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                                                                                          MAY 6
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                   the hand of Israel.”  And Jonathan climbed up  26 And when the people had come into the
                   on his hands and knees with his armorbearer  woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no
                   after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And  one put his hand to his mouth, for the people
                   as he came after him, his armorbearer killed  feared the oath.  But Jonathan had not heard
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                   them.  That first slaughter which Jonathan  his father charge the people with the oath;
                   and his armorbearer made was about twenty  therefore he stretched out the end of the rod
                   men within about half an acre of land.  that was in his hand and dipped it in a honey-
                     15 And there was trembling in the camp, in  comb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his
                   the field, and among all the people. The garri-  countenance brightened.  Then one of the peo-
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                   son and the raiders also trembled; and the  ple said, “Your father strictly charged the people
                   earth quaked, so that it was a very great trem-  with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who
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                   bling.  Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah  eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.
                   of Benjamin looked, and there was the multi-  29 But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled
                   tude, melting away; and they went here and  the land. Look now, how my countenance has
                                                          brightened because I tasted a little of this
                                                          honey.  How much better if the people had
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                                                          eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies
                                                          which they found! For now would there not
                     14:15 the earth quaked. The earthquake  have been a much  greater slaughter among
                     affirms the fact that divine intervention aided  the Philistines?”
                     Jonathan and his armorbearer in their raid.  31 Now they had driven back the Philistines
                     The earthquake caused a panic among the  that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the peo-
                     Philistines. God would have intervened on  ple were very faint.  And the people rushed on
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                     Saul’s behalf in such a manner had he chosen
                     to be faithfully patient (see 13:9).  the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves,
                                                          and slaughtered them on the ground; and the
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                                                          people ate  them with the blood.  Then they
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                   there.  Then Saul said to the people who were  told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning
                   with him, “Now call the roll and see who has  against the LORD by eating with the blood!”
                   gone from us.” And when they had called the  So he said, “You have dealt treacherously;
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                   roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbear-  roll a large stone to me this day.”  Then Saul
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                   er  were not  there. And Saul said to Ahijah,  said, “Disperse yourselves among the people,
                   “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time  and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s
                   the ark of God was with the children of Israel).  ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter  them
                   19 Now it happened, while Saul talked to the  here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD
                   priest, that the noise which was in the camp of  by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the
                   the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul  people brought his ox with him that night, and
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                   said to the priest,  “Withdraw  your hand.”  slaughtered it there.  Then Saul built an altar
                   20 Then Saul and all the people who were with  to the LORD. This was the first altar that he
                   him assembled, and they went to the battle;  built to the LORD.
                   and indeed every man’s sword was against his  36 Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the
                   neighbor, and there was very great confusion.  Philistines by night, and plunder them until
                   21 Moreover the Hebrews  who were with the  the morning light; and let us not leave a man
                   Philistines before that time, who went up with  of them.”
                   them into the camp  from the surrounding  And they said, “Do whatever seems good to
                   country, they also joined the Israelites who  you.”
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                   were with Saul and Jonathan.  Likewise all the  Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to
                   men of Israel who had hidden in the moun-  God here.”
                   tains of Ephraim,  when they heard that the  37 So Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go
                   Philistines fled, they also followed hard after  down after the Philistines? Will You deliver
                   them in the battle.  So the LORD saved Israel  them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not
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                   that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.  answer him that day.  And Saul said, “Come
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                     24 And the men of Israel were distressed that  over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know
                   day, for Saul had placed the people under oath,  and see what this sin was today.  For  as the
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                   saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food  LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jon-
                   until evening, before I have taken vengeance on  athan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a
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                   my enemies.” So none of the people tasted  man among all the people answered him.  Then
                   food.  Now all the people of the land came to a  he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my
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                   forest; and there was honey on the ground.  son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.”
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