and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Parallel translations
- WEB and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
- KJV And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
- NKJV But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
- NASB and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.
- NLT instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul died because he was unfaithful and did not inquire of Yahweh, so God gave the kingdom to David. His fall warns that disobedience and prayerlessness bring ruin.
Overview
The Chronicler concludes his brief account of Saul by naming the root of his downfall: unfaithfulness to God and a refusal to seek the LORD, even consulting a medium instead. God Himself is said to have killed him and transferred the kingdom to David, underscoring divine sovereignty over the throne. This sets the stage for David, the man after God's heart, whose true and greater Son, Jesus Christ, would reign forever in faithfulness where Saul failed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Sam 15:28So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.
- 1 Sam 13:14But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”
- 1 Sam 16:1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
- 1 Sam 28:17He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
- 1 Chr 12:23Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:
- 2 Sam 3:9–10May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
- 1 Sam 28:6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- Prov 17:13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
- Judg 10:11–16The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,
- Isa 10:7But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
- 1 Sam 16:11–13And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
- Isa 10:15Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
- Ezek 14:3–6“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?
- 2 Sam 5:3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.
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Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 10:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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