1 Samuel 14:41

“Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, etc.] After the division was made between him and his son on one side, and the people of Israel on the other, and everything was ready for the drawing of the lot; Saul put up to God the following petition, as knowing that though the lot is cast into the lap, the disposing of it is of the Lord: give a perfect lot; or man, let it fall upon the guilty person, and let the innocent go free; the Targum is, “cause it to come in truth;” let truth and righteousness take place; let the right man be found out, and taken; the petition seems to be too arrogant and presumptuous, and insinuates as if the Lord did not always dispose the lot aright: and Saul and…”

“Give a perfect lot - The phrase is obscure, but the meaning is probably as in the margin. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Perfect lot - Or, declare the perfect, or guiltless person. That is, O Lord, so guide the lot, that it may discover who is guilty in his matter, and who innocent. Escaped - They were pronounced guiltless. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 14:42”

“14:41 Casting sacred lots involved the Urim and Thummim (Exod 28:30; Lev 8:8), which David also used when soliciting God’s guidance (1 Sam 23:2; 30:8; 2 Sam 2:1). The Urim and Thummim were two small objects (perhaps flat stones, sticks, or arrows) that may have been cast like dice. They would provide a positive answer, a neutral response, or a negative answer.”

“Therefore: Both the Septuagint and Vulgate add much to this verse: Και ειπε Σαουλ, Κυριε ο Θεος Ισραηλ, τι οτι ουκ απεκριθης τω δουλω σου σημερον; ει εν εμοι η εν Ιωναθαν τω υιω μου η αδικια, Κυριε ο Θεος Ισραηλ δος δηλους και εαν ταδε ειπη, δος δη τω λαω σου Ισραηλ, δος δη οσιοτητα, κ.τ.λ. Et dixit Saul ad Dominum Deum Israel; Domine Deus Israel da indicium: quid est quod non responderis servo tuo hodie? Si in me, aut in Jonatha filio meo est iniquitas hec, da ostensionem. aut si hec iniquitas est in populo tuo, da sanctitatem, etc. "And Saul said (to the Lord God of Israel, Vulg.) Lord God of Israel (give a sign, Vulg.). Why is it that thou has not answered thy servant today? If the…”