Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 10:14
and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records the conclusion of Saul’s reign at the moment of his death on Mount Gilboa, explaining the theological cause of his downfall and the transfer of royal authority.
The words — The Hebrew verb דָּרַ֥שׁ (darash) literally means “to seek out” or “consult,” appearing here with the negative particle לֹא (lo) to state that Saul failed to inquire of Yahweh.
The thread — This failure to seek divine guidance echoes the earlier divine rejection of Saul’s kingship in 1 Samuel 13:14 and 1 Samuel 15:28, where the kingdom is torn from him and given to another.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that political authority and national survival depend on direct obedience to God’s word, and that divine judgment transfers power when that obedience is abandoned.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 15:28 So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.
- 1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”
- 1 Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
- 1 Samuel 28:17 He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
- 1 Samuel 28:6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- 2 Samuel 3:9 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
- 1 Chronicles 12:23 Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:
- Judges 10:11 The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,
- Proverbs 17:13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
- 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”