1 Samuel 14 17

1 Samuel 14:17 kjv

Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

1 Samuel 14:17 nkjv

Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Now call the roll and see who has gone from us." And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

1 Samuel 14:17 niv

Then Saul said to the men who were with him, "Muster the forces and see who has left us." When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

1 Samuel 14:17 esv

Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count and see who has gone from us." And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

1 Samuel 14:17 nlt

"Call the roll and find out who's missing," Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 17 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 14:17, King Saul, observing a growing tumult and disarray within the Philistine camp from afar, commands his accompanying forces to take an immediate count to ascertain if any of their own soldiers are missing. This directive stems from his immediate need to understand the source of the Philistines' panic, implicitly recognizing that such a disturbance might indicate an unauthorized action or engagement initiated by someone from his ranks. It reflects a reactive and practical military measure by the king.

1 Samuel 14 17 Context

Chapter 14 opens with Jonathan, Saul's son, exhibiting immense faith by initiating a bold, unauthorized attack on the Philistine garrison at Michmash. He does so with only his armor-bearer, without Saul's knowledge or consent. This courageous act, driven by his conviction that "nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few" (1 Sam 14:6), results in a miraculous panic among the Philistines. The initial commotion and subsequent full-scale rout in the Philistine camp are observed by Saul's watchmen (1 Sam 14:15-16). King Saul and his army are in a stalemated position at Gibeah, relatively inactive and in some distress. It is at this precise moment, with the visible evidence of chaos in the enemy lines but no immediate explanation, that Saul issues the command in verse 17, seeking to identify the cause of the sudden Philistine rout. He is unaware that the commotion is a divine intervention orchestrated through Jonathan's faith and actions.

1 Samuel 14 17 Word analysis

• Then said Saul (וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל - vayyomer Sha'ul):

  • Then said: The common Hebrew waw-consecutive, indicating sequential action. Saul's words are a direct response to the unfolding events he perceives.
  • Saul: The king of Israel, characterized in 1 Samuel by his increasing impulsiveness, lack of true faith in God, and tendency to rely on human reasoning or administrative action, rather than fully seeking or trusting Yahweh's direct guidance, particularly in moments of crisis. This action is typical of his military leadership.

• unto the people that were with him (אֶל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ - el-ha'am asher itto):

  • unto the people: Referring to his immediate military retinue or forces accompanying him. This implies a command directed to those closest at hand, who could immediately carry out his orders.
  • that were with him: Emphasizes the immediate group under his direct command, distinguishable from the scattered or less organized larger Israelite army.

• Number now (סְפָר־נָא - səphar-na'):

  • Number: The verb sāphar (סָפַר), means "to count, number, enumerate." It's a standard military practice for taking stock of troops.
  • now: The particle nā' (נָא) adds an element of urgency, request, or plea. In a king's command, it emphasizes immediacy and insistence rather than politeness. It's not a suggestion but a directive for prompt action. This shows Saul's immediate concern and desire for information.

• and see (וּרְאוּ - u'r'u):

  • and see: The verb rā'āh (רָאָה) means "to see, look, perceive, understand." It's more than just counting; it implies a deeper observation, a perception of the situation, to ascertain the reason for a missing person. It suggests a process of discovery or identification.

• who is gone from us (מִי־הָלַךְ מֵאִתָּנוּ - mi-halakh me'ittanu):

  • who is gone: halakh (הָלַךְ), "to go, walk, depart." The concern is for anyone having departed or absented themselves from the ranks, especially without permission. This hints at Saul's suspicion that the Philistine panic is linked to an unauthorized Israelite action.
  • from us: me'ittanu, emphasizing absence from their immediate group or collective. This highlights the administrative concern of accounting for his men and understanding the integrity of his forces.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Number now, and see who is gone from us": This entire phrase encapsulates Saul's analytical and reactive leadership. He seeks a quantifiable answer to a perplexing observation. It's a pragmatic military order born out of surprise and uncertainty, not strategic foresight or divine revelation. It showcases a king relying on human methods to solve a mystery which is, in fact, God's doing.

1 Samuel 14 17 Bonus section

The seemingly simple command to "Number now" reflects the importance of troop accountability and intelligence gathering in ancient warfare. Kings needed to know their exact strength, detect desertions, or identify unauthorized actions. Saul's prompt reaction, though focused on human methods, demonstrates a degree of military prudence for a leader who needs to understand an unfolding crisis. This moment also sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of Jonathan's unauthorized, yet divinely blessed, heroism, further highlighting the tension between Saul's kingdom management and God's sovereign plan.

1 Samuel 14 17 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:17 presents a pivotal moment, showcasing King Saul's characteristic approach to leadership amidst divine intervention. Confronted with unexplained chaos among the Philistines, Saul's first response is practical: a headcount. This reveals his focus on logistics and military administration. He correctly infers that a disturbance of this magnitude must have an internal Israelite cause—someone from his camp must have acted. However, Saul's method is entirely human; he doesn't first turn to God for explanation, but to a census. This contrasts sharply with Jonathan's proactive faith (1 Sam 14:6), where he acts before seeking explicit authorization or relying on numbers, fully trusting in Yahweh. Saul's order, while militarily sound for accountability, underlines his reactive nature and his failure to recognize God's unseen hand at work in the surprising rout of the enemy, which ultimately proves to be Jonathan's doing, empowered by the Lord. This small act of numbering ultimately reveals the grander work God is accomplishing through one man's faith, despite Saul's lack of such faith.