1 Samuel 14:38

the chief of the people Lit. "the corner-stones of the people," as in Judges 20:2, probably the elders or heads of houses.

wherein this sin hath been Saul assumes that some undiscovered sin must have caused God to refuse an answer, as Achan's trespass led Him to withdraw His Presence and abandon Israel to defeat (Joshua 7:11-12). At a later time Saul's own sin made God desert Him in the same way (ch. 1 Samuel 28:6; 1 Samuel 28:15). Jonathan's transgression of the oath, although unintentional, was an offence against the Majesty of the Divine Name which could not be left unnoticed.