1 Samuel 14:40

40 Then Saul said to all the Israelites, "You stand on this side. I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side." The men answered, "Do whatever you think is best."

1 Samuel 14:40 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:40

Then said he unto all Israel
As many of them as were present; not the principal men only, but the common people; not the officers only, but the common soldiers in the army:

be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side:
so they divided to the right and left, one went one way, and the other the other; there were two boxes or urns, as Kimchi says, in one of which were the names of Saul and Jonathan, and in the other Israel; though Abarbinel observes, that such a partition of them on one side, and the other, is not according to the manner of lots; and he suspects that Saul knew that Jonathan had tasted of honey, being told it by the man that saw him eat it; and who said to him then, "thy father straitly charged" ( 1 Samuel 14:27 ) but chose this way to make it manifest to the people, and to show what a strict regard he had to justice:

and the people said unto Saul, do what seemeth good unto thee;
they were very obsequious to him in everything, see ( 1 Samuel 14:36 ) .

1 Samuel 14:40 In-Context

38 Then Saul said to all the leaders of his army, "Come here. Let's find out what sin has been done today.

39 As surely as the Lord lives who has saved Israel, even if my son Jonathan did the sin, he must die." But no one in the army spoke.

40 Then Saul said to all the Israelites, "You stand on this side. I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side." The men answered, "Do whatever you think is best."

41 Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, "Give me the right answer." And Saul and Jonathan were picked; the other men went free.

42 Saul said, "Now let us discover if it is I or Jonathan my son who is guilty." And Jonathan was picked.