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1 Samuel 14:24
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22 Likewise all the men of Israel who ahad hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.  
23 aSo the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted bto Beth Aven.  

Saul’s Rash Oath

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had aplaced the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.  
25 aNow all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was bhoney on the ground.  
26 And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; 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; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his1 countenance brightened.  
28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.
29 But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened 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 which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”
31 Now they had1 driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint.  
32 And the people rushed on the1 spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them awith the blood.  
33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.”
34 Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, 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 slaughtered it there.
35 Then Saul abuilt an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.  
36 Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
37 So Saul aasked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But bHe did not answer him that day.  
38 And Saul said, a“Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.  
39 For aas the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him.  
40 Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41 Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, a“Give a perfect lot.” bSo Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.  
42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, a“Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, b“I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!”  
44 Saul answered, a“God do so and more also; bfor you shall surely die, Jonathan.”  
45 But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! aAs the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked bwith God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.  
46 Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Verse Comparison: 1 Samuel 14:24

<< 1 Samuel 14:23   1 Samuel 14:25 >>

American Standard Version
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.

Amplified® Bible
But the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had caused them to take an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food before evening and until I have taken vengeance on my enemies. So none of the men tasted any food.

Contemporary English Version
(SEE 14:23)

Darby English Version
But the men of Israel were distressed that day. Now Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food until evening, and [until] I am avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.

Good News Bible
The Israelites were weak with hunger that day, because Saul, with a solemn oath, had given the order: "A curse be on anyone who eats any food today before I take revenge on my enemies." So nobody had eaten anything all day.

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food."

New International Version
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food.

New King James Version
And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Now the men of Israel felt hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, "Curses will fall upon the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

Revised Standard Version
And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul 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 tasted food.

Young's Literal Translation
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.


<< 1 Samuel 14:23   1 Samuel 14:25 >>

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