1 Samuel 14:38
And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
Original Language Analysis
גֹּ֣שֽׁוּ
Draw ye near
H5066
גֹּ֣שֽׁוּ
Draw ye near
Strong's:
H5066
Word #:
3 of 14
to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
פִּנּ֣וֹת
all the chief
H6438
פִּנּ֣וֹת
all the chief
Strong's:
H6438
Word #:
6 of 14
an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftain
הָעָ֑ם
of the people
H5971
הָעָ֑ם
of the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
7 of 14
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וּדְע֣וּ
and know
H3045
וּדְע֣וּ
and know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
8 of 14
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וּרְא֔וּ
and see
H7200
וּרְא֔וּ
and see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
9 of 14
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
בַּמָּ֗ה
wherein
H4100
בַּמָּ֗ה
wherein
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
10 of 14
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
הָֽיְתָ֛ה
H1961
הָֽיְתָ֛ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
11 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Historical Context
Investigating sin through lot-casting was established procedure (Joshua 7:14-18). The process involved progressively narrowing identification until the guilty party was revealed. Saul follows proper procedure while missing the larger issue.
Questions for Reflection
- How can proper procedures for addressing sin miss the actual problem?
- When have you searched for fault in others while missing your own contribution to a situation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
Saul summons 'all the chief of the people' to 'know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.' He assumes sin exists and determines to find the sinner. His process is correct (involving leadership, seeking identification of sin), but his self-examination is absent. The irony intensifies: Saul will discover his own son violated his own rash oath, yet never questions whether the oath itself was the problem. He seeks sins in others while blind to his own.