23He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
Most likely his men reminded him that they still had a long way to travel (at least fifteen kilometres) in order to get back to their camp at Gilboa. They emphasised that he would need all his strength for the journey.
23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.