Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:43
“Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him. So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul commands Jonathan to disclose his actions immediately after a lot identifies him as the oath-breaker. Jonathan replies in the narrow window between the lot-casting and Saul’s pronouncement of death.
The words — The Hebrew הַגִּידָה (ha.Gi.da/h) means "tell" or "declare," and עָשִׂיתָה ('a.Si.tah) translates to "have you done." These verbs structure the exchange as a direct inquiry into Jonathan’s specific conduct.
The thread — This confrontation parallels Joshua’s demand for confession from Achan in Joshua 7:19 and reflects the lot-casting mechanism in Jonah 1:7. Jonathan’s explanation directly follows his unnoticed breach of the military oath in 1 Samuel 14:27.
Why it lands — The text records Jonathan’s defense of his minor, unintentional transgression against Saul’s severe oath. A reader must assess whether the explicit demand for death aligns with the stated facts of Jonathan’s limited action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 7:19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
- 1 Samuel 14:27 Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
- Jonah 1:7 “Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.