24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day , for Saul had put the people under oath , saying , "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening , and until I have avenged myself on my enemies ." So none e of the people tasted food . 25 All the people of the land entered the forest , and there was honey on the ground e . 26 When the people entered the forest , behold , there was a flow of honey ; but no man put his hand to his mouth , for the people feared the oath . 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath ; therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb e , and put his hand to his mouth , and his eyes brightened . 28 Then one of the people said , "Your father strictly put the people under oath , saying , 'Cursed be the man who eats food today .' " And the people were weary . 29 Then Jonathan said , " My father has troubled the land . See now , how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey . 30 "How much e more e , if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found ! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great ." 31 They struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon . And the people were very weary . 32 The people rushed greedily upon the spoil , and took sheep and oxen and calves e , and slew them on the ground ; and the people ate them with the blood . 33 Then they told Saul , saying , "Behold , the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood ." And he said , "You have acted treacherously ; roll a great stone to me today ." 34 Saul said , "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep , and slaughter it here and eat ; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood .' " So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there . 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord ; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord .
36 Then 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 whatever seems good to you." So the priest said , "Let us draw near to God here ." 37 Saul inquired of God , "Shall I go down after the Philistines ? Will You give them into the hand of Israel ?" But He did not answer him on that day . 38 Saul said , " Draw near here , all you chiefs of the people , and investigate and see how this sin has happened today . 39 "For as the Lord lives , who delivers Israel , though e it is in Jonathan my son , he shall surely e die ." But not one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel , "You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side ." And the people said to Saul , "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord , the God of Israel , " Give a perfect lot." And Jonathan and Saul were taken , but the people escaped . 42 Saul said , "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son ." And Jonathan was taken . 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan , " Tell me what you have done ." So Jonathan told him and said , " I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand . Here I am, I must die !" 44 Saul said , " May God do this to me and more also , for you shall surely die , Jonathan ." 45 But the people said to Saul , "Must Jonathan die , who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel ? Far from it! As the Lord lives , not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground , for he has worked with God this day ." So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die . 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines , and the Philistines went to their own place .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24-46
Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:24-35
(Read 1 Samuel 14:24-35)
Saul's severe order was very unwise; if it gained time, it lost strength for the pursuit. Such is the nature of our bodies, that daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which therefore our Father in heaven graciously gives. Saul was turning aside from God, and now he begins to build altars, being then most zealous, as many are, for the form of godliness when he was denying the power of it.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:36-46
(Read 1 Samuel 14:36-46)
If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to suspect it is for some sin harboured in our hearts, which we should find out, that we may put it away, and put it to death. We should always first suspect and examine ourselves; but an unhumbled heart suspects every other person, and looks every where but at home for the sinful cause of calamity. Jonathan was discovered to be the offender. Those most indulgent to their own sins are most severe upon others; those who most disregard God's authority, are most impatient when their own commands are slighted. Such as cast abroad curses, endanger themselves and their families. What do we observe in the whole of Saul's behaviour on this occasion, but an impetuous, proud, malignant, impious disposition? And do we not in every instance perceive that man, left to himself, betrays the depravity of his nature, and is enslaved to the basest tempers.