Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:42
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses the assembled army immediately after God’s initial inquiry cleared the troops, directing them to cast a lot to determine whether the divine fault rests with him or his son Jonathan.
The words — הַפִּילוּ (ha.Pi.lu) literally means "make fall" and commands the physical act of casting lots. וַ/יִּלָּכֵד (va/i.yi.la.Khed) states that Jonathan was "taken" or selected by that lot.
The thread — This verse advances the Urim-based inquiry Saul launched in 1 Samuel 14:41 to isolate the specific individual who broke the oath, a mechanism that recurs throughout the narrative to pinpoint personal responsibility.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to see that divine selection operates independently of human expectation, leaving Jonathan to confront the consequences of his action despite Saul's royal status.
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, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.