1 Samuel 14:41, commentary and pictures

The verse belongs to the history of Israel from Eli to the old age of David told in the books of Samuel, falling in the account of the beginning of Saul's reign before the rejection of Saul and his family and the anointing of David. It belongs to the story in 1 Samuel 14:24-45 about Saul's rash decree and hasty oath that anyone who ate food that day would die, showing his rashness and weakness.

The verse shows casting lots used in Israel to let God decide a matter, with Saul asking the God of Israel to give a perfect lot with the result that Saul and Jonathan were taken while the people escaped. It is one of the Bible instructions and instances of casting lots, in which names on stones or marks were thrown together into the lap or fold of a garment or into an urn or vase and shaken violently to mingle them perfectly so the one drawing had no advantage. It was done by the faithful with reference to God and His interpretation, because the whole disposing of the lot cast into the lap is of the Lord.

After the lot pointed to Jonathan, who had unknowingly eaten honey, Saul sentenced him to death, but the people intervened and rescued Jonathan. The episode reveals Saul's growing self-sufficiency and tyranny as well as his rashness and weakness. The story warns against being rash with the mouth and shows it is not wise to speak in that hasty way, with Saul's oath being like Jacob's hot word that the one with whom Laban's images were found should die, spoken with too much confidence in another person's goodness.