Joe: Alright, so what's going on in 1 Samuel 14?
Bible Expert: Well, it starts with a man named Saul who is the first king of Israel. He’s leading an army against the Philistines, and he makes a rash oath that no one will eat until the battle is won.
Joe: Wow! That’s a pretty big promise. What happens next?
Bible Expert: Well, Saul’s son Jonathan decides to take matters into his own hands and leads a small force in a surprise attack against the Philistines. They succeed and the people of Israel are now able to eat.
Joe: So, Saul’s oath was fulfilled?
Bible Expert: Yes, but Saul was still angry with Jonathan for disobeying his orders.
Joe: That doesn’t seem fair.
Bible Expert: No, it didn’t. The people of Israel spoke up and defended Jonathan, so Saul eventually relented. Later in the chapter, Saul has another rash oath: He declares that anyone who finds honey will be free to eat it.
Joe: Whoa! That’s a pretty sweet deal.
Bible Expert: Yeah, it was. And finally, the chapter ends with Saul consulting with a priest to find out God’s will.
Joe: Interesting. So, it looks like Saul learned some valuable lessons about trusting God and not making rash oaths.
Bible Expert: Exactly.