1Sa 14:36-42 | NET2full | STEP | Saul said , “Let’s go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout them until the break of day . We won’t leave any of them alive!” They replied , “ Do whatever seems best to you.” But the priest said , “Let’s approach God here .”

‏ 1 Samuel 14:36-42

36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout ^{▼▼tn Heb “plunder.”} them until the break of day. ^{▼▼tn Heb “until the light of the morning.”} We won’t leave any of them alive!” ^{▼▼tn Heb “and there will not be left among them a man.”} They replied, “Do whatever seems best to you.” ^{▼▼tn Heb “all that is good in your eyes.” So also in v. 40.} But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.” 37 So Saul asked God, “Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day.

38 Then Saul said, “All you leaders of the army come here. Find out ^{▼▼tn Heb “know and see.”} how this sin occurred today. 39 For as surely as the Lord, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!” But no one from the army said anything. ^{▼▼tn Heb “and there was no one answering from all the army.”}

40 Then he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The army replied to Saul, “Do whatever you think is best.”

41 Then Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O Lord God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim.” ^{▼▼tc Heb “to the Lord God of Israel: ‘Give what is perfect.’” The Hebrew textual tradition has accidentally omitted several words here. The present translation follows the LXX (as do several English versions, cf. NAB, NRSV, TEV). See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 247-48, and R. W. Klein, 1 Samuel (WBC), 132.} ^{▼▼sn The Urim and Thummim were used for lot casting in ancient Israel. Their exact identity is uncertain; they may have been specially marked stones drawn from a bag. See Exod 28:30; Lev 8:8, and Deut 33:8, as well as the discussion in R. W. Klein, 1 Samuel (WBC), 140.} Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated. ^{▼▼tn Heb “went out.”} 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!” ^{▼▼tc The LXX includes the following words: “Whomever the Lord will indicate by the lot, let him die! And the people said to Saul, ‘It is not this word.’ But Saul prevailed over the people, and they cast lots between him and between Jonathan his son.”} Jonathan was indicated by lot.