26 When the troops entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth, because the troops were afraid of violating their oath.
27 Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father forced the troops to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth, his eyes lit up.
28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the troops to take a solemn oath: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’”Now, the army was exhausted.
29 Jonathan answered, “My father has brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey?
30 If only the troops had eaten some of the enemies’ food, which they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.”
31 That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the troops were thoroughly exhausted.
32 So the troops seized the Philistines’ belongings. They took sheep, cows, and calves, and butchered them on the ground. The troops ate the meat with blood still in it.