1 Chronicles 10:14 kjv
And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:14 nkjv
But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:14 niv
and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:14 esv
He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:14 nlt
instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 13:13-14 | "You have done foolishly… for now the LORD would have established your kingdom… but now your kingdom shall not endure." | Saul's early rejection due to disobedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." | God's rejection of Saul due to disobedience. |
| 1 Sam 28:6 | "When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him…" | God's silence when Saul sought Him late. |
| 1 Sam 28:7 | "Then Saul said to his servants, 'Seek out for me a woman who is a medium...'" | Saul's seeking forbidden guidance. |
| 1 Sam 31:1-6 | "So Saul took a sword and fell upon it." | Account of Saul's death in battle. |
| 1 Chron 10:13 | "So Saul died for his unfaithfulness… and also for not consulting the LORD." | Immediate preceding verse affirming the reason. |
| 2 Chron 14:7 | "Let us build cities and surround them with walls... because we have sought the LORD our God..." | Example of blessings from seeking God. |
| 2 Chron 15:2 | "The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you…" | Encouragement to seek the Lord for favor. |
| Psa 9:10 | "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." | God's faithfulness to those who seek Him. |
| Psa 14:2 | "The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God." | God's observation of humanity's seeking. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west… but God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Pro 1:28 | "Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me." | Consequences of neglecting God. |
| Isa 9:13 | "For the people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts." | Israel's continued failure to seek God. |
| Isa 55:6 | "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near." | Exhortation to seek God promptly. |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." | Promise to those who seek God sincerely. |
| Hos 10:12 | "Sow for yourselves righteousness… Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD..." | Call to righteous living and seeking God. |
| Zeph 1:6 | "those who turn back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him." | Judgment on those who abandon God. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings…" | God's absolute power over rulers. |
| Acts 13:22 | "And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king…" | Paul's sermon on God choosing David after Saul. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | General principle of sin's consequence. |
| Heb 9:27 | "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." | Principle of divine judgment on mortals. |
1 Chronicles 10 verses
1 Chronicles 10 14 Meaning
This verse declares the specific divine reasons for King Saul's downfall and death, and the subsequent transfer of the kingdom to David. It attributes Saul's demise to his unfaithfulness and, crucially, his failure to seek proper guidance from the LORD. God Himself, as the sovereign ruler, executed judgment upon Saul and definitively appointed David, Jesse's son, as the new king of Israel.
1 Chronicles 10 14 Context
First Chronicles chapter 10 recounts the final battle and demise of King Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa against the Philistines. The chronicler's account focuses intensely on the spiritual reasons for Saul's fall. This chapter serves as a dramatic end to the reign of the first king of Israel, emphasizing his ultimate failure to honor God, and preparing the way for the reign of David, the king after God's own heart. Historically, this occurred during a transitional period in Israel's history, moving from a charismatic leadership model (judges) to a monarchy. The chronicler, writing for a post-exilic audience, highlights theological principles—divine sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and the consequences of disobedience—more prominently than the raw historical detail found in 1 Samuel. Verse 14 specifically zeroes in on the spiritual negligence as the primary catalyst for God's judgment.
1 Chronicles 10 14 Word analysis
- and inquired not: Hebrew: v'lo darash (וְלֹא דָרַשׁ֙). Darash signifies seeking, inquiring, or consulting, often implying an earnest seeking for divine counsel or knowledge. The negation lo emphasizes Saul's complete failure or refusal to consult the LORD in a legitimate manner, either through prophecy, the Urim and Thummim, or through faithful prayer. This highlights a deliberate neglect of God as his primary source of guidance, particularly during times of crisis.
- of the LORD: Hebrew: ba-YHWH (בַּֽיהוָה֙). Explicitly names YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. Saul's sin was not merely a lack of seeking, but a failure to seek Him, the true and living God, which underscores his lack of faith and spiritual departure.
- therefore: Indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting divine judgment as a consequence of Saul's spiritual failure. God's actions are presented as just responses to human unfaithfulness.
- he slew him: Hebrew: vay'mit-ehu (וַיְמִיתֵ֔הוּ). The subject "he" is implicitly God, demonstrating divine active participation in executing judgment. Saul's death in battle is directly attributed to God's hand, rather than mere misfortune or human victory. It signifies God's sovereign right to end the lives of those who defy Him.
- and turned the kingdom: Hebrew: vayasev mamlakah (וַיַּסֵּב֙ מַמְלָכָה֙). Vayasev means "and He turned over" or "caused to revolve/transfer." This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over the kingdom and human leadership. The transfer was not a human political maneuver but a divine orchestration.
- unto David the son of Jesse: Clearly states the new recipient of the divine appointment. It establishes the legitimacy of David's reign as ordained by God, setting the stage for the chronicler's main narrative theme—the Davidic dynasty and its relation to the temple.
1 Chronicles 10 14 Bonus section
The chronicler's strong emphasis on Saul's "not inquiring of the LORD" (paired with "unfaithfulness" in 1 Chron 10:13) underscores a central theme of his work: the welfare and legitimacy of Israel's kings and, by extension, the entire nation, depend directly on their relationship with God. Saul's failure in this regard highlights a deep-seated spiritual malaise that went beyond simple disobedience to specific commands; it was a rejection of the source of all true authority and wisdom. This concept of "seeking the LORD" becomes a recurring barometer for divine favor or disfavor throughout the Books of Chronicles, making Saul's negative example a profound foundational principle for the entire narrative that follows. The phrase encapsulates not just an action, but a posture of the heart, reflecting trust, humility, and submission to divine will.
1 Chronicles 10 14 Commentary
This concise verse, within the chronicler's summary of Saul's demise, serves as a pivotal theological statement. It asserts that Saul's tragic end was not accidental, but a direct, divinely executed consequence of his unfaithfulness and, most pointedly, his refusal to consult the LORD. While 1 Samuel offers details of Saul's later actions (e.g., seeking the medium of Endor when God remained silent), 1 Chronicles simplifies it to the fundamental charge: "inquired not of the LORD." This reveals the chronicler's intent to highlight that true kingship demands absolute reliance on God. God, as the supreme sovereign, removes those who are unfaithful and establishes those of His own choosing. Saul’s story, thus, becomes a cautionary tale: disregard for God's guidance leads to rejection and judgment, paving the way for God's chosen servant, David, through whom the lineage of promise would flow. It reinforces the principle that divine election, while seemingly humanly implemented, ultimately rests on God's will and judgment regarding human obedience and trust.