1 Samuel 14:43

43 And Saul said to Jonathan, Show thou to me, what thou didest. And Jonathan showed to him, and said, I tasting tasted a little of honey in the end of the rod, that was in mine hand; and lo! I die. (And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell thou to me, what thou didest. And Jonathan said to him, I tasted a little honey using the end of the rod that was in my hand; and lo! now I must die.)

1 Samuel 14:43 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:43

Then Saul said to Jonathan, tell me what thou hast done
What sin he had committed, the lot having fallen on him, and found him out:

and Jonathan told him;
the whole of the matter, all the truth, without any reserve:

and said, I did but take a little honey with the end of the rod
that was in mine hand;
he speaks of the fact as a trivial thing, as if it was not deserving of death, though he was willing to submit to it; yet it seems strange he should say nothing of his ignorance of the charge and oath of Saul, and plead that in excuse of it; though Josephus ^F8 makes him to take notice of it: and, "lo, I must die"; am condemned to die, as the Targum; for which he was prepared and ready, being willing to testify an entire subjection to his father's authority and will. Josephus ^F9 represents him speaking with a generosity and greatness of soul, after this manner,

``death is most sweet to me, which is for the sake of maintaining thy piety and religion; and after so glorious a victory, it is the greatest consolation to me to leave the Hebrews conquerors of the Philistines.''

---

FOOTNOTES:

F8 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 4.
F9 lbid.

1 Samuel 14:43 In-Context

41 And Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, Lord God of Israel, give thou doom, what is it, that thou answerest not today to thy servant? If this wickedness is in me, either in Jonathan, my son, make thou showing thereof; either if this wickedness is in thy people, give thou holiness. And Jonathan was taken, and Saul, by lot; forsooth the people went out. (And Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, Lord God of Israel, give thou judgement, why is it that thou hast not answered thy servant today? If this wickedness is in me, or in my son Jonathan, let the lot be Urim; but if this wickedness is in thy people, let it be Thummim. And by lot Jonathan and Saul were indicted; and the people were absolved.)

42 And Saul said, Send ye lot betwixt me and Jonathan my son (And Saul said, Cast ye the lot/Throw ye the lot between me and my son Jonathan). And Jonathan was taken.

43 And Saul said to Jonathan, Show thou to me, what thou didest. And Jonathan showed to him, and said, I tasting tasted a little of honey in the end of the rod, that was in mine hand; and lo! I die. (And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell thou to me, what thou didest. And Jonathan said to him, I tasted a little honey using the end of the rod that was in my hand; and lo! now I must die.)

44 And Saul said, God do to me these things, and add these things, for thou, Jonathan, shalt (indeed) die by death.

45 And the people said to Saul, Therefore whether Jonathan shall die, that did this great health in Israel? this is unleaveful; the Lord liveth; none hair of his head shall fall into the earth; for he hath wrought with God today. Therefore the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not. (And the people said to Saul, Should Jonathan truly die, he who hath won this great victory for Israel? Nay! this is unlawful; as the Lord liveth, there shall not fall to the ground one hair of his head, for he hath worked with God today. And so the people delivered Jonathan, so that he did not die.)