שמואל א, פרק י״ד, פסוק כ״ח

In the heat of battle, Jonathan tastes a bit of honey, completely unaware of his father's strict decree. A soldier quickly approaches to warn him, explaining that Saul had placed the entire army under a severe oath forbidding anyone from eating for the entire day. The soldier concludes his warning by noting that the people had grown deeply exhausted and weak as a direct result of this forced fast [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Commentators offer different perspectives on why the soldier added this detail about the army's exhaustion. One approach suggests the soldier intended to praise his fellow fighters. By mentioning their fatigue, he highlights that despite their severe hunger, they successfully withstood the test and honored the oath [רד״ק]. However, this view is challenged because a single soldier could not possibly know the actions of the entire army, and their restraint is not explicitly stated. Instead, the soldier might simply be stating a direct cause and effect, noting that Saul's oath is exactly what drained the people of their energy. This practical observation lays the groundwork for Jonathan's later argument that starving the men ultimately weakened them and limited their victory over the Philistines [אברבנאל].

Another perspective views the soldier's comment as an explanation of the decree's true nature. By pointing out the army's exhaustion, the soldier proves to Jonathan that Saul's command was not merely a military tactic to save time and avoid preparing meals. If it had been a practical military strategy, a quick, energizing snack to help them continue the pursuit would have been perfectly acceptable. The reality that the soldiers remained exhausted and refused to eat anything at all shows that Saul's intention was a strict religious fast and self-affliction for the sake of God. Because the fast was a spiritual act meant to rely on God for strength, the soldier makes it clear that even the smallest taste of food was absolutely forbidden [מלבי״ם].