Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:37
So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses God through the priest, requesting tactical permission and divine assurance before leading a night pursuit against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:37). The troops stand ready to follow his command while awaiting the priest's consultation after his initial proposal (1 Samuel 14:36).
The words — The verb וַיִּשְׁאַל (va.yish'al) indicates a formal, ritual inquiry, and the phrase בְּיַד (be.yad) literally translates to "in the hand of," framing Saul's request for military dominance as a dependent grant from God (1 Samuel 14:37).
The thread — This instance of divine silence recurs when Saul seeks the LORD through dreams, Urim, or prophets and receives no reply (1 Samuel 28:6). It stands in direct contrast to David's recorded practice of consulting the LORD through the ephod and receiving clear directional answers (1 Samuel 23:4; 1 Samuel 23:9).
Why it lands — The text states plainly that God did not answer Saul that day, establishing a factual halt to his proposed action. A reader must recognize that within the narrative's immediate sequence, divine non-response operates as a definitive verdict rather than a delayed reply.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 28:6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- 1 Samuel 23:4 Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
- 1 Samuel 23:9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
- 1 Samuel 30:7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
- 2 Samuel 5:19 So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
- 2 Samuel 5:23 So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
- 1 Kings 22:5 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
- 1 Kings 22:15 When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- Ezekiel 14:3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?
- Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”