Saul started out as king with God’s favor upon him. However, Saul began to doubt God, and trust in his own abilities more. Once, while the Philistines pressed in on Saul and his troops, Saul panicked when Samuel did not arrive at the agreed-upon time. So Saul performed the priestly duty of making a burnt offering instead of waiting a little longer for Samuel. On another occasion, Saul made a rash oath by calling down a curse on any of his troops who ate before evening, and before he was avenged of his enemies. Jonathan, Saul’s son, was a capable warrior. He did not hear his father make the oath. He ate some honey. When Saul found out, he threatened to kill Jonathan, but the Israelites persuaded him not to do it.