1 Samuel 14:18

Contemporary English Version

At that time, Ahijah was serving as priest for the army of Israel, and Saul told him, "Come over here! Let's ask God what we should do."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites at that time.

Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul said to Achiyah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Yisra'el.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring near the ark of God" (for the ark of God was at that time with the Israelites).

English Standard Version
So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.

New Century Version
So Saul said to Ahijah the priest, "Bring the Ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.)

New English Translation
So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring near the ephod," for he was at that time wearing the ephod.

Amplified Bible
Saul said to Ahijah [the priest], "Bring the ark of God here." For at that time the ark of God was with the sons of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Saul said vnto Ahiah, Bring hither the Arke of God (for the Arke of God was at that time with the children of Israel)

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel.

Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul told Achiyah, "Bring the ark of God here"; for at that time the ark of God was with the people of Isra'el.

Darby Translation
And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

Easy-to-Read Version
Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring God's Holy Box!" (At that time God's Holy Box was there with the Israelites.)

George Lamsa Translation
And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

Good News Translation
"Bring the ephod here," Saul said to Ahijah the priest. (On that day Ahijah was carrying it in front of the people of Israel.)

Literal Translation
And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring the ark of God here, for the ark of God was with the sons of Israel on that day.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then saide Saul vnto Ahia: Brynge hither the Arke of God (for at that tyme was the Arke of God with the children of Israel.)

American Standard Version
And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of Israel.

Bible in Basic English
And Saul said to Ahijah, Let the ephod come here. For he went before Israel with the ephod at that time.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Saul sayd vnto Ahia: Bring hyther the arke of God. (For the arke of God was at time with the children of Israel.)

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Saul said unto Ahijah: 'Bring hither the ark of God.' For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of Israel.

King James Version (1611)
And Saul said vnto Ahiah, Bring hither the Arke of God: (for the Arke of God was at that time with the children of Israel.)

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul said to Achia, Bring the ephod; for he wore the ephod in that day before Israel.

English Revised Version
And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Saul seide to Achias, Brynge the arke of the Lord; for the arke of God was there in that dai with the sones of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith to Ahiah, `Bring nigh the ark of God;' for the ark of God hath been on that day with the sons of Israel.

Update Bible Version
And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was [there] at that time with the sons of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

World English Bible
Saul said to Ahijah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Israel.

New King James Version
And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark [fn] of God here" (for at that time the ark [fn] of God was with the children of Israel).

New Living Translation
Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here!" For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.

New Life Bible
Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the special box of God here." For the special box of God was with the people of Israel at that time.

New Revised Standard
Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For at that time the ark of God went with the Israelites.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Saul unto Ahijah, Bring near the ark of God; for the ark of God was, on that day, in the midst of the sons of Israel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said to Achias: Bring the ark of the Lord. (For the ark of God was there that day with the children of Israel.)

Revised Standard Version
And Saul said to Ahi'jah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel.

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ Saul's lookouts at Geba saw that the Philistine army was running in every direction, like melted wax. ¹⁷ Saul told his officers, "Call the roll and find out who left our camp." When they had finished, they found out that Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons were missing. ¹⁸ At that time, Ahijah was serving as priest for the army of Israel, and Saul told him, "Come over here! Let's ask God what we should do." ¹⁹ Just as Saul finished saying this, he could see that the Philistine army camp was getting more and more confused, and he said, "Ahijah, never mind!" ²⁰ Saul quickly called his army together, then led them to the Philistine camp. By this time the Philistines were so confused that they were killing each other. ²¹ There were also some hired soldiers in the Philistine camp, who now switched to Israel's side and fought for Saul and Jonathan. ²² Many Israelites had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim. And when they heard that the Philistines were running away, they came out of hiding and joined in chasing the Philistines. ²³So the Lord helped Israel win the battle that day. Saul had earlier told his soldiers, "I want to get even with those Philistines by sunset. If any of you eat before then, you will be under a curse!" So he made them swear not to eat. By the time the fighting moved past Beth-Aven, the Israelite troops were weak from hunger.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Bring hither: The Septuagint reads סןףבדבדו פן וצןץה, ןפי בץפןע חסו פן וצןץה ום פח חלוסב וךויםח וםשניןם ףסבחכ. "Bring hither the ephod; for he bore the ephod on that day before Israel," which Houbigant and others think is the true reading. Finding that his son Jonathan and his armour-bearer were absent, Saul wished to consult the high-priest; but the tumult increasing, he says to him, "Withdraw thine hand:" i.e., desist form consulting the ephod on the present occasion, and immediately hastened to make the best use he could of this astonishing victory. 1 Samuel 4:3-5, 1 Samuel 30:8, Numbers 27:21, Judges 20:18, Judges 20:23, Judges 20:27, Judges 20:28, 2 Samuel 11:11, 2 Samuel 15:24-26

For the ark: 1 Samuel 5:2, 1 Samuel 7:1

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:6 - the holy instruments Deuteronomy 20:2 - General Joshua 9:14 - asked not 1 Samuel 13:9 - he offered 1 Samuel 23:6 - an ephod 1 Samuel 23:9 - Bring 1 Kings 22:5 - Inquire 1 Chronicles 13:3 - we inquired

Cross-References

Genesis 14:10
was full of tar pits, and when the troops from Sodom and Gomorrah started running away, some of them fell into the pits. Others escaped to the hill country.

Genesis 14:22
Abram answered: The Lord God Most High made the heavens and the earth. And I have promised him

Ruth 3:10
Boaz replied: The Lord bless you! This shows how truly loyal you are to your family. You could have looked for a younger man, either rich or poor, but you didn't.

2 Samuel 2:5
David sent messengers to tell them: The Lord bless you! You were kind enough to bury Saul your ruler,

Psalms 7:17
I will praise you, Lord ! You always do right. I will sing about you, the Lord Most High.

Psalms 50:14
I am God Most High! The only sacrifice I want is for you to be thankful and to keep your word.

Psalms 57:2
I pray to you, my protector.

Psalms 76:2
Your home is on Mount Zion in the city of peace.

Micah 6:6
What offering should I bring when I bow down to worship the Lord God Most High? Should I try to please him by sacrificing calves a year old?

Acts 7:48
But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Saul said unto Ahiah, bring hither the ark of the Lord,.... That he, the high priest, might put on the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, and inquire by them of the Lord before it, concerning the affair of Jonathan, what he had done, and the agitation that was in the host of the Philistines; so the Septuagint version, "bring the ephod", of which, with the Urim and Thummim, Kimchi interprets it; and ask, whether it was right for him to go out unto them, or continue where he was:

for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel; and so it always was, except a few months it was in the hands of the Philistines; so it was at Kirjathjearim, where it was last. Jarchi thinks a word is wanting, and to be supplied thus,

"the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Israel,''

at Gibeah; perhaps it might be removed first to Gilgal, when Saul and Samuel were there, and when they came to Gibeah it was brought along with them; but the last words may be considered as a distinct clause, and, literally tendered, are, "and the children of Israel": which Abarbinel accounts for thus, and Saul said this,

bring hither the ark of the Lord; and the children of Israel said so likewise, joined with him in it: though the ark had been with Saul, and the people, some time, and also the high priest, yet we do not find that Saul in all his straits and difficulties consulted the Lord before; but perceiving something extraordinary was doing, and might turn to his advantage, he begins to inquire.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For “the ark,” some read “the ephod,” owing to the improbability of the ark being with Saul at this time, and from the verb “Bring hither” being never applied to the ark, but regularly to the ephod 1Sa 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7. Moreover, not the ark, but the ephod with Urim and Thummim, was the proper instrument for inquiring of the Lord. If, however, the Hebrew text is correct, they must have brought the ark into Saul’s camp from Kirjath-jearim 1 Samuel 7:0, possibly to be safe from the Philistines.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 14:18. Bring hither the ark of God — He wished to inquire what use he should make of the present favourable circumstances, and to proceed in the business as God should direct.