³⁶Saul 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.”

³⁷So 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.

³⁸Saul said to the leaders of the army, “Come here. Let’s find out what sin has been committed today. ³⁹You 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.

⁴⁰Then 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.

⁴¹Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel. He said, “Give me an answer.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen by using lots. The other men were cleared of blame.

⁴²Saul said, “Cast the lot to find out whether I or my son Jonathan is to blame.” And Jonathan was chosen.

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