Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:36
And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses his troops immediately after building an altar, proposing a nighttime descent to plunder the Philistines until dawn. The army consents to his plan, but the priest interrupts to demand a formal consultation with God before proceeding.
The words — The Hebrew נֵרְדָה (ne.re.Dah) translates literally as "let us go down," and פְלִשְׁתִּים (fe.lish.Tim) identifies the target as the Philistines. These terms frame Saul’s tactical order as a physical descent against a specific opposing group.
The thread — This clash between human strategy and required inquiry parallels Numbers 27:21, where leadership must seek counsel through the priest and the Urim. The passage also stands in contrast to Psalms 73:28’s commitment to God as refuge and Isaiah 48:1’s summons for the house of Jacob to listen.
Why it lands — The text reports Saul’s unilateral military command and the priest’s immediate correction that divine consultation must precede action. It asks the reader to acknowledge that operational decisions require submission to divine inquiry rather than autonomous human initiative.
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 Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
Cross-references
- Psalms 73:28 But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
- Isaiah 48:1 “Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—
- Numbers 27:21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
- Joshua 10:9 After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.
- Joshua 10:19 But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”
- Joshua 11:14 The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed.
- 1 Samuel 11:11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
- 1 Samuel 14:3 including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.
- 1 Samuel 14:18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
- Isaiah 58:2 For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”