Saul's Rash Vow

1 Samuel 14

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, b so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people 1 came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, c so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were d faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great."

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from e Michmash to f Aijalon. And the people were very d faint. 32 The people g pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them h with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating h with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here." 2 34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul i built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But j the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here." 37 And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" k But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For l as the Lord lives who saves Israel, m though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore Saul said, "O Lord God of Israel, why 3 have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." n And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, n "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, o "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, p "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die." 44 And Saul said, q "God do so to me and more also; r you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! l As the Lord lives, s there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 6:26
    Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:43
    Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.
  3. Cross References
    Judges 8:4 - 5
    And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 13:2
    Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent.
  5. Cross References
    Joshua 10:12
    At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.
  6. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:28
    Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:19
    Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord ? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord ?
  8. Cross References
    Leviticus 3:17
    It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:32
    The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.
  10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:12
    Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, "Till now the Lord has helped us.
    1 Samuel 7:17
    Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:3
    Including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
    1 Samuel 14:18 - 19
    So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.
  12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 28:6
    And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
  13. Cross References
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  14. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:44
    And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.
  15. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:20 - 21
    Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.
    Joshua 7:16 - 18
    So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.
    Acts 1:24 - 26
    And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:41
    Therefore Saul said, "O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.
  17. Cross References
    Joshua 7:19
    Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:27
    But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.
  19. Cross References
    Ruth 1:17
    Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:39
    For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:39
    For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
  22. Cross References
    2 Samuel 14:11
    Then she said, "Please let the king invoke the ...
    1 Kings 1:52
    And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a wo...
    Luke 21:18
    But not a hair of your head will perish.
    Acts 27:34
    Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it ...
    Matthew 10:30
    But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
    Luke 12:7
    Why, even the hairs of your head are all number...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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