And they answered him with one voice: ‘Yea!’

They raised the war cry, and descending into the ravine now veiled milk-white with the mists of morning, advanced to the attack. And lo, when they came to the camp of the Philistines, and the light of day grew clear, and the sun shone, the whole host of them was in wild conflict, horsemen and chariot, none knowing friend from foe. Every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great confusion. In the midst of it Israel swept down upon them; and they broke and fled.

Moreover, when the Hebrews that had treacherously joined the ranks of the raiders saw that the victory was with the king, they turned against the Philistines and fought with the Israelites under Saul and Jonathan. Report also that the Philistines were in flight spread far and wide, and the troops who had deserted the king, and the people who were in hiding among the forests and caves and mountains of Ephraim, flocked to Saul’s standard, and followed hard after him in the battle.

So the Lord saved Israel, and the battle passed over and westward through the valley, and beyond the pass of Beth-horon. Ten thousand men of Israel fought with Saul that day, and the pursuit was scattered over all the mountainous country of Ephraim.

But as the day drew on and the sun rose high in the heavens and the heat increased, the men of Israel began to be sorely distressed for want of food. When the trumpet sounded at dawn, few had broken their fast, and none since then had tasted a morsel, as Saul had decreed.

And those who were with Jonathan in the pursuit came soon after noon to a rocky waste where grew a few sparse trees, casting a dappled shade. And in the hollows of the rocks, above which the air shimmered crystal in the heat, there was an abundance of honey-comb, now deserted by the bees that had made it. The honey itself was oozing out from the crevices in the rocks, and revealed this hidden store. All who had heard the king’s vow sped on, and tasted it not, for they feared the curse that he had spoken.

But Jonathan, who knew nothing of it, and was even worse spent than any with him since he had neither stayed to rest nor eaten since nightfall, thrust into the honeycomb the battle-club that was in his hand and dipped it into the honey. He put his hand to his mouth and ate of the honey. Light came back into his eyes, and he was refreshed.

When one of those who came running after through the wood chanced to see it, he said to Jonathan: ‘Knowest thou not that thy father the king straitly charged the people with an oath saying: “Cursed be the man that tasteth food this day”?’

Jonathan was sorely troubled, and ate no more of the honey. But he answered the man, and said: ‘Of a surety my father when he made such a vow knew not what trouble he would bring upon the troops of Israel. For see, now, though I have tasted but little of the honey, it has renewed my strength and refreshed me. How much better it would have been if all the people had done likewise and eaten freely of the spoil they have taken. Would there not by now have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?’

But he continued the pursuit and hastened on. And Israel routed the Philistines until, following the river, they came down through the valley of Ajalon and into the plain, above the city of Gath. There they turned back, for they were utterly exhausted. And they rushed upon the booty they had captured, and took of the sheep and oxen and slew them there where they found them, without offering any portion of their prey as a sacrifice to the Lord. They were famished and in distress.

When report of this was brought to Saul, he was angered that they had dealt treacherously with him, and he feared the wrath of God. He bade those who were with him roll a great stone that stood near into the open, and this he made an altar. Then he sent out heralds: ‘Disperse yourselves among the people,’ he commanded, ‘and bid every man you meet bring hither to me his ox or sheep, whatsoever he hath taken from the Philistines, and let them be slain here before the altar of the Lord that they may eat, and sin no more by refraining from sacrifice.’