1 Samuele 14:19

19 E mentre Saul parlava col sacerdote, il tumulto andava aumentando nel campo de’ Filistei; e Saul disse al sacerdote: "Ritira la mano!"

1 Samuele 14:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:19

And it came to pass, while Saul talked with the priest
With Ahiah about bringing the ark, and inquiring before it:

that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on, and
increased;
the shrieks and cries of those that were beat down and trampled upon, and were bruised and wounded; and indeed the cry of the whole host, being alarmed with the enemy being upon them, or among them; and it seems that not only their motions could be seen, but the noise of them heard at this distance:

and Saul said unto the priest, withdraw thine hand;
from putting on the ephod, or opening the breastplate of Urim and Thummim, or placing the ark in a proper position, to inquire before it, or from lifting up both hands in prayer for direction. Saul by the noise he heard concluded the army of the Philistines was routed, and therefore there was no need to consult the Lord, and he had no leisure for it; no time was to be lost, the advantage was to be taken directly, and the enemy pursued, to complete the victory. The Jews look upon this as a piece of profaneness in Saul, as no doubt it was, and reckon it one of the sins for which his kingdom was not prolonged ^F15.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Vajikra Rabba & Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel in loc.

1 Samuele 14:19 In-Context

17 Allora Saul disse alla gente ch’era con lui: "Fate la rassegna, e vedete chi se n’è andato da noi". E, fatta la rassegna, ecco che mancavano Gionathan e il suo scudiero.

18 E Saul disse ad Ahia: "Fa’ accostare l’arca di Dio!" Poiché l’arca di Dio era allora coi figliuoli d’Israele.

19 E mentre Saul parlava col sacerdote, il tumulto andava aumentando nel campo de’ Filistei; e Saul disse al sacerdote: "Ritira la mano!"

20 Poi Saul e tutto il popolo ch’era con lui si radunarono e s’avanzarono fino al luogo della battaglia; ed ecco che la spada dell’uno era rivolta contro l’altro, e la confusione era grandissima.

21 Or gli Ebrei, che già prima si trovavan coi Filistei ed eran saliti con essi al campo dal paese d’intorno, fecero voltafaccia e s’unirono anch’essi con gl’Israeliti ch’erano con Saul e con Gionathan.