24 And the men of Israel have been distressed on that day, and Saul adjureth the people, saying, 'Cursed 'is' the man who eateth food till the evening, and I have been avenged of mine enemies;' and none of the people hath tasted food. 25 And all 'they of' the land have come into a forest, and there is honey on the face of the field; 26 and the people come in unto the forest, and lo, the honey dropped, and none is moving his hand unto his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 And Jonathan hath not heard of his father's adjuring the people, and putteth forth the end of the rod, which 'is' in his hand, and dippeth it in the honeycomb, and bringeth back his hand unto his mouth—and his eyes see! 28 And a man of the people answereth and saith, 'Thy father certainly adjured the people, saying, Cursed 'is' the man who eateth food to-day; and the people are weary.' 29 And Jonathan saith, 'My father hath troubled the land; see, I pray you, that mine eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more if the people had well eaten to-day of the spoil of its enemies which it hath found, for now, the smiting hath not been great among the Philistines.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24-30
Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24-35
(Read 1 Samuel 14:24-35)
Saul's severe order was very unwise; if it gained time, it lost strength for the pursuit. Such is the nature of our bodies, that daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which therefore our Father in heaven graciously gives. Saul was turning aside from God, and now he begins to build altars, being then most zealous, as many are, for the form of godliness when he was denying the power of it.