Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.
Parallel translations
- KJV And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
- BSB Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
- NKJV And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel).
- NASB Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For at that time the ark of God was with the sons of Israel.
- NLT Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.
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 calls for the ark of God, apparently seeking divine guidance amid the unfolding battle.
Overview
Saul turns to the ark, associated with God's presence, to inquire of the Lord. Some ancient texts read 'ephod' here, the priestly means of seeking God's will, and faithful scholars note the textual question. Either way, the scene shows Saul belatedly seeking God, though his subsequent impatience will cut the inquiry short, revealing a divided heart.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Sam 5:2The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
- Judg 20:23The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”
- 1 Sam 30:7–8David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
- 1 Sam 4:3–5When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.”
- Judg 20:27–28The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
- 2 Sam 15:24–26Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.
- Judg 20:18The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” Yahweh said, “Judah first.”
- Num 27:21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
- 1 Sam 7:1The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and took Yahweh’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep Yahweh’s ark.
- 2 Sam 11:11Uriah said to David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah, are staying in tents; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing!”
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 14:18 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.