1 Samuel 14:10 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

This shall be a sign unto us Jonathan, not being assured of the success of this intended exploit, desires a sign, and by the instinct of God's Spirit pitches on this. He could upon no good ground have spoken in this manner without an impulse from God, who often suggested such thoughts and resolutions unto good men's minds in ancient times, as we see in the example of Abraham's servant, Genesis 24:14, &c. God, we must observe, has the governing of the hearts and tongues of all men, even of those that know him not, and serves his own purposes by them, though they mean not so, neither do their hearts think so.