Determined to make the most of his advantage, the king rashly forbade his soldiers to partake of food for the entire day. “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” The victory had already been gained without Saul’s knowledge or cooperation, but he hoped to distinguish himself by the complete destruction of the defeated army. The command to refrain from food showed that the king was indifferent to the needs of his people when these conflicted with his desire to exalt himself. By his own declaration, his goal was not “that the Lord may take vengeance on His enemies,” but “that I have taken vengeance on my enemies.”
The people had been engaged in warfare all day and were faint because they had not eaten. As soon as the hours of restriction were over, they rushed to the spoils and devoured meat with the blood, violating the law that prohibited the eating of blood.
Jonathan had not heard of the king’s command, and during the day’s battle he unwittingly offended by eating a little honey as he passed through some woods. Saul had declared that anyone violating his ban would be punished with death. Jonathan had not been guilty of a willful sin, and God had brought about deliverance through him, but the king declared that the sentence must be executed. “God do so and more also,” was his terrible sentence; “you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
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