But the people said to Saul, "Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death? No! We promise by the living LORD that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with God's help." So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.

They answered him, "What do you mean, sir, by talking like this? We swear that we have done no such thing.

We would certainly not rebel against the LORD or stop following him now by building an altar to burn offerings on or for grain offerings or sacrifices. We would not build any other altar than the altar of the LORD our God that stands in front of the Tent of his presence."

The people replied, "We would never leave the LORD to serve other gods!

"He will come and kill those men, and turn the vineyard over to other tenants." When the people heard this, they said, "Surely not!"

and Jonathan said to David, "May the LORD God of Israel be our witness! At this time tomorrow and on the following day I will question my father. If his attitude toward you is good, I will send you word.

Now on the previous day the LORD had told Samuel,

You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins. Instead, you have given me ears to hear you,

The LORD has given me understanding, and I have not rebelled or turned away from him.

I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father.

I gave them the message that you gave me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me.