1 samuel 14:41 - Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 samuel 14:41" mean?
This verse (1 Samuel 14:41, though some translations number it 1 Samuel 14:42 due to verse divisions) is part of a larger narrative about Saul's rash oath and the subsequent discovery that someone broke it. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
"Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'Show the right.'" Saul is seeking divine guidance through some sort of divination method to determine who is guilty of breaking his oath. The phrase "Show the right" (or similar wording in other translations) indicates that Saul is asking God to reveal the truth. The original Hebrew likely involved a process where lots (like stones or dice) were cast or drawn to indicate a choice.
"Jonathan and Saul were chosen..." This means that the lot/divination process identified either Jonathan or Saul as the one who broke the oath. The process narrowed down the possibilities until it landed on these two.
"...but the people escaped." This is the tricky part and often interpreted in different ways:
Escape from the lot: It could imply that the method used to choose the guilty party involved a process of elimination. All the people besides Saul and Jonathan were eliminated, and the lot settled on the two leaders.
Escape from punishment: Some commentators argue that the people, aware of Saul's rash oath and its potential consequences for everyone, subtly influenced the process to protect themselves by letting the lot fall on Saul or Jonathan instead.
Escape the whole process: The process was faulty or incomplete. God's guidance wasn't clear, and the people managed to avoid the implications of the divination. The fact that Jonathan broke the oath unknowingly and did something good adds to the complexity of the situation and might suggest that Saul's rigid application of the oath was problematic.
In the broader context of the story:
Saul made a foolish oath: He vowed that no one would eat until the Philistines were defeated, which weakened his army.
Jonathan, unaware of the oath, ate some honey, thus technically breaking it.
Saul wants to enforce the oath: Despite Jonathan's ignorance and the benefit he unknowingly brought to the army, Saul is determined to punish the oath-breaker to maintain his authority and appear righteous.
The people intervene: They recognize Jonathan's valuable contribution and prevent Saul from killing him.
Significance:
It highlights Saul's flawed leadership: His impulsiveness and rigid adherence to the letter of the law, even when it's unreasonable, contrasts with the needs and well-being of his people.
It foreshadows Saul's downfall: His actions in this chapter show a lack of wisdom, compassion, and discernment, contributing to his eventual loss of God's favor.
It emphasizes the importance of seeking God's wisdom: Saul seeks God's help in finding the guilty party, but his motivations are questionable, and his understanding of justice is flawed.
In summary, the verse describes a moment in the story where Saul uses divination to determine who broke his rash oath. Jonathan and Saul are identified as possible culprits, and the people somehow "escape" the process, shifting the focus onto the leaders. This episode underscores Saul's shortcomings as a leader and foreshadows his eventual downfall.
1 samuel 14:41 - Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
What does "1 samuel 14:41" mean?
This verse (1 Samuel 14:41, though some translations number it 1 Samuel 14:42 due to verse divisions) is part of a larger narrative about Saul's rash oath and the subsequent discovery that someone broke it. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
"Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'Show the right.'" Saul is seeking divine guidance through some sort of divination method to determine who is guilty of breaking his oath. The phrase "Show the right" (or similar wording in other translations) indicates that Saul is asking God to reveal the truth. The original Hebrew likely involved a process where lots (like stones or dice) were cast or drawn to indicate a choice.
"Jonathan and Saul were chosen..." This means that the lot/divination process identified either Jonathan or Saul as the one who broke the oath. The process narrowed down the possibilities until it landed on these two.
"...but the people escaped." This is the tricky part and often interpreted in different ways:
Escape from the lot: It could imply that the method used to choose the guilty party involved a process of elimination. All the people besides Saul and Jonathan were eliminated, and the lot settled on the two leaders.
Escape from punishment: Some commentators argue that the people, aware of Saul's rash oath and its potential consequences for everyone, subtly influenced the process to protect themselves by letting the lot fall on Saul or Jonathan instead.
Escape the whole process: The process was faulty or incomplete. God's guidance wasn't clear, and the people managed to avoid the implications of the divination. The fact that Jonathan broke the oath unknowingly and did something good adds to the complexity of the situation and might suggest that Saul's rigid application of the oath was problematic.
In the broader context of the story:
Saul made a foolish oath: He vowed that no one would eat until the Philistines were defeated, which weakened his army.
Jonathan, unaware of the oath, ate some honey, thus technically breaking it.
Saul wants to enforce the oath: Despite Jonathan's ignorance and the benefit he unknowingly brought to the army, Saul is determined to punish the oath-breaker to maintain his authority and appear righteous.
The people intervene: They recognize Jonathan's valuable contribution and prevent Saul from killing him.
Significance:
It highlights Saul's flawed leadership: His impulsiveness and rigid adherence to the letter of the law, even when it's unreasonable, contrasts with the needs and well-being of his people.
It foreshadows Saul's downfall: His actions in this chapter show a lack of wisdom, compassion, and discernment, contributing to his eventual loss of God's favor.
It emphasizes the importance of seeking God's wisdom: Saul seeks God's help in finding the guilty party, but his motivations are questionable, and his understanding of justice is flawed.
In summary, the verse describes a moment in the story where Saul uses divination to determine who broke his rash oath. Jonathan and Saul are identified as possible culprits, and the people somehow "escape" the process, shifting the focus onto the leaders. This episode underscores Saul's shortcomings as a leader and foreshadows his eventual downfall.