And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
When all the people came to encourage David to eat food while it was still daytime, David made a solemn promise, saying, 'May God punish me severely if I eat bread or anything else before the sun goes down.'
David is making a solemn vow to fast until evening, refusing to eat despite people urging him to do so.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs during David's public mourning for Abner, the commander of Saul's army who had been killed by Joab. David was demonstrating his genuine grief and innocence in Abner's death through this public fast. In ancient Near Eastern culture, fasting was a common way to express deep sorrow and mourning, and David's refusal to eat showed the people that he truly mourned Abner's death.
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