blame be with Israel or with Israel’s king. And thou thyself, Jonathan,’ he added, ‘shall be of thy father’s company.’
So he bade the priest cast lots between all Israel on the one side and himself and Jonathan on the other.
‘Is it your will,’ he said, turning again to the people, ‘that I should ask the Lord God Jehovah with whom lies the blame—on this side or on that?’
There was no voice to question it. ‘Do what seems good to thee,’ they said.
Then Saul called upon Jehovah before them all. ‘Lord God Jehovah,’ he cried, ‘I adjure thee to declare if the evil that has been done this day be with Israel or with me myself and my son Jonathan.’
And Ahiah the priest thrust in his hand beneath the breastplate—Urim for Israel, and Thummim for Saul and Jonathan. And behold, when he withdrew his hand, the face of the stone which was uppermost was engraved with the Ineffable Name. The lot was against Saul and Jonathan.
None stirred or spoke. Saul’s face darkened. He gazed at the priest, unable in his confusion to take in the full meaning of what he had said. But when it swept in upon him, and his glance roved on from one face to another of those gathered together around him, his mind was in bitter conflict. Zeal for the cause of Israel and the dread of breaking his vow had led him on to make his challenge; and now an awful doubt assailed him. But it was too late to draw back.
‘Cast lots again,’ he bade the priest harshly. ‘And this time be it between me and my son Jonathan, and may God give the judgment. For as the Lord liveth, whichever one of us is shown to be guilty he shall die the death.’
At this, cries of dissent arose on every side. Many started to their feet, entreating him to hold his hand. But the will of the king prevailed over them, and once more Ahiah drew the sacred stone from out of the breastplate, and cast the lot between Saul and his son Jonathan. And the lot was against Jonathan.
Then Saul turned himself about and gazed in fear and sorrow into Jonathan’s face. ‘Tell me, my son,’ he said, ‘what hast thou done?’
And Jonathan told him everything that he had done that day, confessing openly before them all—how he himself as he ran in the forefront of the pursuit of the Philistines had come to a rocky hollow where a few sparse trees gave their shade and where wild bees had hidden their secret store of honeycomb, and how he had tasted of the honey, being sore spent.
‘And even,’ he said, ‘as the sweetness was in my mouth, one running after me told me of the curse which thou thyself hadst uttered against any man that tasted food this day. I vow that until then no word of it had reached my ear. And I ate no more of the honey, yet was so refreshed by it that I stayed not from chasing after the Philistines until night came down. But now, seeing that I have sinned against the Lord, though I did it unwittingly, there is nought to say. Lo, I must die.’
Saul heard him out in silence; his face grey as in death. Then he rose. ‘Be God himself witness this day between me and thee, Jonathan,’ he said. ‘And if I transgress against him, may he do unto me—and more also—as I do unto thee. Thou hast thyself confessed thy sin, and thou must die.’
At this there broke out a loud and tumultuous outcry among all those assembled there.
‘God forbid! God forbid!’ they shouted. ‘Shall Jonathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel! Two against a host! As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground! The Lord of Hosts was with him.’