1 Samuel 14:22-32

22 Also all the men of Israel, that had hid themselves in the hill (country) of Ephraim, heard that the Philistines had fled; and they fellowshipped themselves with their men in [the] battle, and as ten thousand of men were with Saul (and about ten thousand men were with Saul).

23 And the Lord saved Israel in that day (And the Lord saved Israel that day). And the battle came till to Bethaven.

24 And men of Israel were fellowshipped to themselves in that day; forsooth Saul swore to the people, and said, Cursed be the man that eateth bread till to eventide, till I venge me of mine enemies. And all the people ate no bread. (And the men of Israel felt faint that day; for Saul had commanded to the people, and said, Cursed be the man who eateth any food before evening, until I avenge myself upon my enemies. And so all the people ate no food.)

25 And all the common people of the land came into a forest, in which was honey on the face of (the) earth (where there was honey on the ground).

26 And so the people entered into the forest, and flowing honey appeared (there); and no man put his hand to his mouth thereof, for the people dreaded the oath (but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath/for the people feared Saul's curse).

27 And Jonathan heard not, when his father forbade this to the people (But Jonathan did not hear his father forbid this to the people); and (so) Jonathan held forth the end of a little rod, that he held in his hand, and he dipped it into an honeycomb; and he turned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were (en)lightened, (that is, he felt refreshed).

28 And (at once) one of the people answered, and said, Thy father bound the people with an oath, and said, Cursed be the man that eateth bread today (Cursed be the man who eateth any food today). And (so) the people was faint.

29 And (then) Jonathan said, My father hath troubled the land; ye see, that mine eyes be enlightened (ye see, that I am refreshed), for I tasted a little of this honey;

30 how much more if the people had eaten (some) of the prey of their enemies, that they found; whether not greater vengeance had been made in [the] Philistines? (would not a greater slaughter have been done to the Philistines?)

31 Therefore they smote [the] Philistines in that day from Michmash into Aijalon. And the people was made full weary; (And so they struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. But the people were made faint;)

32 and (so) the people turned to [the] prey, and took sheep and oxen, and calves; and they killed these beasts upon the earth (and they killed these beasts on the ground); and (then) the people ate the flesh with (the) blood (still in it).

1 Samuel 14:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 14

This chapter gives an account of an adventure of Jonathan and his armourbearer smiting a garrison of the Philistines, 1Sa 14:1-14, which with other circumstances struck terror into the whole army; which being observed by Saul's spies, he and his men went out against them, and being joined by others, pursued them, and obtained a complete victory, 1Sa 14:15-23, but what sullied the glory of the day was a rash oath of Saul's, adjuring the people not to eat any food till evening which Jonathan not hearing of ignorantly broke, 1Sa 14:24-31 and which long fasting made the people so ravenous, that they slew their cattle, and ate them with the blood, contrary to the law of God, for which they were reproved by Saul, 1Sa 14:32-34, upon which he built an altar, and inquired of the Lord whether he should pursue the Philistines all that night till morning, but had no answer; which made him conclude sin was committed, and which he inquired after, declaring that if it was his own son Jonathan that had committed it he should surely die, 1Sa 14:35-39, the people being silent, he cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonathan; who had it not been for the resolution of the people that rescued him out of his hands, because of the great salvation he had wrought, must have died, 1Sa 14:40-46 and the chapter is cited with an account of Saul's battles with the neighbouring nations in general, and of his family, 1Sa 14:47-52.