1 Samuel 28:23

23 But he refused. "I don't want to eat," he said. Nevertheless, his officers and the woman kept urging him until he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

1 Samuel 28:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 28:23

But he refused, and said, I will not eat
Choosing rather to die with famine than by the sword of the Philistines; though perhaps his meaning is, he could not eat, his stomach loathed it, being overwhelmed with grief and trouble:

but his servants, together with the woman, compelled him;
not by force, but by arguments; they reasoned with him, and prevailed upon him to try to eat:

and he hearkened unto their voice;
and agreed to eat, if he could;

so he arose from the earth;
on which he lay at his full length:

and sat upon the bed;
or couch, it being now the custom to recline on couches at caring; though some deny that this custom obtained so early.

1 Samuel 28:23 In-Context

21 The woman came over to Saul and saw that he was terrified. "I listened to you," she told him, "and I took my life in my hands when I did what you told me to do.

22 Now please listen to me. I will serve you something to eat. Eat it so that you will have strength when you leave."

23 But he refused. "I don't want to eat," he said. Nevertheless, his officers and the woman kept urging him until he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

24 The woman immediately butchered a fattened calf that she owned. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread.

25 Then she served it to Saul and his officers. They ate and left that [same] night.