1 Samuel 14:24
1 Samuel 14:24 in Multiple Translations
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.
And all the people were with Saul, about twenty thousand men, and the fight was general through all the hill-country of Ephraim; but Saul made a great error that day, by putting the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes food before evening comes and I have given punishment to those who are against me. So the people had not a taste of food.
It was difficult for the men of Israel that day because Saul had ordered the army to take an oath, saying, “Cursed is anyone who eats anything before evening, before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So no one in the army had eaten anything.
And at that time the men of Israel were pressed with hunger: for Saul charged the people with an othe, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth foode till night, that I may be auenged of mine enemies: so none of the people tasted any sustenance.
And the men of Israel have been distressed on that day, and Saul adjureth the people, saying, 'Cursed [is] the man who eateth food till the evening, and I have been avenged of mine enemies;' and none of the people hath tasted food.
The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
And the men of Israel were joined together that day; and Saul adjured the people, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat food till evening, till I be revenged of my enemies. So none of the people tasted any food:
Before Saul’s soldiers went to the battle, Saul declared to them solemnly, “I do not want any of you to eat any food before this evening, before we have defeated all our enemies. If anyone eats anything, Yahweh will curse/punish him.” So none of the Israeli soldiers ate any food, and they became faint/weak because they were very hungry.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 14:24
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1 Samuel 14:24 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 14:24
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 14:24
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 14:24 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 14:24
Context — Jonathan Eats the Honey
24Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
25Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 6:26 | At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.” |
| 2 | Romans 10:2 | For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. |
| 3 | Judges 1:28 | When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely. |
| 4 | Judges 11:30–31 | Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” |
| 5 | Judges 21:1–5 | Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.” So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly. “Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!” The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah would surely be put to death. |
| 6 | Psalms 18:47 | the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me, |
| 7 | Joshua 6:17–19 | Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” |
| 8 | Leviticus 27:29 | No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death. |
| 9 | Deuteronomy 27:15–26 | ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ |
| 10 | Judges 5:2 | “When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD. |
1 Samuel 14:24 Summary
This verse tells us that Saul made a rule that the troops could not eat until evening, which put them in a difficult situation. This shows that Saul was more focused on winning the battle than on taking care of his people, which is not how God wants us to lead others (1 Peter 5:2-3). We can learn from this that it's essential to prioritize the well-being of those around us, just as Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). By considering the needs of others and seeking to care for them, we can demonstrate God's love and reflect His character in our lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saul place the troops under an oath not to eat before evening?
Saul placed the troops under an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies,' because he wanted to ensure the troops remained focused on the battle and did not become distracted by their physical needs, as seen in 1 Samuel 14:24. This oath was likely motivated by his desire for victory and revenge against their enemies.
What were the consequences of Saul's oath for the troops?
The consequences of Saul's oath were that the troops were in distress and did not taste any food, as stated in 1 Samuel 14:24, which would have weakened them physically and potentially spiritually, as the Bible teaches that the body and spirit are connected (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
How does this verse relate to the concept of oaths and vows in the Bible?
This verse highlights the importance of considering the consequences of making oaths and vows, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:21-23 and Matthew 5:33-37, where the Bible teaches that oaths should be made with care and integrity, and that it is better not to make an oath than to make one and not keep it.
What can we learn from Saul's actions in this verse about leadership and decision-making?
Saul's actions in this verse demonstrate the importance of considering the well-being and needs of those under one's leadership, as seen in 1 Peter 5:2-3, where the Bible teaches that leaders should care for their flock with humility and integrity, rather than prioritizing personal goals or desires.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be prioritizing my own desires over the well-being of others, and how can I adjust my actions to better reflect God's love and care?
- How do I balance the need for focus and determination with the need to care for my physical and spiritual needs, as seen in Matthew 4:4 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of considering the consequences of my actions, as seen in this verse, to my own decision-making and leadership?
- What are some oaths or vows that I have made, either explicitly or implicitly, and how can I ensure that I am keeping them with integrity, as seen in Psalm 15:4?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 14:24
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 14:24
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 14:24
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24
Sermons on 1 Samuel 14:24
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Reclaiming the Sweetness of the Cross by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the importance of reclaiming the sweetness of the cross, highlighting the need for honesty, abandonment to God, and righteousness. It calls for a choice to w |
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I Samuel 26:21 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith explores the life of Saul, emphasizing how despite his physical advantages and opportunities to lead God's people, he ultimately played the fool by failing to submit fu |
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We Need a Double Portion by Alan Cairns | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a chapter in the Bible that has had a significant impact on the ministry of a particular church. The speaker poses the question of whether C |
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Elijah’s Dramatic Appearance by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink discusses the dramatic appearance of Elijah during a dark period in Israel's history, marked by rampant idolatry and wicked kings. He highlights the spiritual decline ini |
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(Titus - Part 11): Inspiration by Information by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing his joy in seeing the work of God in the neighborhood through the Pioneer Girls program. He then addresses the perception of the ch |
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Studies in Romans-07 by William MacDonald | The sermon transcript discusses the importance of universal proclamation of the gospel for both Jews and Gentiles. It outlines the steps that lead to salvation, starting with God s |
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The Forgiveness of Sins by Welcome Detweiler | In this sermon, a missionary in China shares a strange encounter with a man on a journey to a sacred spot in Tibet. The man believed that by performing specific maneuvers and trave |







