37. Saul asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win?”This time God did not answer.
38. Saul called his army officers together and said, “We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering.
39. I swear by the living Lord that whoever sinned must die, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan.”No one said a word.
40. Saul told his army, “You stand on that side of the priest, and Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.”Everyone agreed.
41. Then Saul prayed, “Our Lord, God of Israel, why haven't you answered me today? Please show us who sinned. Was it my son Jonathan and I, or was it your people Israel?”The answer came back that Jonathan or Saul had sinned, not the army.
42. Saul told Ahijah, “Now ask the Lord to decide between Jonathan and me.”The answer came back that Jonathan had sinned.
43. “Jonathan,” Saul exclaimed, “tell me what you did!”“I dipped the end of my walking stick in some honey and ate a little. Now you say I have to die!”
44. “Yes, Jonathan. I swear to God that you must die.”
45. “No!” the soldiers shouted. “God helped Jonathan win the battle for us. We won't let you kill him. We swear to the Lord that we won't let you kill him or even lay a hand on him!” So the army kept Saul from killing Jonathan.
46. Saul stopped hunting down the Philistines, and they went home.
47-48. When Saul became king, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, the Philistines, and the Amalekites had all been robbing the Israelites. Saul fought back against these enemies and stopped them from robbing Israel. He was a brave commander and always won his battles.
49-51. Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. They had three sons: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. They also had two daughters: the elder one was Merab, and the younger one was Michal.Abner, Saul's cousin, was the commander of the army. Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52. Saul was at war with the Philistines for as long as he lived. Whenever he found a good warrior or a brave man, Saul made him join his army.