1 Samuel 14:24-30

Jonathan's breach of Saul's rash oath

24. were distressed that day: for Saul, &c. Render, And the men of Israel were distressed that day. And Saul caused the people to swear, &c. Seeing the fatigued condition of the army, and fearing lest they should relinquish the pursuit to get food, Saul rashly exacted from them an oath, which led to three evil results. (1) It hindered instead of facilitating the pursuit of the enemy. (2) It involved Jonathan in an involuntary trespass. (3) It indirectly occasioned the sin of the people (1 Samuel 14:32). The Sept. however appears to have had a different text as follows: "And all the people that were with Saul were about ten thousand men. And the battle was scattered throughout the whole wood [cityis a mistranslation of the Heb. word for woodin 1 Samuel 14:25] in mount Ephraim. And Saul did very foolishly on that day, and adjured the people, saying, &c."