Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:17
Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses his remaining troops at Gibeah immediately after his watchmen observe the enemy camp collapsing and the Israelite army scattering. He orders a formal headcount to determine who is missing from the ranks.
The words — The command פִּקְדוּ־ נָא (pikdu-na) literally means "muster, please," directing a military census. The verb וּ/רְא֔וּ (u.re'u) translates as "and see," emphasizing the observational result of that count.
The thread — The procedure of mustering troops and checking for missing individuals runs directly into the next verse, where Saul immediately shifts from practical assessment to seeking the ark of God (1 Samuel 14:18). This sequence mirrors the earlier watchmen's report that triggered the roll call (1 Samuel 14:16).
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that practical accountability precedes spiritual inquiry. It asks for the recognition that leadership must verify concrete reality before pursuing divine direction.
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
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.