1 Samuel 14:24

1 Samuel 14:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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 International Version (NIV)Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:24

22When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit. 23So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven. 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. 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.

1 Samuel 14:24 word by word

וְאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל נִגַּ֖שׂ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּאֶל֩ שָׁא֨וּל אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר אָר֣וּר הָ֠אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֹ֨אכַל לֶ֜חֶם עַד־הָעֶ֗רֶב וְנִקַּמְתִּי֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבַ֔י וְלֹֽא טָעַ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לָֽחֶם׃ סRead the interlinear

• Now the menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• were in distressנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
• thatהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• for Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• had placed the troopsעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• under an oathאָלָה'âlâh · to swearH422
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Cursed isאָרַר'ârar · to curseH779
• whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• eatsאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• foodלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
• beforeעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• eveningעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
• before I have taken vengeanceנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
• on my enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• So noneלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• So noneכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• tastedטָעַםţâ‛am · to perceiveH2938

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:24

• 1 Samuel 14:27Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
• Leviticus 27:29No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.
• Numbers 21:2So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”
• Deuteronomy 27:15‘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!’
• Joshua 6:17Now 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.
• Judges 11:30Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,
• Judges 11:31then 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.”
• Judges 21:1Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”
• Proverbs 11:9With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
• Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
• 1 Corinthians 16:22If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
• Judges 5:2“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
• Judges 1:28When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
• Psalms 18:47the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Saul had adjured the people - He was afraid, if they waited to refresh themselves, the Philistines would escape out of their hands, and therefore he made the taking any food till sunset a capital crime. This was the very means of defeating his own intention; for as the people were exhausted for want of food, they could not continue the pursuit of their enemies: had it not been for this foolish adjuration, there had been a greater slaughter of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-35Verses 24-35 Saul's severe order was very unwise; if it gained time, it lost strength for the pursuit. Such is the nature of our bodies, that daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which therefore our Father in heaven graciously gives. Saul was turning aside from God, and now he begins to build altars, being then most zealous, as many are, for the form of godliness when he was denying the power of it.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24By making them swear an oath, Saul forced his tired, hungry men to abstain from food. This oath likely aimed to manipulate God for a good outcome, like the pagans might do (see notes on Exodus 23:26; 25:22; 32:4). Saul's use of my enemies instead of "our enemies" shows his self-centered pride.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. Saul had adjured the people--Afraid lest so precious an opportunity of effectually humbling the Philistine power might be lost, the impetuous king laid an anathema on any one who should taste food until the evening. This rash and foolish denunciation distressed the people, by preventing them taking such refreshments as they might get on the march, and materially hindered the successful attainment of his own patriotic object.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:24

• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Saul
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Paul, Saul
• That Day
• Adjuration
• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings