1 Samuel 14:37

³⁵ And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

³⁶ 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.

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.

³⁸ And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

³⁹ For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

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: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Saul asked counsel of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.
BLB: And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” And He did not answer him on that day.

ÅB: Så spurte Saul Gud: Skal jeg dra nedover og sette etter filistrene? Vil du gi dem i Israels hånd? Men han svarte ham ikke den dag.
OTB: Og Saul spurte Gud: «Skal jeg gå ned etter filisterne? Vil Du gi dem i Israels hånd?» Men Han svarte ham ikke den dagen.
B1930: Så spurte Saul Gud: Skal jeg dra nedover og sette efter filistrene? Vil du gi dem i Israels hånd? Men han svarte ham ikke den dag.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Read in context
1 Kings 22:5
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
Read in context
1 Samuel 23:9–12
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
Read in context
2 Samuel 5:23
And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
Read in context
1 Samuel 23:4
Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
Read in context
1 Samuel 30:7–8
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
Read in context
2 Samuel 5:19
And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
Read in context
Ezekiel 14:3–5
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Read in context