1 Samuel 14:35

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And Saul {H7586} built {H1129} an altar {H4196} unto the LORD {H3068}: the same was the first {H2490} altar {H4196} that he built {H1129} unto the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sha'ul erected an altar to ADONAI; it was the first altar that he erected to ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 14:35 records King Saul's construction of his first altar to the LORD, an act of worship that immediately follows a tumultuous day of battle against the Philistines, marked by his rash oath, the people's sin of eating blood, and his attempt to inquire of God. This seemingly pious act stands as a significant, albeit reactive, moment in Saul's reign, highlighting his leadership style and the ongoing tension between outward religious observance and genuine, consistent obedience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes a dramatic episode in [1 Samuel 14](/1_samuel/14 "1 Samuel 14 - Saul's Rash Vow and Jonathan's Victory"). The preceding verses describe a fierce battle where Jonathan, Saul's son, initiates a decisive victory against the Philistines. However, Saul's rash vow, forbidding his soldiers from eating until evening, leads to dire consequences. Exhausted and famished, the people, upon seizing the Philistine spoils, slaughter animals and eat them with the blood still in them, a direct violation of Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 17:10](/leviticus/17-10 "Leviticus 17:10 - Prohibition Against Eating Blood")). When Saul is informed of this sin, he commands them to bring the animals to him to be properly slaughtered, draining the blood. Immediately after this, and a failed attempt to inquire of God about pursuing the Philistines further (due to the people's sin), Saul builds this altar. The altar, therefore, functions as a response to the people's transgression and a means to properly seek divine guidance, marking a moment of attempted spiritual rectification.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, altars were central to worship and covenant relationship with Yahweh. They served as designated places for offering sacrifices, seeking divine counsel, and making atonement for sin. The act of building an altar signified dedication, thanksgiving, or a response to a significant divine encounter. For a king like Saul, establishing an altar was an act of public piety and leadership, demonstrating his commitment to the LORD. However, the context here is crucial: this is Saul's *first* recorded altar, built relatively late in his reign and in response to a crisis and sin, rather than as a foundational act of worship or spontaneous devotion seen in earlier patriarchs like [Noah](/genesis/8-20 "Genesis 8:20 - Noah Builds an Altar") or [Abraham](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - Abraham Builds an Altar at Shechem"). The prohibition against consuming blood was a fundamental aspect of the Mosaic covenant, symbolizing the sacredness of life and the atoning power of blood ([Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Leviticus 17:11 - Life is in the Blood")). Saul's action of building the altar is thus an attempt to re-establish proper ritual practice after the people's egregious violation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes in [1 Samuel](/1_samuel "1 Samuel - The Rise and Fall of Kings"):
* **Leadership and Obedience:** Saul's reign is consistently marked by his struggle with complete obedience to God's commands. His rash oath in [1 Samuel 14:24](/1_samuel/14-24 "1 Samuel 14:24 - Saul's Rash Oath") leads directly to the people's sin, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of a leader's impulsiveness. The building of the altar, while an act of worship, is a reactive measure to correct a spiritual error, rather than a proactive demonstration of devotion. This contrasts sharply with God's later pronouncement through Samuel that [obedience is better than sacrifice](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Over Sacrifice").
* **Proper Worship vs. Ritualism:** The narrative emphasizes the importance of approaching God according to His prescribed ways. The people's eating of blood was a serious offense, necessitating proper ritual cleansing and atonement. Saul's building of the altar is an attempt to facilitate this, underscoring the need for adherence to divine instructions in worship, even if his heart's posture remains questionable.
* **Divine Guidance and Communication:** Saul's attempt to inquire of God before building the altar, and the lack of a response, signifies a breakdown in communication with the LORD, likely due to the people's sin. The altar is then built, presumably to restore that connection and allow for future divine communication, emphasizing the critical role of a right relationship with God for effective leadership and guidance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Altar (Hebrew, _mizbeach'_):** The Hebrew word מִזְבֵּחַ (_mizbeach_) derives from the verb זָבַח (_zavach_), meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice." This etymology directly links the structure to its primary function: a place where animals were ritually slaughtered and offered to God as sacrifices. The construction of an altar was a fundamental act of worship in ancient Israel, signifying a place of encounter with the divine, atonement, and communion.
* **First (Hebrew, _rishon'_):** The word רִאשׁוֹן (_rishon_), meaning "first," is highly significant in this verse. It explicitly states that this was the initial altar Saul built. Given that Saul had been king for some time (though the exact duration is debated, it was certainly not his first day), this detail draws attention to the fact that his public, formal acts of worship, specifically altar-building, were not a consistent feature of his reign from the outset. It suggests a reactive rather than proactive approach to devotion, prompted by crisis and the need for spiritual rectification.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Saul built an altar unto the LORD":** This clause describes a direct action taken by King Saul. The act of building an altar was a significant religious undertaking, typically associated with seeking God's favor, offering thanks, or making atonement. In this immediate context, it is a response to the people's sin of eating blood and Saul's desire to re-establish communication with God for further military guidance. It signifies an attempt to restore proper worship and divine favor.
* **"the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD":** This second clause provides crucial interpretive insight. The emphasis on "the first altar" is striking. It implies that despite his position as king over Israel, Saul had not previously engaged in this foundational act of worship. This highlights a potential deficiency in his spiritual leadership or a pattern of reactive, rather than consistent, devotion. It sets this specific act apart as a unique and perhaps belated expression of formal piety within his reign.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices that enrich its meaning. **Emphasis** is placed on the word "first," drawing the reader's attention to the novelty of this act for King Saul. This emphasis creates a subtle **irony**: the king of Israel, meant to lead his people in devotion, is only now, in a moment of crisis and after his people's sin, building his inaugural altar. This stands in **contrast** to earlier biblical figures like Noah or Abraham, who built altars as spontaneous acts of worship or covenant establishment. The altar itself serves as **symbolism**, representing a place of worship, atonement, and seeking divine guidance. However, in Saul's narrative, it also subtly symbolizes his reactive and often superficial approach to spiritual matters, where outward ritual is performed without necessarily reflecting a deeply obedient heart, foreshadowing later critiques of his reign.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The construction of Saul's first altar, born out of a crisis and a need for spiritual correction, powerfully underscores the biblical tension between outward religious observance and genuine, heartfelt obedience. While the altar was a necessary means of atonement and seeking God's will, its designation as Saul's "first" highlights a potential disconnect between his royal authority and his personal spiritual initiative. God consistently desires a relationship rooted in steadfast love and obedience over mere ritualistic performance. This incident serves as a poignant reminder that true worship is not merely about performing prescribed actions, but about a heart fully devoted to God's commands and character.

* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better than Sacrifice")
* [Hosea 6:6](/hosea/6-6 "Hosea 6:6 - God Desires Steadfast Love, Not Sacrifice")
* [Psalm 51:17](/psalms/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A Broken and Contrite Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This seemingly simple verse offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to examine the nature and motivation of our own worship and devotion. Is our engagement with God primarily reactive, spurred by moments of crisis, sin, or urgent need, or is it a consistent, proactive, and deeply ingrained aspect of our daily lives? Saul's "first altar" suggests a pattern of spiritual expediency rather than sustained communion. For leaders, this passage serves as a stark reminder of the immense spiritual responsibility that accompanies influence. Our decisions and character can profoundly impact those we lead, either guiding them towards righteousness or inadvertently leading them into spiritual compromise. Ultimately, the narrative points us beyond mere ritual to the heart of the matter: God desires not just our religious acts, but our surrendered will and obedient heart.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my own worship be more reactive than proactive?**
* **How do my personal choices and actions, particularly in leadership roles, impact the spiritual well-being of others?**
* **Am I prioritizing outward religious practices over genuine, heartfelt obedience to God's commands?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a more consistent and deeply rooted devotion to God, independent of crisis?**

### FAQ

**Why was this Saul's *first* altar, given his position as king?**

Answer: The text explicitly stating this was Saul's "first altar" is highly significant. It implies that up to this point in his reign, Saul had not taken the initiative to build a dedicated place of worship. This suggests a reactive rather than proactive approach to his spiritual duties. Unlike earlier patriarchs who built altars as spontaneous acts of devotion or in response to divine encounters, Saul's altar is built in the immediate aftermath of a major crisis—the people's sin of eating blood and his own failed attempt to inquire of God. It highlights a potential deficiency in his leadership concerning consistent spiritual initiative and underscores a pattern of addressing spiritual matters only when forced by circumstances or transgression, rather than from a heart of consistent devotion.

**What was the significance of building an altar in ancient Israel?**

Answer: In ancient Israel, an altar (מִזְבֵּחַ, _mizbeach_) was a sacred structure central to worship and covenant relationship with God. It was the designated place for offering sacrifices, which served various purposes including atonement for sin, expressing thanksgiving, making vows, and seeking divine favor or guidance. Building an altar was a public act of devotion, signifying a commitment to the LORD and establishing a place for communion with Him. It was a physical representation of the people's desire to approach God according to His prescribed ways, as seen in the laws of [Leviticus](/leviticus "Leviticus - Laws for Holy Living"). In this instance, Saul's altar was built to rectify the people's sin and to enable him to properly inquire of God, as the previous attempt was hindered by the people's defilement.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Saul's building of an altar, though a necessary act of worship in the Old Covenant, ultimately points to the inadequacy of human efforts and ritualistic performance to fully bridge the gap between a sinful humanity and a holy God. The need for an altar, a place of sacrifice and atonement for the people's sin, foreshadows the ultimate and perfect sacrifice. The Old Testament altars, with their repeated offerings, were but shadows of the one, definitive offering of Jesus Christ. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the [ultimate High Priest](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest") who offered Himself once for all on the cross, becoming both the sacrifice and the altar. Through His shed blood, we have [bold access to the Father](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19 - Access Through Christ's Blood"), no longer needing physical altars or animal sacrifices. Christ fulfills the deepest longing for reconciliation and divine communication that Saul attempted to achieve through his altar, establishing a new covenant where worship is in [spirit and truth](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth") and our relationship with God is direct and intimate, secured by His perfect and complete work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 7:17

And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

Judges 21:4

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

2 Timothy 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Hosea 8:14

For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

1 Samuel 7:9

And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.