1 Samuel 14:40

KJV

Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} he unto all Israel {H3478}, Be ye on one {H259} side {H5676}, and I and Jonathan {H3129} my son {H1121} will be on the other {H259} side {H5676}. And the people {H5971} said {H559} unto Saul {H7586}, Do {H6213} what seemeth {H5869} good {H2896} unto thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he said to all Isra'el, "You be on one side, and I and Y'honatan my son will be on the other side." The people replied to Sha'ul, "Do what seems good to you."

Berean Standard Bible

Then Saul said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied.

American Standard Version

Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 14:40 captures a pivotal moment in King Saul's desperate attempt to identify the individual responsible for a perceived sin that he believed was hindering Israel's military success against the Philistines. Following a lack of divine response to his inquiry, Saul proposes a method of division, separating the entire Israelite army into two distinct groups: one comprising the general populace, and the other consisting of himself and his son, Jonathan. The people's immediate and deferential response, "Do what seemeth good unto thee," underscores their submission to the king's authority and their willingness to comply with his drastic investigative measures.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the dramatic narrative of [1 Samuel chapter 14](/1_samuel/14 "1 Samuel 14 - Saul's Rash Oath and Jonathan's Victory"). Earlier in the chapter, Saul, driven by impatience and a desire for swift victory, had pronounced a severe oath, forbidding his soldiers from eating any food until the Philistines were completely vanquished ([1 Samuel 14:24](/1_samuel/14-24 "1 Samuel 14:24 - Saul's Rash Oath")). Unaware of this oath, Jonathan, Saul's valiant son, refreshed himself by tasting wild honey, inadvertently violating his father's decree ([1 Samuel 14:27](/1_samuel/14-27 "1 Samuel 14:27 - Jonathan Tastes Honey")). As the day progressed, the exhausted Israelite army began to sin by eating meat with the blood still in it ([1 Samuel 14:32](/1_samuel/14-32 "1 Samuel 14:32 - The People Eat Meat with Blood")), prompting Saul to build an altar. When Saul then sought divine counsel regarding further pursuit of the Philistines, he received no answer ([1 Samuel 14:37](/1_samuel/14-37 "1 Samuel 14:37 - Saul Consults God")). Convinced that God's silence indicated an unconfessed sin among the people, Saul proposes the method of division described in [1 Samuel 14:40](/1_samuel/14-40 "1 Samuel 14:40 - Saul's Plan to Find the Sinner"), which immediately precedes the casting of lots that reveals Jonathan as the transgressor ([1 Samuel 14:41-42](/1_samuel/14-41 "1 Samuel 14:41-42 - Jonathan Identified by Lot")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is early monarchical Israel, a time of transition and ongoing conflict with the Philistines, Israel's formidable adversaries. Saul, as the newly anointed king, was expected to lead his people both militarily and spiritually, often acting as a judge and enforcer of divine law. The belief in corporate sin and its consequences was deeply ingrained in Israelite thought; a sin committed by one individual could bring divine displeasure or judgment upon the entire community, affecting their success in battle or even their well-being. Saul's use of a vow was a common practice, but his rashness highlights a significant flaw in his leadership. The people's submission to his authority, even in such a dire and unusual circumstance, reflects the nascent but strong power of the monarchy in Israel, where the king's word was often law, and his decisions were generally obeyed without question.

* **Key Themes:** [1 Samuel 14:40](/1_samuel/14-40 "1 Samuel 14:40 - Saul's Plan to Find the Sinner") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Samuel. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Accountability and Sin**, particularly the Old Testament understanding that corporate sin could hinder divine favor and bring judgment upon a community. Saul's frantic search for the transgressor demonstrates his belief in this principle, albeit misguidedly in this instance. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Leadership and Authority**, specifically Saul's flawed exercise of his royal power. His impulsive vow and subsequent rigid enforcement, even at the risk of his son's life, reveal his insecurity and lack of wisdom, contrasting sharply with the ideal leadership portrayed later in David. Thirdly, the entire episode serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the **Consequences of Rash Vows**, emphasizing the danger of making hasty commitments before God ([Ecclesiastes 5:4-6](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 - Do Not Be Hasty to Make Vows")). Finally, it touches on the tension between **Divine and Human Methods** of discerning truth; after a lack of divine response, Saul resorts to a human, procedural method to uncover the perceived sin, ultimately leading to a divine revelation through lots.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Be ye on one side (Hebrew, _hitgashu'_):** This verb, derived from `נגש` (nagash), means "to draw near," "to approach," or "to present oneself." In this context, it carries a sense of formal presentation, implying a judicial or investigative summons. Saul is commanding a structured separation, an orderly division of the people for the purpose of identification, akin to presenting oneself before a judge or an authority figure for scrutiny.
* **Do what seemeth good unto thee (Hebrew, _'aseh haṭṭov b'eyneykha'_):** This is a common biblical idiom expressing full consent, deference, or submission to another's judgment or plan. The phrase `הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ` literally means "the good in your eyes," signifying that the proposed action is agreeable or acceptable from the perspective of the one being addressed. In this instance, it conveys the people's complete willingness to abide by Saul's decision-making process, even in a moment of high tension and potential personal consequence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side."**: This clause reveals Saul's decisive, almost desperate, action to identify the source of God's silence. He takes immediate control, proposing a clear, binary division of the entire nation (represented by "all Israel" and "the people") for the purpose of investigation. By placing himself and Jonathan on one side, he signals his commitment to the process and his willingness for even his own family to be scrutinized, underscoring the perceived gravity of the situation and his role as king.
* **"And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee."**: This clause highlights the people's immediate and complete submission to Saul's authority. Their response is not one of questioning or protest, but of full compliance. It reflects the absolute nature of royal power in early Israel and perhaps the people's weariness from battle and their desire for a resolution to the divine silence that was hindering their victory. It also shows their trust, or at least their deference, to Saul's judgment in this critical moment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is evident as Saul's division of the people, with himself and Jonathan on one side, directly anticipates the subsequent casting of lots that will pinpoint Jonathan as the unwitting transgressor. This structural setup builds suspense for the audience who, unlike Saul, may already suspect Jonathan's involvement from earlier in the chapter. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; Saul, the king, is meticulously orchestrating a process to uncover sin among his people, yet the underlying cause of the divine displeasure is his own rash and ill-conceived vow. This dramatic irony highlights Saul's flawed judgment and self-deception. Furthermore, the verse presents a **Contrast** between Saul's active, commanding role and the people's passive, submissive response, emphasizing the power dynamics of the early monarchy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage powerfully illustrates the Old Testament understanding of corporate responsibility for sin and the severe consequences it could bring upon a community. Saul's conviction that God's silence was due to unconfessed sin reflects a theological framework where the purity and obedience of the nation were directly linked to divine blessing and success, especially in warfare. While Saul's method of identifying the sin was human-devised and his vow rash, the underlying principle of accountability before God is paramount. The narrative also raises questions about the nature of leadership, particularly the dangers of impulsive decisions made under pressure, and the importance of discerning God's true will rather than relying on human logic or legalistic enforcement.

* [Deuteronomy 29:18-21](/deuteronomy/29-18 "Deuteronomy 29:18-21 - Corporate Responsibility for Sin")
* [Ecclesiastes 5:4-6](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 - Fulfilling Vows to God")
* [Proverbs 16:33](/proverbs/16-33 "Proverbs 16:33 - The Lord Directs the Lot")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 14:40 offers profound lessons for believers today regarding leadership, decision-making, and accountability. Saul's actions serve as a stark reminder of the perils of impulsive vows and the far-reaching negative consequences that can stem from them, impacting not just the individual but an entire community. Leaders, whether in the church, family, or workplace, are called to exercise wisdom, prudence, and prayerful discernment, considering the full implications of their decisions before acting. The narrative also underscores the timeless biblical principle of accountability; while Saul's method was flawed, the underlying desire to address sin and maintain integrity before God remains a vital spiritual principle. We are reminded that our actions, even seemingly small ones or those made without full knowledge, can have ripple effects, and that seeking God's guidance should always precede our most significant decisions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do impulsive decisions, even those made with good intentions, impact our communities or families?**
* **In what ways might we, like Saul, seek to identify "sin" or problems without first examining our own actions or motives?**
* **What does the people's response "Do what seemeth good unto thee" teach us about submission to authority, and what are the limits of such submission in light of ultimate allegiance to God?**

### FAQ

**Why was Saul so determined to find the transgressor?**

Answer: Saul was convinced that God's silence, specifically the lack of a clear answer when he consulted the Lord about pursuing the Philistines further ([1 Samuel 14:37](/1_samuel/14-37 "1 Samuel 14:37 - Saul Consults God")), indicated that there was unconfessed sin among the people. In the Old Testament understanding, corporate sin could hinder divine favor and bring judgment upon the entire community, especially in battle. Saul's rash oath earlier in the chapter ([1 Samuel 14:24](/1_samuel/14-24 "1 Samuel 14:24 - Saul's Rash Oath")) was the root cause of the problem, but he was unaware of this. He felt compelled as king to purge this sin to restore divine favor and secure victory against the Philistines, believing it was the only way to move forward.

**Was the people's response "Do what seemeth good unto thee" a sign of genuine agreement or fear?**

Answer: The people's response, "Do what seemeth good unto thee," likely represents a complex mix of genuine deference, cultural expectation, and perhaps a degree of fear or exhaustion. It is a common idiom in the Hebrew Bible expressing full consent and submission to the speaker's judgment or plan, indicating their willingness to abide by Saul's decision-making process. Given the high stakes of the battle, their extreme hunger and exhaustion due to Saul's oath ([1 Samuel 14:28-32](/1_samuel/14-28 "1 Samuel 14:28-32 - The People Are Exhausted")), and the immediate need for divine favor, their compliance could stem from a desire for resolution and a fear of incurring Saul's wrath or further divine displeasure if they resisted. It was an expression of complete compliance with his proposed method.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate scene in [1 Samuel 14:40](/1_samuel/14-40 "1 Samuel 14:40 - Saul's Plan to Find the Sinner"), where Saul attempts to identify the source of sin through human means to restore divine favor, powerfully foreshadows and contrasts with the ultimate solution to humanity's sin problem found in Jesus Christ. Saul's investigation was a flawed, legalistic, and ultimately dangerous endeavor, leading to the near-sacrifice of his own son, Jonathan, who was an unwitting transgressor. This human attempt to deal with sin through identification and punishment falls short. In stark contrast, Christ is the perfect [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), not as an unwitting participant, but as the willing, sinless sacrifice. Unlike Saul, who sought to *find* the sinner for judgment, God in Christ came to *be* the sin offering, so that we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The shedding of blood was necessary for atonement ([Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")), and Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross fully satisfied God's righteous demands, something no human king or legalistic system could ever achieve. He is the true and final means by which humanity's corporate and individual sin is addressed, not through a process of elimination, but through radical grace and substitutionary atonement, bringing true and lasting fellowship with God.

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

2 Samuel 15:15

And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants [are ready to do] whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

1 Samuel 14:7

And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to thy heart.

1 Samuel 14:36

¶ 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.