1 Samuel 14:27
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Jonathan, Saul's son, was a man who feared the Lord, and he was chosen as the instrument to deliver Israel because Saul, by his presumptuous offering, would not be given the honor of vanquishing the Philistines. God permitted matters to be brought to a crisis in order to rebuke Saul's perversity and to teach humility and faith. Moved by a divine impulse, Jonathan proposed to his armor-bearer, a man of faith and prayer, a secret attack upon the enemy's camp, trusting that the Lord would work for them because there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
Saul had bound the people with an oath forbidding them to eat, and Jonathan had not heard it and did not know of it. The prohibition against eating was to last until evening.
While passing through the wood, faint from the day's labor, Jonathan unknowingly tasted a little honey, putting forth the end of the rod that was in his hand and putting it to his mouth. The honey refreshed and strengthened him and enlightened his eyes, renewing his strength after his exhaustion.
His eating was unintentional and not a willful sin, even though it violated Saul's command. Saul later sought to put him to death for violating the vow.