New International Version Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this. New Living Translation Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first of the altars he built to the LORD. English Standard Version And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Berean Standard Bible Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. Berean Literal Bible And Saul built an altar to YHWH; it was the first altar that he built to YHWH. King James Bible And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. New King James Version Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD. New American Standard Bible And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. NASB 1995 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. NASB 1977 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Legacy Standard Bible And Saul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar that he built to Yahweh. Amplified Bible And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Berean Annotated Bible Then Saul (desired) built an altar to the LORD {YHWH}; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. Christian Standard Bible Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. American Standard Version And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah: the same was the first altar that he built unto Jehovah. Contemporary English Version It was the first altar Saul had built for offering sacrifices to the LORD. English Revised Version And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. Good News Translation Saul built an altar to the LORD, the first one that he built. International Standard Version Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. NET Bible Then Saul built an altar for the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar for the LORD. New Heart English Bible Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Webster's Bible Translation And Saul built an altar to the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built to the LORD: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. World English Bible Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar that he built to Yahweh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Saul builds an altar to YHWH; with it he has begun to build altars to YHWH. Berean Literal Bible And Saul built an altar to YHWH; it was the first altar that he built to YHWH. Young's Literal Translation And Saul buildeth an alter to Jehovah; with it he hath begun to build altars to Jehovah. Smith's Literal Translation And Saul will build an altar to Jehovah: this altar he began to build to Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Saul built an altar to the Lord and he then first began to build an altar to the Lord. Catholic Public Domain Version Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. And so, it was then that he first began to build an altar to the Lord. New American Bible and Saul built an altar to the LORD—this was the first time he built an altar to the LORD. New Revised Standard Version And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Saul built there an altar to the LORD; thus he began to build his first altar to the LORD. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Shaul built there an altar to LORD JEHOVAH, and he began to build the altar to LORD JEHOVAH OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Saul built an altar unto the LORD; the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Saul built an altar there to the Lord: this was the first altar that Saul built to the Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Jonathan Eats the Honey…34Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’ ” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there. 35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. 36And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”… Cross References Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; Joshua 8:30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 Samuel 24:25 And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted. 1 Samuel 7:17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD. it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Genesis 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. Genesis 22:9 When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Exodus 20:24-25 You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. / Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it. Deuteronomy 27:5-6 Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. / You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God. 1 Kings 18:30-32 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down. / And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 2 Samuel 24:18-25 And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” / So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded. / When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. … 1 Chronicles 21:26 And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 2 Chronicles 33:16 Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. Treasury of Scripture And Saul built an altar to the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built to the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:9,17 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him… Judges 21:4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Hosea 8:14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof. the same, etc. Jump to Previous Altar Altars Alter Begun Build Buildeth Built Saul TimeJump to Next Altar Altars Alter Begun Build Buildeth Built Saul Time1 Samuel 14 1. Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine's garrison15. A divine terror makes them beat themselves 17. Saul, not staying the priest's answer, sets on them 21. The captivated Hebrews, and the hidden Israelites, join against them. 24. Saul's unadvised adjuration hinders the victory 31. He restrains the people from eating blood 35. He builds an altar 37. Jonathan, taken by lot, is save by the people 47. Saul's victories, strength, and family Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; After the victory over the Philistines, Saul provided a place for proper sacrifices when the people had sinned by eating meat with its blood. The altar acknowledged the LORD’s authority and allowed the nation to worship according to God’s law. Jos 8:30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD… it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD. Though Saul had reigned for some time and led Israel in battle, this was his first recorded altar. The detail exposes the weakness of his spiritual leadership: he acted only after a crisis rather than steadily guiding Israel in obedience and worship. Gen 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD… Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. Saul's reign is marked by both military successes and spiritual failures. In this passage, he builds an altar to the LORD, indicating a moment of religious observance. 2. Altar A structure upon which offerings or sacrifices are made for religious purposes. In the context of ancient Israel, altars were central to worship and communication with God. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant name of God used in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people. 4. Israel The nation chosen by God, consisting of the twelve tribes descended from the sons of Jacob. At this time, they are engaged in battles with the Philistines. 5. Philistines A neighboring people often in conflict with Israel. Their interactions with Israel are a significant part of Saul's military campaigns. Teaching Points The Importance of WorshipSaul's building of an altar signifies a moment of turning to God in worship. It reminds us of the importance of setting aside time and space to honor God in our lives. Symbolism of Altars Altars in the Old Testament symbolize dedication, sacrifice, and communication with God. In our lives, we can create "altars" by dedicating time, resources, and our hearts to God. Spiritual Leadership As a leader, Saul's actions set a precedent for the people. This teaches us that our spiritual practices can influence and inspire those around us. Incomplete Obedience While Saul builds an altar, his overall reign is marked by incomplete obedience to God. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of wholehearted devotion. Seeking God's Guidance Building an altar was a way to seek God's guidance and favor. In our decisions and challenges, we should prioritize seeking God's will through prayer and scripture. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 14:35?2. How does 1 Samuel 14:35 demonstrate the importance of building altars to God? 3. What can we learn from Saul's actions in 1 Samuel 14:35 about obedience? 4. How does building an altar in 1 Samuel 14:35 connect to worship today? 5. Why is it significant that Saul "built an altar to the LORD" first here? 6. How can we prioritize worship in our daily lives, as seen in 1 Samuel 14:35? 7. Why did Saul build an altar to the LORD in 1 Samuel 14:35? 8. What significance does the first altar built by Saul hold? 9. How does 1 Samuel 14:35 reflect Saul's relationship with God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 14? (35) The same was the first altar that he built . . .--More accurately, as in margin, the same he began to build as an altar. The great Jewish commentators are divided as to the precise meaning of the old Hebrew language of this verse. Abarbanel interprets the words, "that King Saul began to build, but did not finish." The Midrash prefers to understand the statement as telling how "Saul began among the kings of Israel the building of altars." The more obvious meaning, if we translate as in our English Version, seems to be that this was the first public acknowledgment King Saul made to God for the mercies and goodness vouchsafed to him.Verse 35. - And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah as a thank offering for the Divine favour in gaining so great a victory. The same was the first altar, etc. Literally, "As to it he began to build an altar unto Jehovah." On these words the question has arisen whether the meaning be that Saul began to build an altar, but with characteristic impetuosity left off before he had completed it; or whether on that occasion he commenced the custom followed by David (2 Samuel 24:25) of erecting altars as the patriarchs had done in old time. The latter interpretation is more in accordance with the usage of the Hebrew language, and is approved by the translations of the Septuagint and Vulgate. CHAPTER 14:36-52 JONATHAN'S DANGER AND DELIVERANCE (vers. 36-46). 1 Samuel 14:35 captures a rare high moment for Saul: after a chaotic battle and a rash oath, he finally pauses to honor God. The sequence teaches that worship must follow deliverance, that leadership includes modeling reliance on the LORD, and that it is never too late to start building altars of obedience—even if earlier steps were missed.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then Saulשָׁא֛וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites built וַיִּ֧בֶן (way·yi·ḇen) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1129: To build an altar מִזְבֵּ֖חַ (miz·bê·aḥ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4196: An altar to the LORD; לַֽיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel it was the first הֵחֵ֔ל (hê·ḥêl) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play time he had built לִבְנ֥וֹת (liḇ·nō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1129: To build an altar מִזְבֵּ֖חַ (miz·bê·aḥ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4196: An altar to the LORD. לַֽיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Additonal Resources 1 Samuel 14:35 Blue Letter Bible1 Samuel 14:35 Bible Gateway 1 Samuel 14:35 Bible.com 1 Samuel 14:35 NIV |
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