And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
When the people entered the forest, they could see honey dripping from the trees, but no one reached out to taste it because they were afraid of breaking the oath.
The writer is showing how the Israelite soldiers were so afraid of breaking Saul's oath that they wouldn't even eat honey that was right there for the taking.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, King Saul had made a hasty oath during a battle against the Philistines, forbidding anyone in his army from eating until evening as a way to dedicate the victory to God. This oath was unknown to Saul's son Jonathan, who had already led a successful surprise attack on the enemy. As a result, when the exhausted soldiers entered the woods and discovered fresh honey dripping from the trees, they hesitated to eat it out of fear of violating the king's command and facing severe consequences.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.