34. He continued, "Go out among the men. Tell them, 'Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep. Kill them here and eat them. Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.' " So that night everyone brought the ox he had taken and killed it there.
35. Then Saul built an altar to honor the Lord. It was the first time he had done that.
36. Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines tonight. Let's not leave even one of them alive. Let's take everything they have before it gets light." "Do what you think is best," they replied. But the priest said, "Let's ask God for advice first."
37. So Saul asked God, "Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?" But God didn't answer him that day.
38. Saul said to the leaders of the army, "Come here. Let's find out what sin has been committed today.
39. You can be sure that the Lord who saves Israel lives. And you can be just as sure that the sinner must die. He must die even if he's my son Jonathan." But no one said anything.
40. Then Saul spoke to all of Israel's men. He said, "You stand over there. I and my son Jonathan will stand over here." "Do what you think is best," the men replied.