1 Samuel 14:37

37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.

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1 Samuel 14:37 in Other Translations

KJV

37 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.

ESV

37 And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?"But he did not answer him that day.

NLT

37 So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.

MSG

37 So Saul prayed to God, "Shall I go after the Philistines? Will you put them in Israel's hand?" God didn't answer him on that occasion.

CSB

37 So Saul inquired of 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 Samuel 14:37 In-Context

35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this.

36 Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.” “Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”

37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.

38 Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today.

39 As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.

Cross References 1

1. 1 Samuel 10:22; 1 Samuel 28:6,15; 2 Samuel 22:42; Psalms 18:41