1 Samuel 14:18

18 Et Saül dit à Achija: Fais approcher l'arche de Dieu! -Car en ce temps l'arche de Dieu était avec les enfants d'Israël.

1 Samuel 14:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:18

And Saul said unto Ahiah, bring hither the ark of the Lord,
&c.] That he, the high priest, might put on the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, and inquire by them of the Lord before it, concerning the affair of Jonathan, what he had done, and the agitation that was in the host of the Philistines; so the Septuagint version, "bring the ephod", of which, with the Urim and Thummim, Kimchi interprets it; and ask, whether it was right for him to go out unto them, or continue where he was:

for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel;
and so it always was, except a few months it was in the hands of the Philistines; so it was at Kirjathjearim, where it was last. Jarchi thinks a word is wanting, and to be supplied thus,

``the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Israel,''

at Gibeah; perhaps it might be removed first to Gilgal, when Saul and Samuel were there, and when they came to Gibeah it was brought along with them; but the last words may be considered as a distinct clause, and, literally tendered, are, "and the children of Israel": which Abarbinel accounts for thus, and Saul said this,

bring hither the ark of the Lord;
and the children of Israel said so likewise, joined with him in it: though the ark had been with Saul, and the people, some time, and also the high priest, yet we do not find that Saul in all his straits and difficulties consulted the Lord before; but perceiving something extraordinary was doing, and might turn to his advantage, he begins to inquire.

1 Samuel 14:18 In-Context

16 Les sentinelles de Saül, qui étaient à Guibea de Benjamin, virent que la multitude se dispersait et allait de côté et d'autre.

17 Alors Saül dit au peuple qui était avec lui: Comptez, je vous prie, et voyez qui s'en est allé du milieu de nous. Ils comptèrent, et voici, il manquait Jonathan et celui qui portait ses armes.

18 Et Saül dit à Achija: Fais approcher l'arche de Dieu! -Car en ce temps l'arche de Dieu était avec les enfants d'Israël.

19 Pendant que Saül parlait au sacrificateur, le tumulte dans le camp des Philistins allait toujours croissant; et Saül dit au sacrificateur: Retire ta main!

20 Puis Saül et tout le peuple qui était avec lui se rassemblèrent, et ils s'avancèrent jusqu'au lieu du combat; et voici, les Philistins tournèrent l'épée les uns contre les autres, et la confusion était extrême.