Wesley Corpus

Transgressed - He sees their fault, but not his own, in giving the occasion of it. Draw near - To the ark, in order to enquire of God. Answered - None of those who saw Jonathan eating, informed against him; because they were satisfied that his ignorance excused him; and from their great love to Jonathan, whom they would not expose to death for so small an offence. Perfect lot - Or, declare the perfect, or guiltless person. That is, O Lord, so guide the lot, that it may discover who is guilty in his matter, and who innocent. Escaped - They were pronounced guiltless. Jonathan - God so ordered the lot; not that he approved Saul's execration, ver.24, or his oath that the transgressor should die, ver.39, nor that he would expose Jonathan to death; but that Saul's folly might be chastised, when he saw what danger it had brought upon his eldest and excellent son; and that Jonathan's innocency might be cleared. For thou, &c - We have no proof, that Saul did not act in this whole affair from a real fear of God. With God - In concurrence with God, he hath wrought this salvation. God is so far from being offended with Jonathan, that he hath graciously owned him in the great service of this day. Took the kingdom - That is, resumed the administration of it, after he had in a manner lost it by the Philistines, who had almost turned him out of it. Ishui - Called also Abinadab. chap.31:2. Ishbosheth, Saul's other son is here omitted, because he intended to mention only those of his sons who went with him into the battles here mentioned, and who were afterwards slain with him. Chapter XV