1 Samuel 14:26
ESV
And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
NIV
When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.
NASB
When the people entered the forest, behold, there was honey dripping; but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.
CSB
When the troops entered the forest, they saw the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath.
NLT
They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
KJV
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.
NKJV
And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
What does 1 Samuel 14:26 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on 1 Samuel chapter 14, verse-level content coming soon!First Samuel 14:24–46 opens with Saul's declaration, in the form of an oath with a curse, that his troops must not eat until evening. Jonathan doesn't hear about the oath and eats honey during the day. The Lord remains silent when Saul asks if they should attack the Philistines by night. Lots cast to find a sinful person among them fall on Jonathan. Saul prepares to execute his son for breaking the oath, but the people refuse to allow this. The Israelites and the surviving Philistines go home.
God sparks panic among the Philistines after Jonathan boldly attacks and kills twenty of the enemy. When Saul sees the Philistines are scattering and killing each other, the Israelites pursue them out of the region. The Lord remains silent when Saul asks if they should attack the Philistines by night. Lots cast to reveal sin among them fall on Jonathan, who broke an oath of the king which he did not know about. The people refuse to allow Saul to execute Jonathan for this crime. Saul does not pursue the Philistines that night, but throughout his days as king he experiences success over them and other enemies such as the Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and Edomites.
