1 Samuel 14:36-46

36 Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don't let even one remain!" "Do whatever you want,"^[a] the troops replied. But the priest said, "We must consult God here."^[b]

37 So Saul inquired of God, "Should I go after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.^[c]

38 Saul said, "All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let us investigate how this sin^[d] has occurred today.

39 As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!" Not one of the troops answered him.

40 So he said to all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." And the troops replied, "Do whatever you want."^[e]

41 So Saul said to the Lord, "God of Israel, give us the right [decision]."^[f] Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared [of the charge].

42 Then Saul said, "Cast [the lot] between me and my son Jonathan," and Jonathan was selected.

43 Saul commanded him, "Tell me what you did."^[g] Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. I am ready to die!"

44 Saul declared to him, "May God punish me severely if you do not die, Jonathan!"

45 But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God's help today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46 Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

1 Samuel 14:36-46 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 14

This chapter gives an account of an adventure of Jonathan and his armourbearer smiting a garrison of the Philistines, 1Sa 14:1-14, which with other circumstances struck terror into the whole army; which being observed by Saul's spies, he and his men went out against them, and being joined by others, pursued them, and obtained a complete victory, 1Sa 14:15-23, but what sullied the glory of the day was a rash oath of Saul's, adjuring the people not to eat any food till evening which Jonathan not hearing of ignorantly broke, 1Sa 14:24-31 and which long fasting made the people so ravenous, that they slew their cattle, and ate them with the blood, contrary to the law of God, for which they were reproved by Saul, 1Sa 14:32-34, upon which he built an altar, and inquired of the Lord whether he should pursue the Philistines all that night till morning, but had no answer; which made him conclude sin was committed, and which he inquired after, declaring that if it was his own son Jonathan that had committed it he should surely die, 1Sa 14:35-39, the people being silent, he cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonathan; who had it not been for the resolution of the people that rescued him out of his hands, because of the great salvation he had wrought, must have died, 1Sa 14:40-46 and the chapter is cited with an account of Saul's battles with the neighbouring nations in general, and of his family, 1Sa 14:47-52.

Footnotes

• [a] Lit Do what is good in your eyes
• [b] Jdg 18:5-6
• [c] 1 Sm 28:6
• [d] 1 Sm 14:27-28
• [e] Lit Do what is good in your eyes
• [f] LXX reads Israel, why have You not answered Your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the guilt is in Your people Israel, give Thummim."
• [g] Jos 7:19