1 Samuel 14:32
New International Version
They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.

New Living Translation
That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood.

English Standard Version
The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.

Berean Standard Bible
So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it.

King James Bible
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

New King James Version
And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

New American Standard Bible
So the people loudly rushed upon the spoils, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

NASB 1995
The people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

NASB 1977
And the people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and they took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

Amplified Bible
[When night came and the oath ended] the people rushed greedily upon the spoil. They took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and they ate them [raw] with the blood [still in them].

Christian Standard Bible
they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.

American Standard Version
and the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood.

Contemporary English Version
They grabbed the food they had captured from the Philistines and started eating. They even killed sheep and cows and calves right on the spot and ate the meat without draining the blood.

English Revised Version
and the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
and so they rushed over to what they had captured from the enemy, took sheep and cattle, slaughtered them on the spot, and ate the meat with the blood still in it.

International Standard Version
The army grabbed the spoil, took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground, and then the army ate them with the blood.

Majority Standard Bible
So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it.

NET Bible
So the army rushed greedily on the plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all.

New Heart English Bible
and the people pounced upon the spoil, and took sheep, and cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people ate them with the blood.

World English Bible
and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the people make toward the spoil, and take sheep, and oxen, and sons of the herd, and slaughter on the earth, and the people eat with the blood.

Young's Literal Translation
and the people make unto the spoil, and take sheep, and oxen, and sons of the herd, and slaughter on the earth, and the people eat with the blood.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the people will make to the spoil, and they will take sheep and oxen, and the young of oxen, and they will slaughter on the earth: and the people will eat upon the blood.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And falling upon the spoils, they took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people ate them with the blood.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And turning to the spoils, they took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and they slew them on the ground. And the people ate with blood.

New American Bible
So the army pounced upon the plunder and took sheep, oxen, and calves, slaughtering them on the ground and eating the meat with the blood in it.

New Revised Standard Version
so the troops flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the troops ate them with the blood.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the people rushed greedily on the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the people seized greedily on the loot, and they drove sheep and bulls and calves and they killed on the ground and the people ate with the blood
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the people turned to the spoil; and the people took flocks, and herds, and calves, and slew them on the ground, and the people ate with the blood.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan Eats the Honey
31That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the people were very faint. 32So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it. 33Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”…

Cross References
Leviticus 17:10-14
If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. / For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. / Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’ ...

Deuteronomy 12:16
but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Deuteronomy 12:23-25
Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. / You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. / Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 9:4
But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Acts 15:20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

Acts 15:29
You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Ezekiel 33:25
Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?

Leviticus 3:17
This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

Leviticus 7:26-27
You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings. / If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.’”

Deuteronomy 15:23
But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Acts 21:25
As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:7-13
But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. / But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. / Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ...

1 Corinthians 10:28-31
But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience— / the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? / If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? ...

Leviticus 19:26
You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.


Treasury of Scripture

And the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

flew

1 Samuel 15:19
Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

Genesis 9:4
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Leviticus 3:17
It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

Leviticus 7:26,27
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings…

Jump to Previous
Ate Blood Butchered Calves Cattle Death Earth Eat Herd Killed Meal Oxen Plunder Rushed Rushing Sheep Slaughter Slew Spoil Together Young
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Ate Blood Butchered Calves Cattle Death Earth Eat Herd Killed Meal Oxen Plunder Rushed Rushing Sheep Slaughter Slew Spoil Together Young
1 Samuel 14
1. Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine's garrison
15. A divine terror makes them beat themselves
17. Saul, not staying the priest's answer, sets on them
21. The captivated Hebrews, and the hidden Israelites, join against them.
24. Saul's unadvised adjuration hinders the victory
31. He restrains the people from eating blood
35. He builds an altar
37. Jonathan, taken by lot, is save by the people
47. Saul's victories, strength, and family














So they rushed greedily to the plunder
The Israelites, after a significant victory over the Philistines, were driven by hunger and exhaustion. The term "rushed greedily" indicates a lack of restraint and discipline, reflecting the desperation of the soldiers. This behavior can be linked to Saul's earlier oath that cursed anyone who ate before evening, which left the troops famished (1 Samuel 14:24). The urgency and lack of control in their actions highlight the consequences of Saul's rash vow, which inadvertently led to sin.

taking sheep, cattle, and calves
The plunder consisted of livestock, which was a common form of wealth and sustenance in ancient times. Sheep, cattle, and calves were valuable not only for their meat but also for their wool, milk, and labor. The choice of these animals underscores the immediate need for food and the abundance of resources left by the fleeing Philistines. This scene is reminiscent of other biblical instances where livestock was taken as spoils of war, such as in the conquest narratives of Joshua.

They slaughtered them on the ground
The act of slaughtering on the ground suggests haste and a lack of proper ritual preparation. In Israelite culture, sacrifices and slaughtering of animals were typically done with specific rituals and at designated places, such as the tabernacle. The ground slaughtering indicates a departure from these practices, emphasizing the soldiers' urgent need to eat and their disregard for ceremonial law. This act can be contrasted with the detailed sacrificial laws in Leviticus, which stress the importance of proper procedures.

and ate meat with the blood still in it
Eating meat with blood was explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 17:10-14). Blood was considered sacred, representing life, and was to be drained and offered to God. The consumption of blood was a serious violation, reflecting a deeper spiritual and moral lapse among the Israelites. This incident foreshadows the New Testament teaching in Acts 15:20, where abstaining from blood is reiterated for Gentile believers. Theologically, this act underscores the need for obedience to God's commands and the consequences of neglecting divine law.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Saul
The first king of Israel, who had given a rash oath that led to the troops' disobedience.

2. Jonathan
Saul's son, who was unaware of his father's oath and had earlier led a successful attack against the Philistines.

3. Israelite Troops
The soldiers who, in their hunger, violated God's law by eating meat with blood.

4. Philistines
The enemies of Israel, from whom the Israelites took the plunder.

5. Gilgal
The place where Saul later built an altar to address the sin of the troops.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Rash Decisions
Saul's impulsive oath led to unintended sin among the troops. Leaders must consider the impact of their decisions on others.

The Importance of Obedience
The troops' actions violated God's law, reminding us of the importance of adhering to God's commands, even in difficult circumstances.

The Dangers of Desperation
In their hunger, the troops acted without regard for God's law. We must guard against letting desperation lead us into sin.

The Role of Repentance
Saul's later actions to rectify the situation highlight the need for repentance and seeking God's forgiveness when we fall short.

The Value of Spiritual Discernment
Jonathan's earlier success without knowing of the oath shows the importance of seeking God's guidance and wisdom in all situations.(32) And the people flew upon the spoil . . . --No doubt, had the men of Israel not been so faint for want of food, and utterly weary, many more of the Philistine host would have fallen: as it was, vast spoil was left behind in the hurried flight; but it was the beasts that the conquerors greedily seized, their hunger was so great. "The moment that the day, with its enforced fast, was over, they flew, like Mussulmans at sunset during the fast of Ramazan, upon the captured cattle, and devoured them, even to the brutal neglect of the Law forbidding the eating of flesh which contained blood."--Stanley. (See Leviticus 17:10-14; Leviticus 19:26.)

Verse 32. - The people flew upon the spoil. The written text has, "And the people set to work upon the spoil, and took sheep," etc., but as the sentence is not very grammatical the kri has corrected it from 1 Samuel 15:19. The versions have either "greedily desired," or "turned themselves unto." The people who had waited until evening, when the oath forced upon them by Saul was over, then in their hunger broke the law doubly: first in killing calves with their dams on the same day (Leviticus 22:28), and secondly, more seriously, in so killing them "on the ground" that the blood remained in the carcase. The law enjoined the utmost care in this respect (ibid. 17:10-14), but the people were too weary and hungry to trouble about it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they rushed greedily
וַיַּ֤עַט (way·ya·‘aṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the plunder,
הַשָּׁלָ֔ל (haš·šā·lāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7998: A prey, spoil, plunder, booty

taking
וַיִּקְח֨וּ (way·yiq·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

sheep,
צֹ֧אן (ṣōn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

cattle,
וּבָקָ֛ר (ū·ḇā·qār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

and calves.
וּבְנֵ֥י (ū·ḇə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

They slaughtered them
וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ־ (way·yiš·ḥă·ṭū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat

on the ground
אָ֑רְצָה (’ā·rə·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and ate
וַיֹּ֥אכַל (way·yō·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

meat with
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the blood still in it.
הַדָּֽם׃ (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed


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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:32 And the people flew on the spoil (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 14:31
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