1 Samuel 14:17
New International Version
Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

New Living Translation
“Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.

English Standard Version
Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

Berean Standard Bible
Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

King James Bible
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

New King James Version
Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

New American Standard Bible
So Saul said to the people who were with him, “Look carefully now and see who has left us.” And when they had looked, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

NASB 1995
Saul said to the people who were with him, “Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

NASB 1977
And Saul said to the people who were with him, “Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul said to the people who were with him, “Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

Amplified Bible
Then Saul said to the people with him, “Take a count and see who has left us.” When they had taken a count, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing.

Christian Standard Bible
So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

American Standard Version
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

Contemporary English Version
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.

English Revised Version
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Look around," Saul told the troops who were with him, "and see who has left [our camp]." They looked and found that Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

Good News Translation
So Saul said to his men, "Count the soldiers and find out who is missing." They did so and found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons were missing.

International Standard Version
Saul told the people who were with him, "Do a roll call and see who has left us." They did a roll call, and Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

Majority Standard Bible
Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

NET Bible
So Saul said to the army that was with him, "Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us." When they mustered the troops, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count now, and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, look, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Saul to the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.

World English Bible
Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul says to the people who [are] with him, “Now inspect and see; who has gone from us?” And they inspect, and behold, Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons are not.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith to the people who are with him, 'Inspect, I pray you, and see; who hath gone from us?' and they inspect, and lo, Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons are not.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will say to the people that were with him, Review now, and see who went from us. And they will review, and behold, not Jonathan and he lifting up his arms.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said to the people that were with him: Look, and see who is gone from us. And when they had sought, it was found that Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul said to the people who were with him, “Inquire and see who has gone out from us.” And when they had inquired, it was found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not present.

New American Bible
Saul said to those around him, “Count the troops and find out if any of us are missing.” When they had taken the count, they found Jonathan and his armor-bearer missing.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said to the troops that were with him, “Call the roll and see who has gone from us.” When they had called the roll, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Saul said to the people that were with him, Take a count and see who is gone from us. And when they had mustered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul said to the people who were with him: “Examine and see who has gone from us!” And they examined and they saw and behold, Jonathan and the Bearer of his Armor were not there
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him: 'Number now, and see who is gone from us.' And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said to the people with him, Number yourselves now, and see who has gone out from you: and they numbered themselves, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not found.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan's Victory over the Philistines
16Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction, 17Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)…

Cross References
Judges 7:19-22
Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. / The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” / Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. ...

1 Samuel 13:2-3
He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home. / Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

1 Samuel 13:15-16
Then Samuel set out from Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin. And Saul numbered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men. / Now Saul and Jonathan his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.

2 Samuel 18:24-27
Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone. / So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near, / the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said the king. ...

2 Kings 7:12-15
So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’” / But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.” / Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.” ...

2 Kings 9:17-20
Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’” / So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” / So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” ...

2 Chronicles 20:22-24
The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. / The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. / When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

Joshua 7:16-18
So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. / He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected. / And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.

Numbers 31:48-49
Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—approached Moses / and said, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of us is missing.

1 Samuel 4:12-13
That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. / When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

1 Samuel 17:55-58
As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.” / “Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king. / So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. ...

1 Samuel 19:20-21
he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. / When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy.

1 Samuel 20:37-38
When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?” / Then Jonathan cried out, “Hurry! Make haste! Do not delay!” So the boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.

1 Samuel 22:6-8
Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him. / Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? / Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

1 Samuel 26:13-16
Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them. / And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner replied. / So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? ...


Treasury of Scripture

Then said Saul to the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

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1 Samuel 14
1. Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine's garrison
15. 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 said
This phrase introduces King Saul, the first king of Israel, who was anointed by the prophet Samuel. Saul's leadership is often marked by impulsive decisions and a lack of faith, contrasting with his son Jonathan's bravery and trust in God. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies a command or declaration, highlighting Saul's authoritative role among the troops.

to the troops who were with him
The "troops" refer to the Israelite soldiers under Saul's command. Historically, these men were part of a fledgling army, often outnumbered and outmatched by their enemies, such as the Philistines. The phrase underscores the communal aspect of Israel's military efforts, where unity and obedience to leadership were crucial for survival.

Call the roll
This phrase indicates a military practice of accounting for soldiers, ensuring that all are present and accounted for. The Hebrew word for "call" (פָּקַד, paqad) can also mean to muster or appoint, suggesting a formal and organized approach to leadership. This action reflects Saul's concern for order and accountability within his ranks.

and see who has left us
Saul's directive to "see who has left us" reveals his awareness of potential desertion or absence among his men. This concern is rooted in the precarious situation Israel often found itself in, surrounded by hostile nations. The phrase also foreshadows the discovery of Jonathan's absence, setting the stage for the unfolding narrative of his courageous actions.

And when they had called the roll
The completion of the roll call signifies a thorough and diligent process, emphasizing the importance of knowing the status of each soldier. This practice reflects the disciplined nature of ancient military operations and the necessity of maintaining a cohesive fighting force.

they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there
The absence of Jonathan and his armor-bearer is pivotal. Jonathan, Saul's son, is depicted as a man of faith and action, often stepping out in boldness to confront Israel's enemies. His armor-bearer, a loyal companion, symbolizes the support and camaraderie essential in spiritual and physical battles. This moment highlights Jonathan's initiative and foreshadows his significant role in the victory over the Philistines, demonstrating that true leadership often involves stepping out in faith, even when it means leaving the safety of the group.

(17) Then said Saul . . .--When this panic which was taking place in the Philistine army was reported to King Saul, he naturally inquired as to what had caused it, knowing that he, as general-in-chief, had given no directions to any of his men to attack the enemy. In the little Israelitish force, when the roll was called, it was soon discovered who was missing.

Verses 17, 18. - Number now. On hearing from the watchmen that fighting was seen on the other side of the ravine, Saul commands the roll to be called, that he may learn who has made the attack, and finds only his son and the armour bearer missing. Uncertain what their absence might mean, he said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. The Syriac, Vulgate, and Chaldee support this reading, but the Septuagint has ephod, and there can be no doubt that this is the right reading; for the verb rendered. Bring hither is never used of the ark, but only of the ephod; nor was the ark used for making inquiry of God, but the ephod with the breastplate inserted in it. The rest of the verse is a gloss added by some scribe struck at this strange mention of the ark, which we know was still at Kirjath-jearim. It is itself corrupt and ungrammatical, being, "For the ark of God was in that day and the children of Israel." Still both the reading ark and the gloss are very ancient, being found in the versions, except the Septuagint, as above.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Saul
שָׁא֗וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the troops
לָעָם֙ (lā·‘ām)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

with him,
אִתּ֔וֹ (’it·tōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

“Call the roll
פִּקְדוּ־ (piq·ḏū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

and see
וּרְא֔וּ (ū·rə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

who
מִ֖י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

has left
הָלַ֣ךְ (hā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

us.”
מֵעִמָּ֑נוּ (mê·‘im·mā·nū)
Preposition-m | first person common plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

And when they had called the roll,
וַֽיִּפְקְד֔וּ (way·yip̄·qə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

they saw
וְהִנֵּ֛ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

that Jonathan
יוֹנָתָ֖ן (yō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3129: Jonathan

and his armor-bearer
וְנֹשֵׂ֥א (wə·nō·śê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

[were] not [there].
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle


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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:17 Then said Saul to the people who (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 14:16
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