1 Samuel 14:24

And all the people were with Saul, about twenty thousand men, and the fight was general through all the hill-country of Ephraim; but Saul made a great error that day, by putting the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes food before evening comes and I have given punishment to those who are against me. So the people had not a taste of food.

Bible in Basic English

In The 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.

In Context

23So the Lord made Israel safe that day: and the fight went over to Beth-aven.

25And there was honey on the face of the field, and all the people came to the honey, the bees having gone from it;

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Cross References

Leviticus 5:4Or if anyone, without thought, takes an oath to do evil or to do good, whatever he says without thought, with an oath, having no knowledge of what he is doing; when it becomes clear to him, he will be responsible for any of these things.

Numbers 21:2Then Israel made an oath to the Lord, and said, If you will give up this people into my hands, then I will send complete destruction on all their towns.

Joshua 6:17And the town will be put to the curse, and everything in it will be given to the Lord: only Rahab, the loose woman, and all who are in the house with her, will be kept safe, because she kept secret the men we sent.

Judges 1:28And whenever Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced work, without driving them out completely.

Judges 11:30And Jephthah took an oath to the Lord, and said, If you will give the children of Ammon into my hands,

Judges 21:5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel, who did not come up to the Lord at the meeting of all Israel? For they had taken a great oath that whoever did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord was to be put to death.

Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 14:17-24

The Philistines Destroyed. ( b. c. 1067.) 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. 17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. 18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19 And it came to pass, while Saul… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 Samuel 14:24