39 For, by the living Lord, the saviour of Israel, even if the sinner is Jonathan, my son, death will certainly be his fate. But not a man among all the people gave him any answer.
And Saul said, May God's punishment be on me if death is not your fate, Jonathan.
And David was full of wrath against that man; and he said to Nathan, By the living Lord, death is the right punishment for the man who has done this:
And all the people were with Saul, about twenty thousand men, and the fight was general through all the hill-country of Ephraim; but Saul made a great error that day, by putting the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes food before evening comes and I have given punishment to those who are against me. So the people had not a taste of food.
And Saul gave ear to the voice of Jonathan, and said with an oath, By the living Lord, he is not to be put to death.
For while the son of Jesse is living on the earth, your position is unsafe and your kingdom is in danger. So make him come here to me, for it is certainly right for him to be put to death.
And Saul made an oath to her by the Lord, saying, By the living Lord, no punishment will come to you for this.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 14
Commentary on 1 Samuel 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
We left the host of Israel in a very ill posture, in the close of the foregoing chapter; we saw in them no wisdom, nor strength, nor goodness, to give us ground to expect any other than that they should all be cut off by the army of the Philistines; yet here we find that infinite power which works without means, and that infinite goodness which gives without merit, glorified in a happy turn to their affairs, that still Samuel's words may be made good: "The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake,' (ch. 12:22). In this chapter we have,
1Sa 14:1-15
We must here take notice,
1Sa 14:16-23
We have here the prosecution and improvement of the wonderful advantages which Jonathan and his armour-bearer gained against the Philistines.
1Sa 14:24-35
We have here an account of the distress of the children of Israel, even in the day of their triumphs. Such alloys are all present joys subject to. And such obstructions does many a good cause meet with, even when it seems most prosperous, through the mismanagement of instruments.
1Sa 14:36-46
Here is,
1Sa 14:47-52
Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp.