Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
27. his eyes were enlightened ] Cp. Psa 13:3. His bodily powers were refreshed. The opposite idea is conveyed by the Heb. words for fainting, which are derived from roots meaning ‘to be shrouded in darkness.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Were enlightened – i. e., he was refreshed, when he was faint.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. His eyes were enlightened.] Hunger and fatigue affect and dim the sight; on taking food, this affection is immediately removed. This most people know to be a fact.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jonathan heard not, being then absent, and in pursuit of the Philistines, divers of the Israelites having joined themselves with him, 1Sa 14:21.
His eyes were enlightened; he was refreshed, and recovered his lost spirits, whereof part went into his optic nerves, and so cleared his sight, which was much darkened by famine, as is usual.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath,…. Which charge was given, either before he came from Gibeah, before he came to Jonathan, or while pursuing, when Jonathan was with another party either fighting or pursuing:
wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand: the staff with which he walked, or rather the spear which he carried in his hand, and fought his enemies with:
and dipped it in an honeycomb; or sugar cane, as Jarchi; or in wood honey, as the margin of our Bibles; but best, in the honeycomb, as the word is rendered, So 5:1 and so the Targum, into the nest of honey x:
and he put his hand to his mouth; first he took the honey off of the top of his rod, and then put it to his mouth and ate it;
and his eyes were enlightened: which before were dim and dull through want of food, which is a common case; but became brisk and lively on eating the honey, nourishment being presently communicated, and he refreshed with it, and his spirits revived; and which quickly appeared in the briskness and sparkling of his eyes: honey being of a subtle nature, gives immediate refreshment and rigour; hence this phrase is frequently used by Jewish writers y for refreshment, after hunger, fatigue, and weariness; and which virtue is ascribed by them to fine bread, wine, oil, and particularly to honey.
x “Progeniem nidosque fovent—-“, Virgil. Georgic. l. 4. ver. 56. y T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 42. 1, 2. Yoma, fol. 18, 2. & 83. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Maacolot Asurot, c. 14. sect. 16.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) He put forth the end of the rod.Most likely, with the point of his staff took up a piece of the honeycomb. Jonathan in that hurried battle and pursuit had heard nothing of his fathers rash oath, and was, no doubt, owing to his exertions in the earlier part of that eventful day, worn out with fatigue and hunger.
And his eyes were enlightened.This simply means that the natural dimness caused by extreme exhaustion passed away when his long fast was broken; literally, his eyes became bright. Hence the Talmud comments: Whoever suffers from the effects of intense hunger, let him eat honey and other sweet things, for such eatables are efficacious in restoring the light of ones eyes . . . Thus we read of Jonathan, See, I pray you, how my eyes have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey (1Sa. 14:27).Treatise Yoma, fol. 83, Colossians 2.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. His eyes were enlightened Languor and faintness of the body show themselves in the eye, and this was the case with Jonathan and the people. But this refreshing taste of wild honey reinvigorated Jonathan, and caused his eyes to sparkle with returning strength. There is some confusion here in the pointed Hebrew text. The Keri, after the analogy of in 1Sa 14:29, and with many codices, and the Syriac, Arabic, Chaldee, and Vulgate, read , from , to become bright. But if we adhere to the Kethib we should change the pointing thus . In either case the meaning is substantially the same.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 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.
Ver. 27. But Jonathan heard not. ] He was absent, and therefore innocent. “Where is no law, is no transgression.”
Wherefore he put forth the end of the rod, &c.
And his eyes were enlightened.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
an honeycomb. The Hebrew ya’ar never means honeycomb, but “a wood”. It is rendered “forest” thirty-eight times, “wood” nineteen times, “honey-comb” only here and Son 5:15
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
his eyes: 1Sa 14:29, 1Sa 30:12, Pro 25:26
Reciprocal: Lev 4:2 – through Jdg 19:5 – Comfort 1Sa 14:24 – Cursed 1Sa 14:43 – I did but Ezr 9:8 – lighten Psa 13:3 – lighten Psa 38:10 – the light Act 23:12 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 14:27-28. His eyes were enlightened He was refreshed, and recovered his lost spirits. This cleared his sight, which was grown dim by hunger and faintness. Then answered one of the people One of them that came with Saul, whose forces were now united with Jonathans.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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 {n} eyes were enlightened.
(n) Which were dim before from weariness and hunger.