Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:24
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses his troops during a battle where the men of Israel are hard pressed. He imposes a binding oath forbidding them from eating until evening, when he plans to complete his vengeance on his enemies.
The words — וַיֹּאֶל (va'i.yo.'El) means "and he put under oath," while נִגַּשׂ (ni.Gas) translates to "he was hard pressed" or distressed. These terms capture Saul’s coercive command and the troops’ desperate physical state.
The thread — This pattern of binding oaths appears in Joshua 6:26 regarding a curse over rebuilding a city, and the tension between zeal and knowledge is echoed in Romans 10:2. The danger of self-imposed restrictions mirrors the absolute devotion described in Leviticus 27:29.
Why it lands — The text records that the troops tasted no food due to Saul’s decree, demonstrating how human authority can override physical necessity. It demands recognition that zeal without discernment produces unnecessary suffering.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 6:26 At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”
- Romans 10:2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
- Leviticus 27:29 No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.
- Numbers 21:2 So 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 6:17 Now 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 1:28 When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
- Judges 5:2 “When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
- Judges 11:30 Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,
- Judges 21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”