1 Samuel 14:26

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).

1 Samuel 14:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:26

And when the people came into the wood, behold, the honey
dropped
Either from trees, which produced it; so Diodorus Siculus

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 speaks of trees in some countries which produce honey; or from the sugar canes, as Jarchi; or rather from the honeycombs which were framed in trees by bees; so Hesiod ^F21 speaks of bees making their nests or combs in trees. Ben Gersom thinks that bee hives were placed here in rows by the wayside, from whence the honey flowed; or "went" ^F23, or there was a going of it; perhaps the combs being pressed by the Philistines as they fled: the land of Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey:

but no man put his hand to his mouth;
that is, took not any of the honey and ate it, though it was so near at hand, and there was plenty of it:

for the people feared the oath:
Saul adjured them by, or the imprecation he made on the person that should eat any food that day.

F20 Bibliothec. l. 17. p. 548.
F21 Hesiod, Theogon. ver. 230. Vid. Diodor. Sic. ut supra. (Bibliothec. l. 17. p. 548.)
F23 (vbd Klh) "ambulatio mellis", Montanus; "itio mellis", Drusius; so in Ovid. Metamorph. l. 1. fab. 3. "----jam flumina nectaris ibant".

1 Samuel 14:26 In-Context

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.