THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Observe how swiftly a single promise can ensnare. The troops journeyed past an ancient tree, home to a beehive, and “there was a beehive before the face of the village; and the people entered into the beehive, and behold, they went out saying.” Can you perceive what a chasm this is? The feast lay prepared without any prior arrangements, facilitating access and tempting them with the allure of the food, along with the hope of keeping their actions hidden—this led the warriors to forsake their vow. Meanwhile, insatiable hunger, toil, and the passage of time—“the whole earth,” it is said, “dined”—all conspired to draw them toward this transgression.
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The mere sight of the honeycomb provoked their cravings and weakened their mental resolve; the deliciousness and accessibility of the meal, compounded by the obscurity of indulging in such secrecy, threatened to erode their bravery. If the offering had been meat requiring boiling or roasting, it would have posed a lesser temptation, as that preparation would mandate pausing, slowing down, and risking exposure. However, in this case, only honey was available, requiring no extensive effort; merely dipping a fingertip would suffice to enjoy the taste and escape detection. Yet the soldiers resisted their cravings and did not entertain thoughts of justification: what does it matter to us? Did any one of us make this vow? He shall face consequences for his rash commitment; why did he make such an oath? Rather, they considered not these arguments, but with deep unease they chose to pass by and endure, despite the multitude of alluring temptations: “And men went out saying.” What is this “speaking”? They engaged in dialogue among themselves to alleviate their sorrow through conversation.