1 Samuel 14 41

1 Samuel 14:41 kjv

Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

1 Samuel 14:41 nkjv

Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.

1 Samuel 14:41 niv

Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.

1 Samuel 14:41 esv

Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

1 Samuel 14:41 nlt

Then Saul prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent. " Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 41 Meaning

This verse describes King Saul's attempt to discern the reason for God's silence and apparent withdrawal of divine favor during his campaign against the Philistines. Realizing that the lack of a clear answer from the LORD signified a sin within the camp, Saul appeals to God, the God of Israel, using the sacred Urim and Thummim. He proposes a method of divination to identify whether the guilt that has caused God's silence rests upon himself or his son Jonathan, or among the people of Israel.

1 Samuel 14 41 Context

Chapter 14 of 1 Samuel depicts Saul's ongoing battle against the Philistines. Saul had previously displayed impatience and disobedience by offering a sacrifice without waiting for Samuel (1 Sam 13), leading to a pronouncement that his kingdom would not endure. In chapter 14, his rash leadership continues. Without informing his father, Jonathan initiates an attack on the Philistine outpost with only his armor-bearer, striking a significant blow. Saul, rallying his scattered forces, vows a curse that any man who eats food before evening would die. Unbeknownst to Saul, Jonathan, weary from battle, breaks this vow by tasting honey from the comb. The day's battle culminates in a great rout of the Philistines, but the exhausted Israelite soldiers then sin by eating meat with blood still in it, in violation of the Mosaic Law. Saul responds by quickly building an altar for the proper sacrifice. When Saul wishes to pursue the Philistines further, he consults the high priest and seeks an answer from God, but God remains silent, signifying an unaddressed sin within the camp. This divine silence directly precipitates the action described in verse 41, as Saul seeks to identify the specific transgression causing God's lack of response.

1 Samuel 14 41 Word analysis

• Therefore (וַיֹּאמֶר - wa y'ōmer) Saul said: This indicates a consequence. God's silence in response to Saul's inquiry to pursue the Philistines (mentioned in the preceding verse, 1 Sam 14:37) compels Saul to understand the cause. Saul initiates this procedure, acknowledging the divine judgment indicated by God's non-response.
• to the LORD (יהוה - YHWH), the God (אֱלֹהֵי - Elohē) of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yiśrā’ēl): A formal and covenantal address to the unique God of Israel, highlighting Saul's understanding that only Israel's God could reveal such hidden sin and direct their actions in battle.
• "Give Thummim!" (הָבָה תָמִים - hāḇāh tāmiym): This specific phrase, present in the Septuagint (LXX) and adopted by many modern translations (e.g., ESV, NIV), suggests Saul's initial prayer related to using the Urim and Thummim for a general 'yes/no' outcome or for truth to be revealed.
  • Textual Note: The Masoretic Text (MT) has a slightly different reading: "Show the right/truth" (הָבָה תָמִים - hāḇāh tāmîm or often rendered as "Bring forth the perfect one"). Scholars interpret this phrase as "give perfect judgment," or "bring the truth to light," or a direct request for Thummim which relates to 'perfection' or 'truth'. The essence, however, remains consistent across texts: Saul seeks divine clarity.
  • Thummim (תֻמִּים - Tummîm): From the root meaning "completeness," "perfection," or "truth." Along with Urim, they were sacred objects held by the High Priest, used as a form of divine oracle, possibly by casting lots or illuminating for a 'yes' or 'no' answer to specific questions.
• "Why have you not answered your servant today?" (מדוע לא ענית היום את־עבדך - mādûa‘ lo’ ‘ānîṯā hayôm ’eṯ-‘aḇdəḵā): This phrase (which some translations directly render in this verse based on the contextual flow before the request for Urim/Thummim) explicitly states the problem: God's silence. Divine silence was often interpreted as a sign of God's displeasure, indicating a breaking of covenant, unconfessed sin, or impurity within the community.
• "If this guilt (און - ’āwon) is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.": Saul's proposed method to pinpoint the sin.
  • Guilt (און - ’āwon): Refers to iniquity, sin, perversity, or wickedness. It's the condition of being alienated from God due to transgression.
  • Urim (אוּרִים - ’Ûrîm): Derived from the root meaning "lights" or "curses." Paired with Thummim, it was a means for the High Priest to obtain divine decisions. Traditionally, Urim gave a "no" or a "cursed" answer, or indicated divine disapproval, while Thummim gave a "yes" or indicated divine favor. However, the exact mechanism remains a matter of scholarly debate. The usage here suggests a clear binary outcome for identifying guilt. Saul strategically narrows down the possibilities, demonstrating a hierarchical method of discernment, starting with himself and Jonathan, then the entire people.
• Word-group Analysis: The structure of Saul's plea "If this guilt is in X... give Urim; but if this guilt is in Y... give Thummim" indicates a sophisticated use of the Urim and Thummim for judicial investigation, moving from specific (king and heir) to general (people), seeking a divine verdict on culpability for God's withdrawal. It highlights a system designed to preserve holiness and identify spiritual breaches affecting the community.

1 Samuel 14 41 Bonus section

• Decline of Urim and Thummim: After the era of judges and early kings, the use of Urim and Thummim appears to decline, with prophets becoming the primary voice of God to the nation. By the time of the return from exile (Ezra 2:63, Neh 7:65), their operation was seemingly unknown or unavailable, signifying a shift in God's primary mode of revelation, eventually culminating in the fullness of revelation through Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-2).
• God's Sovereignty vs. Human Action: While lots (including Urim and Thummim) were used, the Bible consistently emphasizes that the outcome was directed by God (Prov 16:33). Thus, it was not a magical rite but a humble submission to divine will. In this case, God chose to use the lots to expose the sin, rather than directly revealing it.
• Saul's Rash Vow's Broader Impact: The entire narrative surrounding this verse is a testament to the detrimental effects of a leader's impulsive decisions and the far-reaching consequences of an ill-conceived oath. Saul's oath endangered his son and brought a curse upon his army, illustrating the dangers of leadership without careful divine consultation or consideration of consequences.

1 Samuel 14 41 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:41 serves as a critical juncture, revealing the immediate consequences of hidden sin and Saul's reliance on sacred means for divine guidance. God's refusal to answer Saul's prior inquiry signaled divine displeasure, compelling the king to seek the root cause. This act highlights the Israelites' deep-seated belief that unconfessed sin or a broken vow could indeed "tie God's hands" and prevent His favorable action, especially in matters of warfare or national guidance. Saul, recognizing this spiritual impasse, turns to the Urim and Thummim, the High Priest's divinely ordained instrument for seeking 'yes' or 'no' answers from God. This practice underscores the importance of priestly mediation and God's structured revelation in the Old Covenant. The specific petition—identifying whether the sin lies with himself, Jonathan, or the people—demonstrates Saul's understanding that sin in any part of the nation could affect the whole, a fundamental Old Testament principle. Ultimately, the casting of lots through the Urim and Thummim would reveal Jonathan's unwitting transgression of Saul's foolish oath, further exposing the complex interplay of human frailty and divine justice within Saul's increasingly troubled reign.