1 Samuel 28:23

23 And he forsook it, and said, I shall not eat. But his servants and the woman compelled him; and at the last, when the voice of them was heard, he rose up from the earth, 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 Therefore that woman entered to Saul, and said; for he was troubled greatly (for he was greatly troubled); and she said to him, Lo! thine handmaid hath obeyed to thy voice, and I have put my life in mine hand, and I heard thy words, which thou spakest to me.

22 And now therefore thou hear the voice of thine handmaid, and I shall set a morsel of bread before thee, and that thou eating wax strong, and mayest do thy journey. (And so now listen thou to the voice of thy servantess, for I shall set a morsel of food before thee, and once that thou hast eaten it, thou shalt grow strong, and then thou shalt go forth on thy journey.)

23 And he forsook it, and said, I shall not eat. But his servants and the woman compelled him; and at the last, when the voice of them was heard, he rose up from the earth, and sat on the bed.

24 Soothly that woman had a fat calf in the house, and she hasted, and killed it; and she took meal, and meddled it together, and made therf bread (and she took meal, and mixed it together, and made unleavened bread);

25 and she set (it) forth before Saul, and before his servants, and when they had eaten, they rose up, and walked in all the night (and walked through all that night).