1 Samuel 14:32

32 Then the troops took the plunder: they took sheep and cattle and {calves} and slaughtered [them] on the ground and the troops ate [them all] with the blood.

1 Samuel 14:32 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:32

And the people flew upon the spoil
Like a swift and ravenous bird, as the eagle, and which seems to have its name in Greek from this word, see ( Isaiah 46:11 ) . When the evening was come, and they were free from the oath of Saul, and being extremely hungry, faint, and weary, they were even ravenous for food and with the greatest haste and eagerness laid hold on what came first to hand:

and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew [them] on the ground;
and there they lay in their blood, which in such a position would not run out freely as when slain and hang up:

and the people did eat them with the blood;
they were so hungry they could not stay the dressing of them, but ate them raw with the blood in them, not being squeezed or drained out, at least not half boiled or roasted. Some of the Jewish Rabbins ^F1 are of opinion

---

FOOTNOTES:

F1 See Jarchi in loc.

1 Samuel 14:32 In-Context

30 {How much more could have been done} if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder of their enemies that they had found! For now the loss among [the] Philistines [is] not great."

31 They defeated [the] Philistines that day from Micmash to Aijalon, and the troops were very weary.

32 Then the troops took the plunder: they took sheep and cattle and {calves} and slaughtered [them] on the ground and the troops ate [them all] with the blood.

33 So they reported [it] to Saul, saying, "Look! The troops [are] sinning against Yahweh by eating [the animals] with the blood!" And he said, "You have dealt treacherously! Roll to me a large stone {today}!"

34 Then Saul said, "Disperse [yourselves] among the troops and say to them, 'Bring to me each [one] his ox and each his sheep and slaughter them in this [place] and eat, but do not sin against Yahweh by eating [the animals] with the blood.'" So all the troops brought [them], each [leading] his ox in his hand that night, and slaughtered [it] there.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "the children of cattle"