1 Samuel 14:41

41 Then Saul asked the LORD God of Israel, "Why haven't you answered your servant today? If the wrongdoing is mine or my son Jonathan's, respond with Urim, but if the wrongdoing belongs to your people Israel, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the troops were cleared.

1 Samuel 14:41 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:41

Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel
After the division was made between him and his son on one side, and the people of Israel on the other, and everything was ready for the drawing of the lot; Saul put up to God the following petition, as knowing that though the lot is cast into the lap, the disposing of it is of the Lord:

give a perfect lot;
or man, let it fall upon the guilty person, and let the innocent go free; the Targum is,

``cause it to come in truth;''

let truth and righteousness take place; let the right man be found out, and taken; the petition seems to be too arrogant and presumptuous, and insinuates as if the Lord did not always dispose the lot aright:

and Saul and Jonathan were taken;
the lot being cast, it fell upon them:

but the people escaped;
from the lot, and appeared to be innocent, clear of any blame; so that it was not the sin they had been guilty of, in eating flesh with the blood, which was the cause that no answer was returned.

1 Samuel 14:41 In-Context

39 As surely as the LORD lives—the one who has saved Israel—even if it's my own son Jonathan, that person will be executed." Not one of the soldiers answered him.

40 So Saul said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other." "Do whatever you think is best," the troops said.

41 Then Saul asked the LORD God of Israel, "Why haven't you answered your servant today? If the wrongdoing is mine or my son Jonathan's, respond with Urim, but if the wrongdoing belongs to your people Israel, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the troops were cleared.

42 Then Saul said, "Decide between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was selected.

43 "Tell me what you've done," Saul said to Jonathan. So Jonathan told him. "I only took a very small taste of honey on the end of my staff," he said. "And now I'm supposed to die?"

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Vulg; MT Saul asked the Lord God of Israel, Give the right answer. Urim and Thummim were sacred lots carried by the priest.