And the people said unto Saul, "Do what seemeth good unto thee."
Therefore Saul said unto the Lord, the God of Israel, "Show the right." And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot: but the people escaped.
And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.
Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what thou hast done."
And Jonathan told him, and said, "I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand; and, lo, I must die."
And Saul said, "God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan."
And the people said unto Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day."
So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
THE MEANING OF THE STORY
215 (§65A). There was a strong enemy on the western coast that was the most serious trouble to Israel. It was to save themselves from these people that the Hebrews had longed for a king. Imagine how we should feel if some foreign nation should capture New York and Chicago and St. Louis and San Francisco and should compel us to give up a large part of our crops every year. We should look for a great general to lead us to turn them out. What then did Saul feel was his first duty as king? He had with him his noble son: what was his name? The first blow was struck at the town of Geba: what followed at once?