Berean Standard Bible
1 Samuel 14:36
36And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!”
“Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied.
But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”
1 Samuel 14:36 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
- New International Version (NIV)Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.” “Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
Context of 1 Samuel 14:36
34Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there. 35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.” 37So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day. 38Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
Read all of 1 Samuel 141 Samuel 14:36 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֡וּל נֵרְדָ֣ה אַחֲרֵי֩ פְלִשְׁתִּ֨ים׀ לַ֜יְלָה וְֽנָבֹ֥זָה בָהֶ֣ם׀ עַד־א֣וֹר הַבֹּ֗קֶר וְלֹֽא־נַשְׁאֵ֤ר בָּהֶם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כָּל־הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵׂ֑ה ס וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נִקְרְבָ֥ה הֲלֹ֖ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
- And Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Let us go downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- by nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
- and plunderבָּזַזbâzaz · to plunderH962
- untilעַד‛ad · tillH5704
- dawnאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- dawnבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- leavingשָׁאַרshâ'ar · to remainH7604
- noלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- Doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- whatכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- seems goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- to youעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- But the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- We must consultקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
- We must consultאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- hereהֲלֹםhălôm · hereH1988
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:36
- Joshua 10:9After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.
- Jeremiah 6:5Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
- 1 Samuel 11:11The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
- Joshua 11:14The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed.
- Numbers 27:21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
- Psalms 73:28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
- Isaiah 48:1“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel— but not in truth or righteousness—
- Isaiah 58:2For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”
- Malachi 2:7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
- James 4:8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:36
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Then said the priest - It is evident that Ahiah doubted the propriety of pursuing the Philistines that night; and as a reverse of fortune might be ruinous after such a victory, he wished to have specific directions from the Lord.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36Then said the priest - Ahijah, with equal courage and faithfulness, worthy of his office as “the priest,” when every one else yielded to Saul‘s humor, proposed that they should draw near to God to inquire of Him. (Compare 1 Kings 22:7.)Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-46Verses 36-46 If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to suspect it is for some sin harboured in our hearts, which we should find out, that we may put it away, and put it to death. We should always first suspect and examine ourselves; but an unhumbled heart suspects every other person, and looks every where but at home for the sinful cause of calamity. Jonathan was discovered to be the offender. Those most indulgent to their own sins are most severe…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-52Saul's actions in this chapter further support his removal as king (1 Samuel 13:8–14; see also 15). Saul was estranged from both Samuel and his brave son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14 foreshadows Jonathan's important role in the shift from Saul's rule to David's.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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