16: Saul’s oath was revealed foolish ( 1Samuel 14:24 – 52)

Saul, consumed by vain ambition, makes a rash oath. As a result, the entire army becomes exhausted and eventually falls into the sin of eating animals with the blood still in them. Though he made this oath to showcase his bravery, it ultimately led to his disgrace.

👉 Read 1Samuel 14:24 - 52

Q1. What was the oath Saul made the army swear? Find verses that portray Saul’s oath negatively in verses 24 – 30.

“Cursed be the man who eats food before evening.”

Verse 24. Verses 28 – 30: 

Saul made this oath out of his zeal to finish the Philistines. Note that the narrative starts with Saul’s oath and its effects rather than the battle report. Jonathan disagrees with Saul’s taking the oath. 

Q2. The (           ) exhausted them, so they ate the animals with blood. When Saul heard it, he said, ‘All of you have broken the (           )!’ Saul prepared a (               ) for slaughtering animals and offering sacrifice. The Bible says it was the (                ) time Saul built an altar for the Lord. 

The ( oath ) exhausted them, so they ate the animals with blood. When Saul heard it, he said, ‘All of you have broken the ( covenant  )!’ Saul prepared a ( large stone  ) for slaughtering animals offering sacrifice. The Bible says it was the ( first  ) time Saul built an altar for the Lord.

Saul’s foolish oath made them sin.

Saul claimed that eating meat with blood violated the covenant and made a great fuss about it. Yet, the Bible notes that this was the first altar he ever built for the Lord. He was merely pretending to be faithful to the covenant, putting on a show of righteousness.

Q3. After eating, Saul wanted to continue pursuing the Philistines, declaring, “We won’t leave any of them (       )!” But the priest advised him to inquire of the Lord, so Saul asked God. However, the Lord did not answer. Saul assumed this was because someone had (        ) and sought to uncover the sinner. The people responded, “(        ).”

After eating, Saul wanted to keep pursuing the Philistines, saying, “We won’t leave any of them ( alive )!” But the priest advised him to inquire of the Lord, so Saul asked God. However, the Lord did not answer. Saul assumed this was because someone had ( sinned ) and sought to uncover the sinner. The people responded, “( Do whatever you think is best ).”

Saul considered eating with blood a grave sin, breaking the covenant. If he truly believed this, he should have been somber and prioritized seeking God's will rather than rushing into battle. However, he thought offering sacrifice was enough to atone for their sins. He also displayed arrogance, boasting, “We won’t leave any of them alive.”

“Do whatever you think is best” (verses 36, 40) reveals Saul’s presumptuousness and his enjoyment of kingship.

Q4. Find supporting verses for the following statements:

• Saul treated God’s priest like a personal fortune teller.

• Saul made a foolish oath out of pride.

• Saul failed to seek God when he truly needed to.

• Saul assumed that God’s silence was due to sin.

• Saul imposed the death penalty for eating honey.

• God delivered Israel through Jonathan, He would also deliver Jonathan from any punishment caused by his mistake or even sin.

ANS: v3 & 18-19, v24, v36, v38, v44, v45

Q5. God did not answer Saul in v37. Why, then, did He answer his inquiry of the sinner? (Hint: Compare the reason Saul made the oath in verse 24 with the result shown in verse 45.)

Saul sought to gain honor from the battle, but Jonathan emerged as the true hero. This exposed Saul’s false piety and self-centered pride. People recognized that the Lord gave them victory through Jonathan (not Saul) (45). 

Q6. What was the purpose of God choosing Saul as king? (v47, 48, 52)

To save Israel from the Philistines. The people wanted a warrior king, and God gave them one.

Saul repeatedly made rash oaths:

• “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening.” (v24)

• “He will certainly die.” (v38)

• “God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn’t die.” (v44)

He also made rash judgments:

• Declaring the people had "broken the covenant" (v33)

• Assuming God's silence was due to sin (v38)

The people reasoned: “It is with God’s help that he has acted today; he should not be punished.” (v45) They meant, “Look at the clear evidence of God’s work in him. He cannot be condemned.” God affirmed Jonathan’s actions by granting victory—no human could accuse him.

Saul had already disobeyed God's command by offering a sacrifice himself in chapter 13. Now, in chapter 14, he made an ambitious oath that led the people into sin and burdened the army. The Lord exposed Saul’s folly through these events. What truly matters is not outward formality but the intention of the heart.

Disobedience to God's command and making prideful oaths stem from the same root: self-righteousness.

Oaths are optional, but God’s commands are mandatory. If you disregard God's clear commands and will while striving to achieve something for Him, your devotion is not genuine.

Are you rejecting God's will while claiming to seek His kingdom? If so, you are actually seeking your kingdom, not His.