43 Saul confronted Jonathan. “What did you do? Tell me!”

Jonathan said, “I licked a bit of honey off the tip of the staff I was carrying. That’s it—and for that I’m to die?”

44 Saul said, “Yes. Jonathan most certainly will die. It’s out of my hands—I can’t go against God, can I?”

45 The soldiers rose up: “Jonathan—die? Never! He’s just carried out this stunning salvation victory for Israel. As surely as God lives, not a hair on his head is going to be harmed. Why, he’s been working hand-in-hand with God all day!” The soldiers rescued Jonathan and he didn’t die.

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43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”(A)

So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey(B) with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”

44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(C) if you do not die, Jonathan.(D)

45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair(E) of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued(F) Jonathan, and he was not put to death.

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