1 Samuel 14:36-45 Meaning: When the Priest Stopped the King
36Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light. Let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.”
37Saul asked counsel of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.
38Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today.
39For as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
40Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.”
44Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
45The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, so he didn’t die.
36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39For, as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39For, as Jehovah liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die.
44And Saul said, God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
36And Saul saith, `Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and we prey upon them till the light of the morning, and leave not a man of them.' And they say, `All that is good in thine eyes do.' And the priest saith, `Let us draw near hither unto God.'
37And Saul asketh of God, `Do I go down after the Philistines? dost Thou give them into the hand of Israel?' and He hath not answered him on that day.
38And Saul saith, `Draw ye nigh hither all, the chiefs of the people, and know and see in what this sin hath been to-day;
39for, Jehovah liveth, who is saving Israel: surely if it be in Jonathan my son, surely he doth certainly die;' and none is answering him out of all the people.
40And he saith unto all Israel, `Ye--ye are on one side, and I and Jonathan my son are on another side;' and the people say unto Saul, `That which is good in thine eyes do.'
41And Saul saith unto Jehovah, God of Israel, `Give perfection;' and Jonathan and Saul are captured, and the people went out.
42And Saul saith, `Cast between me and Jonathan my son;' and Jonathan is captured.
43And Saul saith unto Jonathan, `Declare to me, what hast thou done?' and Jonathan declareth to him, and saith, `I certainly tasted with the end of the rod that is in my hand a little honey; lo, I die!'
44And Saul saith, `Thus doth God do, and thus doth He add, for thou dost certainly die, Jonathan.'
45And the people say unto Saul, `Doth Jonathan die who wrought this great salvation in Israel? --a profanation! Jehovah liveth, if there falleth from the hair of his head to the earth, for with God he hath wrought this day;' and the people rescue Jonathan, and he hath not died.
36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever is good in thy sight. Then said the priest, Let us come near hither to God.
37And Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.
38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the heads of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day.
39For, [as] Jehovah liveth, who has saved Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall certainly die. And no one answered him among all the people.
40Then said he to all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what is good in thy sight.
41And Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, Give a perfect [testimony]! And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him and said, With the end of the staff which is in my hand I tasted a little honey, [and] behold, I must die!
44And Saul said, God do so [to me] and more also; thou shalt certainly die, Jonathan.
45And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! [as] Jehovah liveth, there shall not a hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not.
Meaning in one sentence
Why the priest interrupted Saul’s night attack to seek God, and what it teaches about pausing for divine guidance over our own plans.
Context
Israel has just won a stunning victory over the Philistines, thanks to Jonathan’s bold faith and the Lord’s help. But the day is complicated. Earlier, Saul made a rash oath: no one may eat until evening, on pain of death. Jonathan, unaware of the oath, tasted a little honey during the pursuit. Now, as darkness falls, Saul wants to press the attack through the night. The priest Ahijah steps in, insisting they first draw near to God. What follows, a silent oracle, a tense lot-casting, and a king ready to execute his own son, exposes how much damage a leader’s impulsive vows can cause. The people ultimately step in to rescue Jonathan, recognising that God had worked through him.
Key Words
The priest says, “Let us draw near here to God.” The Hebrew verb qarab means to approach, to come close, not just physically but in dependence. When Saul then asks counsel of God, the verb sha’al is the technical term for consulting the Urim and Thummim, the sacred lots the high priest carried. Saul wants a quick answer, but God does not answer him that day. Later, Saul demands a “perfect lot.” The word tamim means whole, complete, without blemish. It is the same word used for an unblemished sacrifice. Saul is asking for a flawless verdict, yet the lot he gets only exposes his own rashness. And at the end, the people “rescue” Jonathan. The verb padah means to ransom or redeem, the same word used for buying back a firstborn or freeing a slave. They are not just saving a life; they are reclaiming the one through whom God had already worked deliverance.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians from various traditions read this passage with different emphases. Methodist commentator Adam Clarke insists Jonathan’s tasting honey was no sin; the lot was never meant to show divine displeasure but to reveal the folly of Saul’s oath. Many Reformed writers, such as Matthew Henry, see the people’s intervention as a sign of sounder judgment than the king’s, a reminder that godly conscience can check even royal authority. Catholic and Orthodox readers might note the priest’s faithful role: Ahijah stopped the king, insisting that no battle plan should proceed without consulting God. Across the board, the story is seen as a caution against impulsive vows and a call to pause for divine guidance, even when victory seems assured.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Jonathan was really guilty and the lot proved God wanted him dead. In fact, the text itself shows the opposite. The people cry out, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel?” They rescue him, and the narrator adds, “So the people rescued Jonathan, so he didn’t die.” The lot identified Jonathan as the one who broke the vow, but the vow itself was unwise. God did not condemn Jonathan; the people understood that the one who had worked with God should not be harmed.
Living This Out
Saul wanted to keep moving, attack by night, stay in control, fix the silence himself. The priest stopped him and said, in effect, not yet. Most of us know the feeling: a good goal, a tight plan, and a growing impatience when God seems quiet. This passage asks you to do something harder: pause before the next step, even when the momentum is strong. The silence is not a door to kick down; it is a signal to draw near. Before you send that email, make that decision, or double down on your own solution, stop. Draw near to God first. The people’s rescue of Jonathan also invites you to speak up when a flawed authority heads toward injustice, kindly, clearly, for the sake of the innocent.
Main takeaway: Before any action, big or small, stop and draw near to God, His guidance matters more than your momentum.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Saul made a rule that no one could eat until nighttime. But Jonathan, his son, didn’t know and ate a little honey. Saul said Jonathan had to be punished. But the people said, “No! Jonathan helped save us, and God was with him.” So they saved Jonathan. Always tell grown-ups when you think someone is being treated unfairly.
For ages 9, 12
Saul made an impulsive promise without thinking, and it almost cost his son’s life. The priest reminded Saul to ask God first, but Saul went ahead with his own plan anyway. In the end, the people stepped in and saved Jonathan because they saw that God had used him. This story shows how important it is to stop and pray before making big decisions, and to speak up when someone is about to do something wrong, even if they are in charge.
Questions People Ask
Why did God not answer Saul when he asked about pursuing the Philistines?
God remained silent probably because of the rash oath Saul had made earlier, cursing anyone who ate food before evening. That oath put the whole army under a needless burden. By not answering, God forced Saul to investigate the sin in the camp, which then exposed the problem with the king’s own command.
Was Jonathan guilty of sin when he tasted the honey?
Most commentators agree Jonathan was not guilty. He did not know about Saul’s oath (14:27), and his action was innocent. The lot showed that he had technically violated the vow, but the text makes clear that God was with Jonathan, the people call him the one who “worked with God” and rescue him. The story highlights how wrong it is to punish someone for breaking a rule they never knew about.
What are the Urim and Thummim?
They were sacred objects kept in the high priest’s breastplate, used to determine God’s will in certain situations. The words likely mean “lights” and “perfections.” When the priest cast them or consulted them, the outcome revealed God’s answer, often with a simple yes/no or by singling out a person, as in this passage with Saul and Jonathan.
Why did the people dare to defy Saul’s order to kill Jonathan?
The people recognized that Jonathan had acted with God’s power to win the battle. They saw a bigger truth: the one who brought deliverance should not be put to death over a minor technicality. Their common sense and reverence for God’s work overruled the king’s rash verdict.
For pastors & researchers
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