Making a Stupid Vow and You (1 Samuel 14)

In this passage, King Saul makes an utterly ridiculous vow that encompassed the entire nation. No one was to eat food until the enemies were destroyed, but the troops became very weak without needed sustenance. Then the king made a further vow that would have resulted in his son being killed except the people could not stand by and watch the king follow through with his utter foolishness. 

1 Samuel 14:24-27New King James Version (NKJV)

Saul’s Rash Oath

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that wasin his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened.