seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Samuel 14:24 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.
25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”
29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. 32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. 33 Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.”
“You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” 34 Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’”
So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.
36 Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.”
“Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied.
But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.
38 Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. 39 As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.
40 Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.”
“Do what seems best to you,” they replied.
41 Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”
44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”
45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. 48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Here's the link to the commentary I read.There was honey on the ground: This was provision from God. The Israeli army was hot on the pursuit of the fleeing Philistines. They were all tired and hungry. They needed energy to continue the pursuit and finish the battle. And God provided honey on the ground.
But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath: Because of this, Jonathan ate some of that honey and immediately, it did the weary soldier well: his countenance brightened. He needed the energy to fight, and here it was, provided by God.
Not a man among all the people answered him: The people knew Jonathan ate the honey, and Saul’s sentence of death on anyone who had eaten must have sent a chill up their back. All the people loved and respected Jonathan and they knew that Saul was in the wrong.
Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day: Happily, the people finally stood up to Saul’s foolishness. They simply would not allow Jonathan to be executed. They knew that Jonathan worked with the LORD that day, not against the LORD.
I know... It's a lot to read. Hope you brought your coffee to enjoy while you read.I left out some verses again.
The reason Jonathan didn't hear his dad's curse was, Jonathan was out sneaking up on the Philistines and killing a lot of them.
BUT WHERE DID THEY GET THE WEAPONS TO KILL THE PHILISTINES????
Well, when they killed a Philistine, they took the weapons off the body.
BUT WHY DID SAUL SAY JONATHAN HAD TO DIE FOR EATING SOME HONEY????
The way I read it.... verse 37 says Saul asked God what to do, and God didn't answer him that day.
Apparently, God was busy getting all those bees to make all that honey.
Apparently, Jonathan didn't hear the Oath. So, Jonathan was not subject to it.
Well, then Jonathan and company found all that honey.
Did Saul wait on God to make an appearance before him??? Is that why Saul missed God's answer?
The tired and hungry men stuck by Jonathan.
WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT "BLOOD" IN IT?
God warned the Israelites about eating raw meat. The Israelites were so hungry... They didn't bother with the barbecue. They ate the meat raw.
Saul set up a barbecue and fed his men... and then they went on to fight some more.
Honey... Jonathan experienced the high!
Honey... Jonathan got high!
Sugar rush.....
