1 Samuel 14:27

27 Jônatas, porém, não sabia do juramento que seu pai havia imposto ao exército, de modo que estendeu a ponta da vara que tinha na mão e a molhou no favo de mel. Quando comeu, seus olhos brilharam.^[a]

1 Samuel 14:27 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:27

But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with
the oath
Which charge was given, either before he came from Gibeah, before he came to Jonathan, or while pursuing, when Jonathan was with another party either fighting or pursuing:

wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand:
the staff with which he walked, or rather the spear which he carried in his hand, and fought his enemies with:

and dipped it in an honeycomb;
or sugar cane, as Jarchi; or in wood honey, as the margin of our Bibles; but best, in the honeycomb, as the word is rendered, ( Song of Solomon 5:1 ) and so the Targum, into the nest of honey ^F24:

and he put his hand to his mouth;
first he took the honey off of the top of his rod, and then put it to his mouth and ate it;

and his eyes were enlightened:
which before were dim and dull through want of food, which is a common case; but became brisk and lively on eating the honey, nourishment being presently communicated, and he refreshed with it, and his spirits revived; and which quickly appeared in the briskness and sparkling of his eyes: honey being of a subtle nature, gives immediate refreshment and rigour; hence this phrase is frequently used by Jewish writers ^F25 for refreshment, after hunger, fatigue, and weariness; and which virtue is ascribed by them to fine bread, wine, oil, and particularly to honey.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 "Progeniem nidosque fovent----", Virgil. Georgic. l. 4. ver. 56.
F25 T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 42. 1, 2. Yoma, fol. 18, 2. & 83. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Maacolot Asurot, c. 14. sect. 16.

1 Samuel 14:27 In-Context

25 O exército inteiro entrou num bosque, onde havia mel no chão.

26 Eles viram o mel escorrendo, contudo ninguém comeu, pois temiam o juramento.

27 Jônatas, porém, não sabia do juramento que seu pai havia imposto ao exército, de modo que estendeu a ponta da vara que tinha na mão e a molhou no favo de mel. Quando comeu, seus olhos brilharam.

28 Então um dos soldados lhe disse: “Seu pai impôs ao exército um juramento severo, dizendo: ‘Maldito seja todo o que comer hoje!’ Por isso os homens estão exaustos”.

29 Jônatas disse: “Meu pai trouxe desgraça para nós. Veja como meus olhos brilham desde que provei um pouco deste mel.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ou "suas forças se renovaram"