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?
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?
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
In the biblical narrative of 1 Samuel 14, King Saul had imposed a fast on his army during their battle against the Philistines, forbidding anyone to eat until evening as a way to seek God's favor. This rash decision left the soldiers exhausted and unable to press their advantage fully in the fight. Jonathan, Saul's son and a key warrior, who was unaware of the oath, ate some honey and argued that eating would have strengthened the troops for a greater victory.
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