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1 Samuel 14:30

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

How much better it would have been if the people had been allowed to eat freely today from the food they captured from their enemies! Wouldn't there have been an even greater defeat of the Philistines?

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Jonathan is saying that his father's strict fasting order actually hurt their military success - the soldiers would have fought better if they had been allowed to eat the food they found.

📚 Historical Context

This comes after Jonathan had unknowingly broken his father King Saul's oath that no one should eat until evening during their battle against the Philistines. Jonathan had eaten some honey and felt refreshed, then realized how the fasting order had weakened the troops. Saul had made this vow thinking it would help them win, but it actually made his army too weak to pursue a complete victory.

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