Endor The Philistines Reject David David Recovers His Family and Defeats the Amalekites The Death of Saul and His Sons

Saul's Pursuit and Jonathan's Exploits

1 Samuel 14:24-48

14
Chapter 14
24 And a man of Israel drew near that day and adjured the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats bread until evening, and I will avenge myself on my enemies." And all the people did not taste bread. 25 And all the land came to the forest, and there was honey on the face of the field. 26 And the people came to the forest, and there was honey dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 And Jonathan had not heard his father adjuring the people. So he sent the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. And he returned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened. 28 And a man from the people responded and said, "Your father strictly charged the people, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats bread today,' and the people grew faint." 29 And Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See, please, how my eyes have brightened because I have tasted a little of this honey." 30 Even if he had not eaten, he would have eaten today from the spoil of his enemies which he found, for now the strike has not multiplied among the Philistines. 31 And they struck the Philistines on that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people grew greatly weary. 32 And the people rushed upon the spoil and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 And they told Saul, saying, "Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously with the covenant. Roll a great stone to me today." 34 And Saul said, "Disperse among the people and say to them, 'Bring near to me each man his ox and each man his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" And all the people drew near that night, each man his ox in his hand, and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; this was the first altar he built to the LORD. 36 And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and attack them until the light of the morning, and not leave a man of them." And the people said, "Do all that is good in your eyes." And the priest said, "Let us approach here to God." 37 And Saul asked God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see in what this sin has occurred today." 39 For as the LORD lives, who rescues Israel, if it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. And none answered him from all the people. 40 And he said to all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what is good in your eyes." 41 And Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Give perfection," and Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people went out. 42 And Saul said, "Cast it between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was captured. 43 And Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you did." And Jonathan told him and said, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die." 44 And Saul said, "May God do this, and may he add to it, for you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 And the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! As the LORD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." And the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. 46 Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their place. 47 And Saul secured the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side—in Moab and the sons of Ammon and Edom and the kings of Zobah and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he acted wickedly. 48 And he did mightily and struck Amalek and delivered Israel from the hand of its oppressor.