1 Samuel 14:44

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

1 Samuel 14:44 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:44

And Saul answered, God do so and more also
A form of an oath imprecating evils upon him more and greater than he chose to mention, see the like form in ( Ruth 1:17 ) , though Abarbinel thinks this is not the form of an oath, but an asseveration of a curse that would befall him; as that God would not answer him when he inquired of him, and that he would add to do so again and again, if he died not:

for thou shall surely die, Jonathan;
such words from a father must be very striking to a son, and argue a want of paternal affection in Saul, that could call his son by his name, and deliver such a speech unto him in so strong a manner.

1 Samuel 14:44 In-Context

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.)

46 And Saul went away, and he pursued not the Philistines; and the Philistines went into their places.