1 Samuel 14:25

25 All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.

1 Samuel 14:25 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:25

And all they of the land came to a wood
Which lay between Bethaven and Aijalon; by whom are meant not all the inhabitants of the land of Israel, but all that came with Saul and Jonathan, and that joined them in the pursuit:

and there was honey upon the ground;
which dropped upon it, as in the following verse, or where it was produced by bees; for Aristotle ^F18 reports, that bees in some places make their combs upon the ground; this was wild honey, which Diodorus Siculus ^F19 speaks of as common in Arabia, and which perhaps John the Baptist ate of, ( Matthew 3:4 ) . Jarchi says, this was the honey of canes, or sugar canes, which grew in the land of Israel; and affirms from Nathan an Ishmaelite, that in the Ishmaelitish or Arabic language they call honey, sugar; but neither of these can be proved.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 22.
F19 Bibliothec. l. 19. p. 731.

1 Samuel 14:25 In-Context

23 So Yahweh saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.

24 The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food.

25 All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.

26 When the people were come to the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan didn't hear when his father charged the people with the oath: therefore he put forth the end of the rod who was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.