170 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

mies so far as they might have done, and at evening
they fell so eagerly upon their food that they devoured
meat half raw, and did not even wait till the cattle
were properly. killed. Saul thought of continuing the
pursuit that night. His people made no objection.
The high priest who was with him said that they ought
to ask advice from God. To this Saul agreed. They
asked, but their prayers were not answered. This
shewed the king that some of the people had disobeyed
him, and he resolved to discover the offender, that he
might put him to death. Some of the people knew
what Jonathan had done, but none of them would tell
of it. The only plan to find out the offender was to
cast lots, which Saul did, and Jonathan was taken. His
father asked what he had done. He frankly confessed
that he had taken a little honey, and gave himself up
to die without urging anything in his own defence—
neither his ignorance of his father’s command, nor the
great obligations the people were under to him.

Johnnie. But Saul would not kill Jonathan, seeing
he did not know of the command ?

Grandfather. Saul passed sentence upon his son very
speedily. He wished that God would do so to himself,
and more, if Jonathan did not die. Yet Jonathan did
not die. The people rose up in his defence,—* Shall
Jonathan die,” they exclaimed, “ who hath wrought
this great salvation in Israel?” They had submitted
to their king in everything else, however contrary to
their own natural inclinations, but they could not sub-