35. Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36. Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder amongst them until the morning light, and let’s not leave a man of them.”They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.”Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.”
37. Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.
38. Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been today.
39. For, as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man amongst all the people who answered him.
40. Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.”The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41. Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Show the right.”Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
42. Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.”Jonathan was selected.
43. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!”Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.”
44. Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
45. The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn’t die.
46. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
47. Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them.
48. He did valiantly, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
49. Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50. The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.