TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Samuel 14 verses 36–46
Here is, I. Saul's boasting against the Philistines. He proposed, as soon as his soldiers had got their suppers, to pursue them all night, and not leave a man of them, Sa1 14:36. Here he showed much zeal, but little discretion; for his army, thus fatigued, could as ill spare a night's sleep as a meal's meat. But it is common for rash and foolish men to consider nobody but themselves, and, so that they might but have their humour, not to care what hardships they put upon those that are under them. However, the people were so obsequious to their king that they would by no means oppose the motion, but resolved to make the best of it, and, if he will go on, they will follow him: Do whatsoever seemeth good to thee. Only the priest thought it convenient to go on with the devotions that were broken off abruptly (Sa1 14:19), and to consult the oracle: Let us draw near hither unto God. Princes and great men have need of such about them as will thus be their remembrancers, wherever they go, to take God along with them. And, when the priest proposed it, Saul could not for shame reject the proposal, but asked counsel of God (Sa1 14:37): "Shall I go down after the Philistines? And shall I speed?"
II. His falling foul on his son Jonathan: and the rest of this paragraph is wholly concerning him: for, while he is prosecuted, the Philistines make their escape. We know not what mischief may ensue upon on rash resolve.
1.God, by giving an intimation of his displeasure, put Saul upon searching for an accursed thing. When, by the priest, he consulted the oracle, God answered him not, Sa1 14:37. Note, When God denies our prayers it concerns us to enquire what the sin is that has provoked him to do so. Let us see where the sin is, Sa1 14:38. For God's ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, but it is sin that separates between us and him. If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to suspect it is for some iniquity regarding our hearts, which we are concerned to find out, that we may put it away, may mortify it, and put it to death. Saul swears by his Maker that whoever was the Achan that troubled the camp, by eating the forbidden fruit, should certainly die, though it were Jonathan himself, that is, though ever so dear to himself and the people, little thinking that Jonathan was the man (Sa1 14:39): He shall surely die, the curse shall be executed upon him. But none of the people answered him, that is, none of those who knew Jonathan had broken the order would inform against him.
2.Jonathan was discovered by lot to be the offender. Saul would have lots cast between himself and Jonathan on the one side, and the people on the other, perhaps because he was as confident of Jonathan's innocency in this matter as of his own, Sa1 14:40. The people, seeing him in a heat, durst not gainsay any thing he proposed, but acquiesced: Do as seemeth good unto thee. Before he cast lots, he prayed that God would give a perfect lot (Sa1 14:41), that is, make a full discovery of this matter, or, as it is in the margin, that he would show the innocent. This was with an air of impartial justice. Judges should desire that truth may come out, whoever may suffer by it. Lots should be cast with prayer, because they are a solemn appeal to Providence, and by them we beg of God to direct and determine us (Act 1:24), for which reason some have condemned games that depend purely upon lot or chance as making too bold with a sacred thing. Jonathan at length was taken (Sa1 14:42), Providence designing hereby to countenance and support a lawful authority, and to put an honour upon the administration of public justice in general, reserving another way to bring off one that had done nothing worthy of death.
3.Jonathan ingenuously confesses the fact, and Saul, with an angry curse, passes sentence upon him. Jonathan denies not the truth, nor goes about to conceal it, only he thinks it hard that he must die for it, Sa1 14:43. He might very fairly have pleaded his invincible ignorance of the law, or have insisted upon his merit, but he submitted to the necessity with a great and generous mind: "God's and my father's will be done:" thus he showed as much valour in receiving the messengers of death himself as in sending them among the Philistines. It is as brave to yield in some cases as it is in other cases to fight. Saul is not mollified by his filial submission nor the hardness of his case; but as one that affected to be thought firm to his word, and much more to his oath; even when it bound him hardest, with another imprecation he gives judgment upon Jonathan (Sa1 14:44): "God do so and more also to me if I do not execute the law upon thee, for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan." (1.) He passed this sentence too hastily, without consulting the oracle. Jonathan had a very good plea in arrest of the judgment. What he had done was not malum in se - bad in itself; and, as for the prohibition of it, he was ignorant of that, so that he could not be charged with rebellion or disobedience. (2.) He did it in fury. Had Jonathan been worthy to die, yet it would have become a judge, much more a father, to pass sentence with tenderness and compassion, and not with such an air of triumph, like a man perfectly divested of all humanity and natural affection. Justice is debased when it is administered with wrath and bitterness. (3.) He backed it with a curse upon himself if he did not see the sentence executed; and this curse did return upon his own head. Jonathan escaped, but God did so to Saul, and more also; for he was rejected of God and made anathema. Let none upon any occasion dare to use such imprecations as these, lest God say Amen to them, and make their own tongues to fall upon them, Psa 64:8. This stone will return upon him that rolleth it. Yet we have reason to think that Saul's bowels yearned toward Jonathan, so that he really punished himself, and very justly, when he seemed so severe upon Jonathan. God made him feel the smart of his own rash edict, which might make him fear being again guilty of the like. By all these vexatious accidents God did likewise correct him for his presumption in offering sacrifice without Samuel. An expedition so ill begun could not end without some rebukes.
4.The people rescued Jonathan out of his father's hands, v. 45. Hitherto they had expressed themselves very observant of Saul. What seemed good to him they acquiesced in, v. 36, 40. But, when Jonathan is in danger, Saul's word is no longer a law to them, but with the utmost zeal they oppose the execution of his sentence: "Shall Jonathan die - that blessing, that darling, of his country? Shall that life be sacrificed to a punctilio of law and honour which was so bravely exposed for the public service, and to which we owe our lives and triumphs? No, we will never stand by and see him thus treated whom God delights to honour." It is good to see Israelites zealous for the protection of those whom God has made instruments of public good. Saul had sworn that Jonathan should die, but they oppose their oath to his, and swear he shall not die: "As the Lord liveth there shall not only not his head, but not a hair of his head fall to the ground;" they did not rescue him by violence, but by reason and resolution; and Josephus says they made their prayer to God that he might be loosed from the curse. They pleaded for him that he has wrought with God this day; that is, "he has owned God's cause, and God has owned his endeavours, and therefore his life is too precious to be thrown away upon a nicety." We may suppose Saul had not so perfectly forgotten the relation of a father but that he was willing enough to have Jonathan rescued, and well pleased to have that done which yet he would not do himself: and he that knows the heart of a father knows not how to blame him.
5.The design against the Philistines is quashed by this incident (v. 46): Saul went up from following them, and so an opportunity was lost of completing the victory. When Israel's shields are clashing with one another the public safety and service suffer by it.
And Saul withdrew, not pursuing the Philistines, etc. Indeed, teachers, conscious of their own frailty, realize they are not able to track or expel all the wiles of demons; but woe to those hearts to which the repelled and cast out unclean spirits return as if to their own places.
Continue studying 1 Samuel 14:46 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
1 Samuel 14:46 serves as the poignant and anticlimactic conclusion to a day of potential triumph for Israel, initiated by Jonathan's extraordinary faith but ultimately curtailed by King Saul's flawed leadership. This verse succinctly records Saul's decision to cease the pursuit of the routed Philistine army, allowing them to retreat safely to their own territory. It transforms what could have been a decisive, annihilating victory into an incomplete one, powerfully underscoring how human error and self-centered priorities can hinder the full realization of divine blessing and strategic objectives.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs Juxtaposition by placing Saul's action (ceasing pursuit) directly alongside the Philistines' consequence (retreating to safety). This starkly highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between Saul's flawed leadership and the incomplete nature of the victory. There is also a strong element of Irony present. A day that began with a miraculous, divinely-initiated rout of the enemy, full of potential for a decisive and annihilating victory, ends with the enemy escaping largely due to the king's self-imposed, rash vow and subsequent distraction by internal conflict. This Foreshadows Saul's future failures and his eventual rejection by God, as his reign is consistently marked by incomplete obedience, self-serving decisions, and a failure to fully prosecute God's commands rather than wholehearted devotion to divine will.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 14:46 serves as a poignant reminder that human failings, particularly in leadership, can significantly limit the full extent of divine blessing and opportunity. God had clearly granted Israel a remarkable victory, demonstrating His power through Jonathan's faith. However, Saul's self-centered leadership, characterized by a rash vow and a focus on internal politics over strategic military objectives, prevented the complete eradication of the Philistine threat. This incomplete victory underscores the critical importance of wise, discerning leadership that prioritizes God's purposes above personal pride, rigid adherence to self-imposed rules, or internal distractions. It powerfully illustrates that while God's power is always sufficient for victory, human obedience, faithfulness, and strategic discernment are crucial for the full realization of His plans. The failure to "finish the job" here sets the stage for continued Philistine oppression, a direct consequence of Israel's king not fully prosecuting the war God had enabled him to win.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound lessons for both individual believers and those entrusted with leadership. For individuals, it stands as a cautionary tale about the dangers of self-imposed legalism, rash decisions, and allowing internal distractions or personal agendas to hinder our spiritual progress or the work God has called us to. How often do we, like Saul, allow our own "vows" of self-reliance, misguided priorities, or internal conflicts to prevent us from fully pursuing the "Philistines" in our lives—the sins, temptations, or spiritual battles that God has already given us the power to overcome? For leaders, the passage is a stark reminder that true leadership requires wisdom, discernment, and an unwavering focus on the greater good and God's strategic objectives, rather than personal pride, maintaining control, or rigid adherence to self-made rules. An incomplete victory, whether in spiritual warfare, personal growth, or ministry, often stems from a failure to press on, to finish what God has started, or to prioritize His will above all else, thereby allowing the enemy to regroup and pose a future threat.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Saul stop pursuing the Philistines when they were in retreat?
Answer: Saul's decision to halt the pursuit was primarily influenced by the immediate internal crisis and the chaotic events within his camp that day. The day had been tumultuous: Jonathan's initial faith-filled attack, Saul's rash vow that endangered Jonathan, the people's exhaustion and hunger leading to their sin of eating meat with blood, and the subsequent divine silence when Saul consulted God via the ark. While the people had just rescued Jonathan from Saul's death sentence (1 Samuel 14:45), the army was likely weary, and Saul's authority had been publicly challenged and undermined. Rather than pressing a decisive military advantage, Saul seemingly prioritized resolving the internal turmoil and securing his own position, leading to the premature cessation of the pursuit.
Was this a complete victory for Israel?
Answer: Militarily and strategically, no, this was not a complete victory. While a significant rout of the Philistines occurred, and Israel gained ground, the victory was ultimately incomplete. The phrase "the Philistines went to their own place" indicates they were able to retreat to their fortified cities and regroup, rather than being utterly destroyed or dispersed. This meant the Philistine threat persisted, leading to continued conflicts throughout Saul's reign and beyond. Theologically, it was a victory initiated by God through Jonathan's faith, but its full potential was limited by Saul's flawed leadership, self-interest, and disobedience.
What does "their own place" signify in this context?
Answer: "Their own place" signifies the Philistines' return to their secure territories, likely their fortified cities (such as Gath, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron) or established garrisons and strongholds. It implies a safe retreat where they could recover, regroup, and rebuild their forces. This stands in stark contrast to a complete rout where an enemy is so thoroughly defeated that they have no "place" to return to as a cohesive fighting unit, signifying their total annihilation or dispersal. The fact that they returned to "their own place" underscores the incomplete and ultimately unsatisfying nature of Israel's victory on this day.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 14:46, with its depiction of an incomplete victory due to flawed human leadership, powerfully foreshadows the perfect, decisive, and complete victory achieved by Jesus Christ. Saul, the first king of Israel, fails to fully prosecute the war against Israel's enemies, allowing them to retreat to "their own place" and remain a persistent threat. This narrative reflects the inherent limitations of human kingship and the profound need for a greater, perfect King. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true King of Israel, does not allow the ultimate enemies—Satan, sin, and death—to retreat to "their own place." Through His life of perfect obedience, His atoning death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, Christ achieved a definitive and eternal triumph. He "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him" (Colossians 2:15). Unlike Saul, whose leadership was marred by self-interest and rash decisions, Christ's leadership is characterized by perfect wisdom, unwavering obedience to the Father's will (John 6:38), and a complete commitment to His mission. His victory is not partial or temporary; it is an "eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12) that fully secures salvation for His people. When Christ returns, the enemy will not retreat to "their own place" but will be cast into the lake of fire, signifying a total and final defeat with no possibility of regrouping or future threat (Revelation 20:10). Thus, 1 Samuel 14:46, by highlighting the incompleteness of Saul's victory, points forward to the comprehensive and everlasting triumph of the Lamb of God, who fully accomplishes salvation and utterly vanquishes all His foes.