Shmuel Alef 14:44

44 And Sha’ul answered, Elohim do so and more also if thou shalt not surely die, Yonatan.

Shmuel Alef 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.

Shmuel Alef 14:44 In-Context

42 And Sha’ul said, Cast lots between me and Yonatan beni (my son). And Yonatan was taken by lot.
43 Then Sha’ul said to Yonatan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Yonatan told him, and said, I did but taste a little devash with the end of the matteh that was in mine yad, and, hineni, I must die.
44 And Sha’ul answered, Elohim do so and more also if thou shalt not surely die, Yonatan.
45 And HaAm said unto Sha’ul, Shall Yonatan die, who hath wrought this Yeshuah HaGedolah (Great Salvation, Deliverance, Rescue) in Yisroel? Chalilah (far be it!); as Hashem liveth, there shall not one hair of his rosh fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with Elohim this day. So HaAm rescued Yonatan, that he died not.
46 Then Sha’ul stopped following the Pelishtim; and the Pelishtim withdrew to their own makom.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.