To answer this objection, it is necessary to observe the story as it is set ⟨p. 8⟩down▪ 1 Sam. 14. Where Saul charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening. And what then followed? Certainly an example of singular obedience in the people, for the Text saith, That though they were pressed with hunger, yet none of the people tasted any food; And further, When the people were c•me into the wood, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand •o his mouth, for the people feared the oath; only Jonathan unwittingly dipped the end of his r•d in an honey-comb, and put his hand to his mouth. Presently one of the people told Jonathan •• his fathers charge, and in effect that he had broken it. And the Lord himself because of this sin refused to answer Saul when he drew near to him for counsel, v. 36 37, 38. Then Saul called all the chief of the people together, to know by whom this sin was done; and the people, like obedient subjects sai• (as before in the 36 vers,) Do what seemeth good unto thee. The lot then fell upon Jonathan, Jonathan confesseth, and in confessing excuseth his fault saying, I did but taste a little honey with the end of my rod, and lo, I must die. Saul answers, thou shalt sur•ly die, Jonathan. Then the people began to meditate, and said unto Saul, shall Jonathan die? (As if they should say shall thy son die? thy son Jonathan whom thou lovest •o dearly? v 39. shall he die? he, who heard not when thou didst charge the people with the oath? v. 27. he, who hath wrought this day great salvation in Israel? God forbid. (Let God hinder thee from •his deed; God in whose power only it is, let him forbid thee) as the Lord liveth (that is most certainly, most assuredly, God shall so turn1 thy heart that) there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground: for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people (by their mediation and entreaty) rescued, or freed, or redeemed, or delivered Jonathan, that he died not.
To answer this objection, it is necessary to observe the story as it is set ⟨p. 8⟩down▪ 1 Sam. 14. Where Saul charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food untill evening. And what then followed? Certainly an example of singular obedience in the people, for the Text saith, That though they were pressed with hunger, yet none of the people tasted any food; And further, When the people were c•me into the wood, behold, the hony dropped, but no man put his hand •o his mouth, for the people feared the oath; onely Jonathan unwittingly dipt the end of his r•d in an honey-comb, and put his hand to his mouth. Presently one of the people told Ionathan •• his fathers charge, and in effect that he had broken it. And the Lord himselfe because of this sinne refused to answer Saul when he drew neere to him for counsell, v. 36 37, 38. Then Saul called all the chief of the people together, to know by whom this sin was done; and the people, like obedient subjects sai• (as before in the 36 vers,) Doe what seemeth good unto thee. The lot then fell upon Ionathan, Io•athan confesseth, and in confessing excuseth his fault saying, I did but taste a little honey with the end of my rod, and loe, I must die. Saul answers, thou shalt sur•ly die, Ionathan. Then the people began to meditate, and said unto Saul, shal Jonathan dy? (As if they should say shall thy son die? thy son Ionathan whom thou lovest •o dearely? v 39. shall he die? he, who heard not when thou didst charge the p•ople with the oath? v. 27. he, who hath wrought this day great salvation in Israel? God forbid. (Let God hinder thee from •his deed; God in whose power onely it is, let him forbid thee) as the Lord liveth (that is most certainly, most assuredly, God shall so turn1 thy heart that) there shall not one haire of his head fall to the ground: for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people (by their mediation and intreaty) rescued, or freed, or redeemed, or delivered Ionathan, that he died not.
- 1Liberav• runt, Hieron. redemerunt. Jun. & Trem. vide Greg. • ag. in Reg. cap. 14.
