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Now Saul's watchmen told the king that the camp of the Philistines
was in confusion; then he inquired whether any body was gone away from
the army; and when he heard that his son, and with him his armor-bearer,
were absent, he bade the high priest take the garments of his high priesthood,
and prophesy to him what success they should have; who said that they should
get the victory, and prevail against their enemies. So he went out after
the Philistines, and set upon them as they were slaying one another. Those
also who had fled to dens and caves, upon hearing that Saul was gaining
a victory, came running to him. When, therefore, the number of the Hebrews
that came to Saul amounted to about ten thousand, he pursued the enemy,
who were scattered all over the country; but then he fell into an action,
which was a very unhappy one, and liable to be very much blamed; for, whether
out of ignorance or whether out of joy for a victory gained so strangely,
(for it frequently happens that persons so fortunate are not then able
to use their reason consistently,) as he was desirous to avenge himself,
and to exact a due punishment of the Philistines, he denounced a curse
1 upon
the Hebrews: That if any one put a stop to his slaughter of the enemy,
and fell on eating, and left off the slaughter or the pursuit before the
night came on, and obliged them so to do, he should be accursed. Now after
Saul had denounced this curse, since they were now in a wood belonging
to the tribe of Ephraim, which was thick and full of bees, Saul's son,
who did not hear his father denounce that curse, nor hear of the approbation
the multitude gave to it, broke off a piece of a honey-comb, and ate part
of it. But, in the mean time, he was informed with what a curse his father
had forbidden them to taste any thing before sun-setting: so he left off
eating, and said his father had not done well in this prohibition, because,
had they taken some food, they had pursued the enemy with greater rigor
and alacrity, and had both taken and slain many more of their enemies.