(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
1 Samuel 14:36–46, “And 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. And 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. And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. For, 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. Then 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. Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. Then 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. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And 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. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.”
Israel had just achieved a convincing victory against the Philistines and Saul wanted to follow this up by attacking them in their homes and hiding places. This would make the victory complete rather than allowing the Philistines to regroup. Even though Saul knew that he had been rejected from fathering a dynasty of Israeli kings, he still wanted to ask the Lord for guidance. After his previous experience, Saul knew that he would have to consult the priest so he called the priest and asked him the question. “Should we follow the Philistines and complete our victory?” The Lord didn’t give an answer and Saul realised that there was some sin among his soldiers. He consulted the priest and decided to ask the Lord who had sinned. Using Urim and Thummim, as the Lord had commanded, Saul discovered the Jonathan was responsible for the sin. Jonathan explained that he had eaten food when Saul had placed a ban on eating during the battle. Saul decided that Jonathan should be executed for his sin but the people decided to prevent Saul from carrying out his sentence. After all, Jonathan was primarily responsible for the great victory they had won and to execute for his father’s foolishness didn’t make any sense. Jonathan was saved but Saul didn’t go and complete the task that Jonathan had started. The Philistines were allowed to go home, regroup and plan their revenge.
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