1 Samuel 14:37

37 So Saul questioned God: "Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

1 Samuel 14:37 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:37

And Saul asked counsel of God
He agreed to the motion of the high priest, and asked counsel by Urim and Thummim; the Targum is, as before,

``inquired by the Word of the Lord:''

shall I go down after the Philistines?
pursue after them in their flight to their own country, which, lying to the sea, was a descent:

wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?
what remain of them, otherwise a victory over them was obtained:

but he answered him not that day;
no answer was returned by Urim and Thummim, so that he was left in suspense whether he should pursue or no; the Targum is,

``he received not his prayer that day;''

this was treating him in a righteous manner; since he would not stay for an answer from the Lord, ( 1 Samuel 14:19 ) , the Lord now will not give him any; though the principal view was, that he might take the step he did.

1 Samuel 14:37 In-Context

35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD. It was the first altar he had built to the LORD.

36 "Let's go after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning," Saul said. "We won't leave them a single survivor!" "Do whatever you think is best," the troops replied. But the priest said, "Let's ask God first."

37 So Saul questioned God: "Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

38 Then Saul said, "All you officers in the army, come forward! Let's find out what sin was committed today.

39 As surely as the LORD lives—the one who has saved Israel—even if it's my own son Jonathan, that person will be executed." Not one of the soldiers answered him.