¹⁶ But you must not eat the blood;^(A) pour^(B) it out on the ground like water.^(C)

²³ But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.^(A)

⁴ “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.^(A)

¹⁷ “‘This is a lasting ordinance^(A) for the generations to come,^(B) wherever you live:^(C) You must not eat any fat or any blood.^(D)’”

¹⁰ “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood,^(A) and I will cut them off from the people. ¹¹ For the life of a creature is in the blood,^(B) and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.^{[a](C) 12} Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

¹³ “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,^{(D) 14} because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”^(E)

²⁶ “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.^(A)

“‘Do not practice divination^(B) or seek omens.^(C)

³¹ That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash^(A) to Aijalon,^(B) they were exhausted. ³² They pounced on the plunder^(C) and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.^{(D) 33} Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood^(E) in it.”

“You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still^(F) in it.’”

So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar^(G) to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.