1 Samuel 14 19

1 Samuel 14:19 kjv

And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

1 Samuel 14:19 nkjv

Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

1 Samuel 14:19 niv

While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

1 Samuel 14:19 esv

Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

1 Samuel 14:19 nlt

But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, "Never mind; let's get going!"

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 19 Meaning

This verse describes a critical moment during the battle against the Philistines when King Saul, while attempting to consult the Lord through the priest, abruptly stops the divine inquiry. The escalating tumult and chaos within the Philistine camp caused Saul to interpret this natural phenomenon as an immediate, clear sign to act. Consequently, he prioritizes swift military action over patiently waiting for direct divine instruction, demonstrating his impulsiveness and a foundational lack of consistent reliance on God's full guidance.

1 Samuel 14 19 Context

1 Samuel chapter 14 begins with Jonathan, Saul's son, exhibiting remarkable faith and courage by secretly launching an attack on a Philistine outpost. This surprising move, contrary to his father's strategy, created confusion and panic among the Philistine ranks. The resulting commotion was heard even at Saul's camp. Seeing the disarray, Saul decided to inquire of the Lord. Verse 19 captures this pivotal moment: Saul is in the process of seeking divine guidance through Ahijah the priest and the ephod (or perhaps the Ark, mentioned in the preceding verse), a legitimate means of communication with God. However, the intensifying sounds of Philistine chaos cause Saul to prematurely interrupt this sacred consultation. This reflects Saul's reactive and impatient nature, prone to acting on immediate circumstances rather than waiting for explicit divine revelation, a trait that ultimately contributed to his spiritual decline and eventual rejection by God.

1 Samuel 14 19 Word analysis

• Now while Saul talked to the priest (וַיְהִי עַד כִּי־דִּבֶּר שָׁא֗וּל אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן֙ - vayhi 'ad ki-dibber Sha'ul 'el ha-kohen):

  • וַיְהִי (vayhi): "And it was" or "And it happened." A common Hebrew narrative particle indicating a new development or a continuation.
  • עַד כִּי (ad ki): "while" or "as long as." It establishes a simultaneous action, indicating that the events in the Philistine camp occurred concurrently with Saul's consultation.
  • דִּבֶּר (dibber): From the root davar (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak," "to talk," but in this context, when paired with the priest, it signifies the formal act of inquiring of the Lord through priestly mediation, typically using the Urim and Thummim within the ephod. This was Israel's recognized method of discerning divine will.
  • This phrase shows Saul engaged in a proper act of seeking divine counsel, acknowledging God's role in the battle. However, his subsequent action reveals his underlying character.

• the commotion in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more (וְהֶהָמ֣וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֔וֹל - ve-hehamon 'asher b'machaneh Pelishtim haloch v'gadol):

  • וְהֶהָמ֣וֹן (ve-hehamon): "And the commotion" or "and the tumult/noise." From hamon (הָמוֹן), referring to a large crowd, a loud noise, or tumultuous sounds. Here, it denotes the rising din of panic and disorganization from the enemy. This "commotion" was evidence of God's prior intervention through Jonathan.
  • בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (b'machaneh): "in the camp of." From machaneh (מַחֲנֶה), a common term for a military camp or encampment.
  • פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (Pelishtim): "Philistines," Israel's primary adversaries and oppressors at this time.
  • הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֔וֹל (haloch v'gadol): Literally "going and great," an idiomatic Hebrew expression signifying "increasing more and more," "intensifying," or "becoming steadily greater." It indicates a continuous and escalating chaos.
  • This group of words emphasizes the external stimulus that captured Saul's attention. God had already begun to rout the enemy, a sign for Saul to trust God's work. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity for human haste.

• so Saul said to the priest, 'Withdraw your hand' (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר שָׁא֖וּל אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֑ן אָס֥וּף יָדֶֽךָ׃ - vayyomer Sha'ul 'el ha-kohen 'asuf yadeka):

  • וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (vayyomer): "And he said," introducing Saul's abrupt command.
  • אָס֥וּף יָדֶֽךָ׃ ('asuf yadeka): "Withdraw your hand" or "Take back your hand." From the verb asaf (אָסַף), "to gather," "to collect," but also "to take away," "to withdraw." This command is directed to the priest, telling him to cease the spiritual consultation process. It suggests interrupting the ritual act of holding the ephod/ark or perhaps the act of drawing lots with the Urim and Thummim.
  • This direct command highlights Saul's decisiveness and impetuousness. Instead of waiting for a clear word from the Lord on how to proceed, he makes an executive decision based on visible circumstances. This is a critical theological and leadership flaw, showing his trust in human expediency over divine guidance.

1 Samuel 14 19 Bonus section

• The tension in this verse contrasts the spiritual nature of divine inquiry with the pragmatic demands of warfare, revealing Saul's tendency to lean into the latter. He chose strategic opportunism over faithful dependence.
• The Ark of God is mentioned in verse 18. Some scholars propose "withdraw your hand" might refer to removing the Ark from the front lines or back into the camp, implying Saul was bringing it as a "good luck charm" and, seeing the chaos, felt he no longer needed its physical presence. However, the reference to "ephod" earlier (1 Sam 14:3) points more strongly to the priest actively using the Urim and Thummim.
• This specific event emphasizes that God often works through circumstances, but a discerning leader must know whether to wait for direct instruction or to seize a God-given opportunity. Saul's mistake was in abandoning the pursuit of God's specific will for his presumed will based on external events, an act often associated with presumption rather than faith.
• This impatience is a classic "Saul problem" seen throughout his reign, demonstrating that a lack of patient reliance on God, even amidst apparent divine activity, can lead to deviation from His perfect will.

1 Samuel 14 19 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:19 illustrates a pivotal moment in Saul's reign, laying bare a significant flaw in his leadership and character: his recurring struggle with impatience and incomplete obedience to God's ordained processes. As God was already bringing about victory through Jonathan's faith-driven initiative, manifesting as growing Philistine panic, Saul was in the midst of legitimately seeking God's will through the priest and the sacred ephod. This consultation was crucial for aligning his strategy with God's perfect timing and method. However, Saul allowed the rising noise and apparent immediate opportunity of the Philistine rout to override his spiritual discipline. His command, "Withdraw your hand," signals an abrupt cessation of the divine inquiry. He chose to rely on a perceived providential sign – the escalating chaos – rather than patiently await explicit divine instruction, seeing the unfolding events as a cue for immediate, human-driven action. This act, abandoning a direct channel of communication with God for an expedient military response, mirrors his previous disobedience at Gilgal (1 Sam 13), revealing a king who prioritizes what he can see and achieve by human effort over the deeper principle of waiting on and fully obeying God's complete word. This pattern of presumptuous action, fueled by impatience, became a tragic hallmark of Saul's reign and ultimately sealed his rejection by God.