I Samuel 14: Jonathan's Eating Gets Him In Trouble

In the midst of a fierce battle with the Philistines, Saul makes a rash oath.  He calls out, "Cursed be anyone who eats food before it is evening and I have been avenged on my enemies" (vs. 24).  Saul issued this oath probably thinking that it would inspire his men to fight hard and diligently.  Yet little did he know the problems he would cause himself with that statement!

First, because the troops did not get nourishment throughout the day, they were not as effective against the Philistines as they might have been.  They were tired and dragging, when they could have used the energy that the food captured from the Philistines would have provided.  As Saul's son, Jonathan, said, "My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have brightened since I tasted a little of this honey.  How much better if today the troops had eaten freely of the spoil taken from their enemies; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great" (vs. 29-30).

Second, because the troops were famished at the end of the day, they were faint with hunger.  When they fall upon the sheep and oxen and cattle that they have captured, they greedily devour it without letting the blood drain first.  Eating meat with the blood in it is an egregious sin among the Jews.  It is reported to the king, "Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood" (vs. 33).  Saul then sets up a large stone for the troops to use to drain the blood from the carcasses before eating.

Third, his rash oath nearly cost him the life of his son, Jonathan.  As we have seen, even words said in the heat of a battle can come back to haunt (Jephthah's daughter, anyone?)  Jonathan is in danger of being cursed because he ate some of the aforementioned honey on the battlefield.  Even though he had been fighting valiantly as a hero and hadn't heard his father's utterance about the curse on those who dared to eat anything, he is culpable.  When lots are drawn, Jonathan is revealed to be the culprit.  Saul is prepared to put his son to death: "You shall surely die, Jonathan!"  And Jonathan is prepared to die: "Here I am, I will die" (vs. 43-44).  Fortunately, at the last minute the troops redeem Jonathan for his bravery in battle and ransom him from Saul's death sentence.