33-34 Saul was told, “Do something! The soldiers are sinning against God. They’re eating meat with the blood still in it!”Saul said, “You’re biting the hand that feeds you! Roll a big rock over here—now!” He continued, “Disperse among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring your oxen and sheep to me and butcher them properly here. Then you can feast to your heart’s content. Please don’t sin against God by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”And so they did. That night each soldier, one after another, led his animal there to be butchered.
35 That’s the story behind Saul’s building an altar to God. It’s the first altar to God that he built.
36 Saul said, “Let’s go after the Philistines tonight! We can spend the night looting and plundering. We won’t leave a single live Philistine!”“Sounds good to us,” said the troops. “Let’s do it!”But the priest slowed them down: “Let’s find out what God thinks about this.”
37 So Saul prayed to God, “Shall I go after the Philistines? Will you put them in Israel’s hand?” God didn’t answer him on that occasion.
38-39 Saul then said, “All army officers, step forward. Some sin has been committed this day. We’re going to find out what it is and who did it! As God lives, Israel’s Savior God, whoever sinned will die, even if it should turn out to be Jonathan, my son!”Nobody said a word.
40 Saul said to the Israelites, “You line up over on that side, and I and Jonathan my son will stand on this side.”The army agreed, “Fine. Whatever you say.”
41 Then Saul prayed to God, “O God of Israel, why haven’t you answered me today? Show me the truth. If the sin is in me or Jonathan, then, O God, give the sign Urim. But if the sin is in the army of Israel, give the sign Thummim.”The Urim sign turned up and pointed to Saul and Jonathan. That cleared the army.