Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:34
Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses the troops after being warned that they are violating the law by eating meat with its blood still in it. He orders them to disperse through the camp, bring their livestock to him, and slaughter the animals immediately to prevent further transgression.
The words — The Hebrew הַגִּ֣ישׁוּ (ha.Gi.shu) means "bring near," directing the men to present their oxen and sheep to Saul. The imperative פֻּ֣צוּ (Pu.tzu) translates as "be scattered," commanding the troops to spread out through the camp to locate the animals.
The thread — The text directly responds to the violation reported in 1 Samuel 14:33 and immediately precedes Saul's construction of a new altar in 1 Samuel 14:35. It establishes a corrective sequence where unauthorized consumption is halted before proper worship is restored.
Why it lands — The passage requires immediate compliance with dietary boundaries by halting impromptu slaughter and instituting controlled sacrifice. It demands that religious action be governed by explicit procedure rather than impulsive zeal.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.