1 Samuel 14:52 - Printer Friendly

ESV: There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

NIV: All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.

NASB: Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any warrior or any valiant man, he attached him to his staff.

CSB: The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.

NLT: The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.

KJV: And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

NKJV: Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself.

First Samuel 14:47–52 concludes the chapter by summing up Saul's kingship over Israel. Saul's reign is marked by successful battles against Israel's enemies on every side, though he never fully defeats the Philistines. The names of the royal family are listed. Saul drafts every strong and valiant man he sees into Israel's standing army.

God sparks panic among the Philistines after Jonathan boldly attacks and kills twenty of the enemy. When Saul sees the Philistines are scattering and killing each other, the Israelites pursue them out of the region. The Lord remains silent when Saul asks if they should attack the Philistines by night. Lots cast to reveal sin among them fall on Jonathan, who broke an oath of the king which he did not know about. The people refuse to allow Saul to execute Jonathan for this crime. Saul does not pursue the Philistines that night, but throughout his days as king he experiences success over them and other enemies such as the Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and Edomites.

Saul has been anointed and reaffirmed as king (1 Samuel 9—12). Recently, his army amassed to fight the Philistines (1 Samuel 13). After a secret sneak attack, the Lord sparks panic among the entire Philistine army. The resulting chaos makes the Philistines fight and kill each other. The Israelites pursue, driving the Philistines out of the region. The people refuse to allow Saul to execute Jonathan, the man God used to save them from the Philistines. Throughout his kingship, Saul experiences success over enemies on every side (1 Samuel 15). However, he will also fall short of his obligations to God and eventually be replaced (1 Samuel 16).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 11/23/2024 7:31:46 AM