1 Samuel 13:9 kjv
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:9 nkjv
So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:9 niv
So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:9 esv
So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:9 nlt
So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
1 Samuel 13 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 10:8 | You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings... and peace offerings. | Samuel's explicit command for Saul to wait for him at Gilgal. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? | God values obedience over ritualistic sacrifice. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft... because you have rejected the word of the LORD... | Links disobedience to witchcraft, consequences of rejection. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer... and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... | Consequence of unauthorized offering/priesthood. |
| Num 3:10 | You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood... but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death. | God's strict separation of the priesthood. |
| Num 16:3 | ...you take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy... why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly...? | Korah's rebellion, similar usurping of authority. |
| Num 16:32 | And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households... | Consequences for challenging divinely appointed authority. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | ...he shall write for himself a copy of this law... that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers... | Kingship distinct from priestly roles. |
| 2 Chr 26:16-21 | But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, to his destruction... He transgressed against the LORD his God, by entering the temple to burn incense... | King Uzziah's parallel sin of priestly usurpation and divine judgment. |
| Prov 21:3 | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. | Reiteration that God values moral obedience above ritual. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Divine preference for spiritual devotion over mere ritual. |
| Isa 1:11-15 | "What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" says the LORD... when you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you... | God's rejection of insincere or disobedient sacrifices. |
| Jer 7:22-23 | For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them... concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this command I gave them: 'Obey My voice...' | Emphasizes obedience as primary command, not just ritual. |
| Ps 40:6-8 | Sacrifice and offering You did not desire... then I said, "Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me." | Christ as the ultimate obedience; true sacrifice is a willing heart. |
| Mk 12:33 | And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor... is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. | Obedience and love are paramount in God's eyes. |
| Heb 5:4 | And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, as Aaron was. | The divine prerequisite for legitimate priesthood. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men... | God's judgment against disobedience and transgression. |
| Heb 10:5-7 | Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me... I have come to do your will, O God. | Jesus Christ as the embodiment of perfect obedience, fulfilling what sacrifices could not. |
| Hab 2:3 | For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. | Command to wait on God's timing, contrasted with Saul's impatience. |
| Prov 19:3 | The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD. | Highlights Saul's internal frustration turning against God's will. |
1 Samuel 13 verses
1 Samuel 13 9 Meaning
1 Samuel 13:9 describes King Saul’s act of personally offering a burnt offering, and intending to offer peace offerings, without waiting for the prophet Samuel as commanded by God. This action constitutes an unauthorized usurpation of priestly functions, which was reserved for Samuel or the Aaronic priesthood. It reveals Saul's impatience, fear, and ultimate disobedience to God’s specific instructions, leading to a crucial turning point in his kingship and the divine rejection of his dynasty.
1 Samuel 13 9 Context
1 Samuel 13 takes place during a desperate military confrontation between Israel and the Philistines. Saul, after a bold move by Jonathan, finds his small army significantly outnumbered and scattered as the Philistines gather at Micmash with overwhelming force (vv. 5-7). Saul had been commanded by Samuel to wait seven days at Gilgal for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices before battle (1 Sam 10:8). As the seven days drew to a close and Samuel had not yet appeared, the Israelite soldiers became increasingly afraid and began to desert Saul. Under immense pressure and seeing his forces dwindle, Saul took matters into his own hands, choosing to proceed with the offerings himself rather than trusting in God's appointed timing through Samuel. Verse 9 is the account of Saul executing this critical act of disobedience just as Samuel was about to arrive.
1 Samuel 13 9 Word analysis
- And Saul said: Indicates Saul's initiative and royal command. He takes charge of the situation, choosing to act independently of Samuel's authority. This marks a turning point from a reactive ruler to one making proactive decisions, but misguided ones.
- 'Bring hither: A direct command, showing urgency and a royal imperative. Saul assumes an authority beyond his kingship, stepping into the realm of the sacred.
- a burnt offering (עֹלָה, olah): The olah (from the root alah, "to ascend") was entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion, atonement for unintentional sins, and a dedication of the worshiper to God. Its performance by Saul, a non-priest, was a serious violation of God’s prescribed order.
- to me, and peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים, shelamim): The shelamim (from shalom, "peace, completeness, well-being") was a fellowship offering, with portions eaten by the worshiper, signifying communion with God and thanksgiving. The intent to offer these shows a desire to appease God or gain His favor, but through illicit means. The phrase "to me" might indicate an assumption of authority or an attempt to bring the rituals under his direct royal command, rather than through divine appointment.
- And he offered: This specific verb indicates the completion of the action for the burnt offering. This is the act of disobedience that provokes Samuel’s rebuke and God’s rejection of Saul’s dynasty. Saul’s impatience culminated in him overstepping divinely ordained boundaries.
- the burnt offering: Emphasizes that at least this part of the prescribed sacrifice was carried out by Saul himself, fulfilling his transgressive intent before Samuel arrived.
1 Samuel 13 9 Bonus section
- Saul's action can be understood as attempting to "force God's hand" or manipulate divine favor through ritual, rather than humbly waiting upon His will. This contrasts with true faith that rests in God's sovereignty.
- The proximity of Samuel's arrival just after Saul's act highlights God's testing of Saul's patience and faithfulness. Had Saul waited just a little longer, he would have obeyed and passed the test. This underlines the tragic nature of his impatience.
- This event serves as a foundational text illustrating the "fall" of Saul, not as a single sin, but as a pivotal act revealing a deep-seated character flaw—a self-reliance and disregard for divine commands that would repeatedly manifest throughout his reign, culminating in his complete rejection (1 Sam 15).
1 Samuel 13 9 Commentary
1 Samuel 13:9 succinctly details King Saul's moment of grave transgression. Under the crushing pressure of an impending battle and dwindling forces, Saul's patience and trust in God's designated time wore thin. He was explicitly commanded by Samuel to wait for his arrival to offer the necessary sacrifices before battle, a divinely appointed ritual meant to seek God's favor and guidance. By personally offering the burnt offering, Saul stepped outside the boundaries of his royal authority and encroached upon the priestly office.
This act was not merely an administrative mistake but a fundamental act of disobedience and presumption. God had established a distinct separation between kingship and priesthood in Israel, a system designed to highlight divine sovereignty and prevent human leaders from consolidating absolute spiritual and temporal power (in contrast to practices in other ancient Near Eastern cultures). Saul's actions demonstrated a lack of faith, preferring to manage a crisis his own way rather than trusting God's timing and process. It implied that ritual observance could be detached from humble obedience, and that the king could dictate spiritual protocols rather than submit to them. This usurpation was a profound affront to God's order and led directly to Samuel’s prophecy that Saul’s kingdom would not endure (1 Sam 13:13-14), setting the stage for the rise of David. The verse underscores that God prioritizes obedience and established order above desperate expediency or outward religious performance.