²⁴ and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had^[a] placed the troops under an oath:^(A) ‘The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.’ So none of the troops tasted any food.

³ Tell them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let a curse be on the man who does not obey the words of this covenant,^(A)