1 Samuel 14:24-30

Saul’s Oath Makes the People Weary

24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day. And Saul had ^aput the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food ¹before evening and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now all the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 So the people entered the forest, and behold, ^athere was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the sworn oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under a sworn oath; therefore, ^ahe put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and ^bhis eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the people answered and said, “Your father strictly put the people under a sworn oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29 Then Jonathan said, “^aMy father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”