1 Samuel 14 24

1 Samuel 14:24 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.

1 Samuel 14:24 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.

1 Samuel 14:24 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.

1 Samuel 14:24 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.

1 Samuel 14:24 nlt

Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, "Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening ? before I have full revenge on my enemies." So no one ate anything all day,

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 24 Meaning

1 Samuel 14:24 describes the severe physical distress experienced by the Israelite soldiers due to a harsh oath sworn by King Saul. Saul commanded that no one should eat any food until evening, invoking a curse upon anyone who disobeyed, all for his personal aim of avenging himself on the Philistines. Consequently, the weary army remained unfed throughout the day's battle.

1 Samuel 14 24 Context

Chapter 14 opens with Jonathan's bold, faith-filled attack on the Philistine outpost, without Saul's knowledge. This surprise move initiates a rout among the Philistines. As the Israelite army gathers to join the pursuit, Saul, now aware of the battle, calls for an inquiry by the ark, only to interrupt it when the Philistine turmoil grows. At this critical juncture, while his soldiers are already fatigued from battle and pursuit, Saul pronounces a binding, kingdom-wide oath: a strict fast until evening for the sake of his personal vengeance. This oath is characteristic of Saul's rashness, impetuous decision-making, and tendency to prioritize human strategies or personal aims over genuine seeking of God's guidance. The verse highlights the detrimental effect of this decree on his already exhausted soldiers, impacting their physical ability to press the advantage against the fleeing enemy.

1 Samuel 14 24 Word analysis

• But: Connects the preceding events of Philistine panic and Israelite pursuit to a new, contrasting element – the severe self-imposed limitation on the Israelite army. It signifies a turn of events, introducing Saul's counterproductive command.

• the men of Israel: Refers specifically to the soldiers and warriors engaged in the battle and pursuit, highlighting the immediate physical impact of the oath on their ability to fight effectively.

• were distressed (Heb. צָר, tsar or yatsar): From the verb meaning "to be narrow," "pressed," "hemmed in," "vexed." In this context, it denotes extreme physical hardship, exhaustion, weariness, and severe hunger. This isn't just emotional discomfort but a debilitating physical state for a fighting force, undermining their effectiveness in combat.

• that day: Specifies the duration and intensity of their distress, confining it to the entire day of intense battle and pursuit, making their ordeal acute.

• for Saul had adjured (Heb. שָׁבַע, shava'): Meaning "to cause to swear," "bind by an oath," or "solemnly charge." Saul, as king, issued a royal decree enforced by a powerful, divinely-sanctioned oath. This command carried the weight of an invocation against violators, making it a fearful prohibition.

• the people: Refers to the military force, the common soldiers, who were under the king's direct command and subject to his oath.

• saying, Cursed be the man (Heb. אָרוּר, arur): This is a formal, powerful malediction, a solemn invocation of divine disfavor or harm upon anyone who disobeys the specified command. It indicates the extreme seriousness with which the oath was viewed and the dire consequences for breaking it.

• that eateth any food: Implies a complete fast from any sustenance, highlighting the severity of the hunger experienced by the fighting men.

• until evening: Specifies the duration of the mandated fast – the entire daylight period during which the battle and pursuit were taking place.

• that I may be avenged (Heb. לְהִנָּקֵם, lehinaqem): Reveals Saul's core motivation. His aim is personal retribution against his enemies, rather than seeking God's glory, God's victory, or the welfare of Israel. This self-serving agenda undercuts his leadership and foreshadows his ultimate rejection.

• on mine enemies: Refers specifically to the Philistines, the adversaries in this particular battle.

• So none of the people tasted any food: This indicates the immediate and absolute compliance of the army, demonstrating their fear of the curse and the king's authority, even to their own detriment.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But the men of Israel were distressed that day": This phrase encapsulates the direct and detrimental physical effect of Saul's oath on his fighting force. Their fatigue from hunger directly impeded their ability to sustain the pursuit against the Philistines.
  • "for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening": This highlights Saul's rashness and misuse of royal authority. He binds his entire army with a self-imposed, arbitrary vow reinforced by a severe curse, not out of divine command, but by his own will.
  • "that I may be avenged on mine enemies": This crucial phrase exposes Saul's motive as self-centered. His focus on personal vengeance rather than seeking God's glory or the complete salvation of Israel demonstrates a fundamental flaw in his leadership that will plague him throughout his reign.

1 Samuel 14 24 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces themes that permeate Saul's narrative: his consistent pattern of rash actions (e.g., offering sacrifice without Samuel in 1 Sam 13), his increasing insecurity leading to impulsive commands, and his tendency to value human-made oaths and rituals over genuine obedience and trust in God's leading. The incident serves as a prelude to Jonathan's unwitting violation of the oath and the subsequent confrontation with Saul, which further underscores the misguided nature of the king's decree and highlights Jonathan's contrastingly righteous character. It also illustrates how a leader's "religious" zeal, if born of self-interest rather than God's will, can bring harm to those under his charge and hinder God's intended full blessing. The situation reflects an Old Testament tension between obedience to authority (even flawed human authority) and common sense or the broader good, leading to a profound lesson on the wisdom and discernment needed in leadership.

1 Samuel 14 24 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:24 serves as a pivotal moment in understanding King Saul's flawed character and his diminishing spiritual leadership. His unilateral, rash oath to impose a full-day fast on his already embattled army, coupled with a severe curse for non-compliance, reveals a king who operates by impulse and self-will rather than divine wisdom or consideration for his troops. His motivation – "that I may be avenged on mine enemies" – betrays a self-centered zeal for personal vindication rather than genuine dependence on God for victory. This ill-conceived decree directly compromises his army's effectiveness, making them "distressed" and weary, thus hindering the complete routing of the Philistines as later explicitly noted by Jonathan. The oath exemplifies Saul's legalistic and burdensome approach to leadership, setting a trap for innocent transgressions and diverting attention from the true spiritual battle to humanly enforced, arbitrary regulations. This action contrasts sharply with God's desire for deliverance and illustrates how human rules, when divorced from divine wisdom and practical reality, can lead to negative consequences and even unintended sin.