1 Samuel 14:36

³⁴ Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.

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

And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”

³⁷ So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

³⁸ Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”
KJV: And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
WEB: Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light. Let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.”
ASV: And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
DARBY: And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever is good in thy sight. Then said the priest, Let us come near hither to God.
BLB: And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the light of the morning, and let us leave not a man of them.” And they said, “All that is good in your eyes, do.” And the priest said, “Let us draw near here to God.”

ÅB: Deretter sa Saul: La oss inatt dra nedover og sette etter filistrene og plyndre blant dem til morgenen lyser fram, og ikke la en eneste mann blant dem bli i live. De svarte: Gjør aldeles som du synes! Da sa presten: La oss trede hit fram for Gud!
OTB: Da sa Saul: «La oss gå ned etter filisterne om natten og plyndre dem til morgengry, og la oss ikke la en mann av dem bli igjen.» Og de sa: «Gjør hva som synes godt for deg.» Men presten sa: «La oss komme nær Gud her.»
B1930: Derefter sa Saul: La oss inatt dra nedover og sette efter filistrene og plyndre blandt dem til morgenen lyser frem, og ikke la en eneste mann blandt dem bli i live. De svarte: Gjør aldeles som du synes! Da sa presten: La oss trede hit frem for Gud!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 73:28
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
Read in context
Isaiah 48:1–2
“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel— but not in truth or righteousness—
Read in context
Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
Read in context
1 Samuel 11:11
The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
Read in context
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Read in context
Numbers 27:21
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
Read in context
Joshua 10:19
But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”
Read in context
Isaiah 58:2
For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”
Read in context