1 Samuel 14 37

1 Samuel 14:37 kjv

And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

1 Samuel 14:37 nkjv

So Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But He did not answer him that day.

1 Samuel 14:37 niv

So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?" But God did not answer him that day.

1 Samuel 14:37 esv

And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.

1 Samuel 14:37 nlt

So Saul asked God, "Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?" But God made no reply that day.

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 37 Meaning

This verse describes King Saul's attempt to seek divine guidance from the Lord regarding pursuing the Philistines in battle. Despite Saul's inquiry, which likely involved the ephod and Urim and Thummim, God remained silent, providing no answer on that specific day. This silence indicated divine displeasure and was a direct consequence of unaddressed sin within Saul's army, particularly the people's consumption of meat with blood, and Saul's rash vow.

1 Samuel 14 37 Context

Chapter 14 opens with Jonathan's bold, faith-filled attack against the Philistines, unknown to his father Saul. As the Lord granted Israel victory through Jonathan's courage, Saul then swore a rash and severe oath that no one should eat food until evening, cursing anyone who did. This vow exhausted the Israelite soldiers and inadvertently caused them to sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it, in their desperate hunger. Realizing the sin, Saul built an altar to the Lord to properly offer sacrifices, indicating a desire to set things right. After these events, when Saul wanted to pursue the Philistines further into the night, he sought the Lord's guidance, presumably through the high priest and the ephod. However, the Lord's absolute silence in response revealed that sin remained unaddressed and God's displeasure continued.

1 Samuel 14 37 Word analysis

• And: Connects the narrative to the previous events, specifically Saul's actions regarding the people's sin of eating blood and his attempt to rectify it.
• Saul: The King of Israel, established by God, but whose reign was increasingly marked by impulsive decisions, fear of man, and disobedience, which eroded his relationship with God. His inquiries here reflect his attempts, though often flawed, to operate under God's guidance, characteristic of the monarchy's initial phase.
• asked counsel: The Hebrew word is שָׁאַל (sha'al), meaning "to ask," "inquire," "consult." In this context, it specifically refers to seeking a divine oracle. This was typically done through the High Priest using the ephod, which contained the Urim and Thummim, stones used for discerning God's will on matters of national importance. Saul understood the established method for seeking God's direction in crucial decisions, particularly warfare.
• of God: Implies seeking direct divine revelation or affirmation. This highlights that Saul still nominally acknowledged God as the ultimate authority and source of direction for Israel's military engagements.
• Shall I go down after the Philistines?: This is a specific tactical question regarding the next military move. "Go down" (ירד, yarad) implies descending, often used in geographical context for movement towards a lower region or in relation to engaging the enemy.
• Wilt thou deliver them: The question of divine involvement and assurance of victory. Saul is seeking a guarantee that God will actively give the Philistines into Israel's power, reflecting a reliance on God for success in battle.
• into the hand of Israel?: Conveys the objective: a decisive victory where the Philistines are entirely subjected to Israel.
• But he answered: "Answered" is עָנָה (anah), which means to reply, respond. It signifies an expected direct communication from God.
• him not: לֹא עָנָה (lo anah) – a strong negation. God did not respond. This silence is profound and intentional. In the context of ancient Israel, where direct divine communication was sought, God's silence in a critical moment was a terrifying sign of divine disapproval and often, imminent judgment or lack of favor.
• that day: בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא (bayyom hahu). This phrase emphasizes the immediate context of God's silence. It suggests that on this particular day, when critical strategic guidance was needed, God withheld His response. It points to a direct consequence for current unaddressed issues.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Saul asked counsel of God": This phrase encapsulates Saul's nominal act of seeking divine guidance. It underlines the expectation that God would provide direction to His anointed king in warfare. However, the integrity and depth of this inquiry, especially given Saul's character flaws, are immediately questioned by the subsequent divine silence. It sets up a common biblical pattern: when humanity approaches God, God has the prerogative to answer or withhold, often based on the heart and actions of the one inquiring.
• "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?": These two questions represent Saul's core military concerns. They highlight the standard form of inquiry for an oracle: seeking permission for an action and seeking assurance of divine favor/victory. Saul recognized that Israel's strength came from the Lord. However, his failure to first properly discern why the silence occurred and rectify the underlying issue (the sin) meant his inquiry, though rightly framed, would not be answered.
• "But he answered him not that day": This is the crucial, culminating statement. It signifies God's absolute refusal to communicate. This was not a temporary oversight but a deliberate act. It serves as a stark divine judgment, conveying extreme displeasure. The immediacy ("that day") underscores the urgency of the moment contrasted with the severity of the non-response. This silence implicitly points to unconfessed or unaddressed sin as the barrier, forcing Saul and the nation to introspect.

1 Samuel 14 37 Bonus section

The "silence of God" in biblical narratives, as seen in this verse, is a potent theological device. It is rarely arbitrary; instead, it is a deliberate communicative act from a speaking God. For Saul, this silence was more ominous than a negative answer would have been, as it implied a fundamental disruption of the covenant relationship, suggesting deeper issues than a simple tactical misstep. This contrasts sharply with God's clear and direct communication earlier in Saul's reign or with leaders like Moses and Joshua, highlighting the diminishing favor on Saul. Furthermore, this incident anticipates Saul's final spiritual destitution in 1 Samuel 28, where despite desperate inquiry, "the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets," forcing him to consult a medium, an act explicitly forbidden by God's law. Thus, 1 Samuel 14:37 marks an early, significant signpost on Saul's trajectory of spiritual decline due to unconfessed sin and stubbornness, ultimately leading to divine rejection and his demise.

1 Samuel 14 37 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:37 reveals a critical turning point in King Saul's spiritual relationship with the Lord. Saul's action of "asking counsel of God" was the expected duty of a king leading Israel, particularly concerning warfare, reflecting an initial understanding of divine sovereignty over battles. The method employed would have been through the ephod, used by the high priest, involving the Urim and Thummim. God's absolute silence in response, conveyed by "he answered him not that day," was not merely a lack of information but a powerful message of divine disapproval. This withholding of guidance was a direct consequence of the nation's and specifically Saul's recent transgressions: the people's consumption of blood-contaminated meat (a clear violation of Mosaic law) due to extreme hunger exacerbated by Saul's rash vow. God's silence served as a severe warning, indicating that communion had been broken due to unaddressed sin and rebellion. This absence of divine communication in a time of urgent need highlighted that Saul’s spiritual state, or that of the nation under his leadership, was severely compromised, rendering them out of favor with God and unable to receive His blessing or direction. This divine silence eventually propelled Saul and the priest to identify the cause, which was Jonathan's unknowing transgression of Saul's foolish oath. The silence showed God's steadfastness to His holy character and His covenant, where sin brings separation and blocks divine revelation.