1 Samuel 14:40

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.

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, "All you officers in the army, come forward! Let's find out what sin was committed today.

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.