1 Samuel 11 - Study the King James Bible

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

1 Samuel 11:7. Took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces— See the note on Judges 19:29. Bochart Hieroz. pars 1: lib. 2 cap. 33 and Martin's Explic. des Textes.

And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10.

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

11.

And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12.

And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

1 Samuel 11:12. And the people said unto Samuel— We have here a fine picture of the capricious disposition of the common people, and of the prodigious alteration which great success makes in their affections. The moderation of Saul, 1Sa 11:13 deserves as much praise, as their precipitate thirst for revenge deserves condemnation.

13.

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

14.

Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

15.

And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

1 Samuel 11:15. There they made Saul king— The meaning is, that there they proclaimed and publicly acknowledged Saul for their king. The Targum expresses it very well, they made Saul to reign.
REFLECTIONS.—The sons of Belial now shall see whether Saul is able to save them, or not.
1. Saul was in the field, tending his cattle, when the message came. Though chosen to be a king, yet returning to his old employment till God should call him out to action, as he followed his cattle home, the cry of the people excited his inquiry; and when he heard the cause, anger against the inhuman Ammonite kindled in his bosom; he felt his spirit moved with unusual ardour, and instantly resolved the rescue of Jabesh-gilead. Note; (1.) We must not hear the sorrows of the afflicted without kind inquiries, and proffering ready help to alleviate their miseries. (2.) A holy indignation against deeds of cruelty and wickedness is highly commendable.
2. The method that he took to raise the forces of Israel; He hewed a yoke of oxen in pieces, and sent these by the messengers into all the coasts, threatening so to do by their oxen who should be absent from the general rendezvous; and joined Samuel's name with his own, both to pay him honour, and to engage the readier submission. The effect produced was great; God put his fear upon the people, and they instantly assembled from every quarter, to the number of three hundred thousand men of Israel, besides thirty thousand of Judah; whose proportion, though apparently smaller than might be expected, may easily be accounted for, as the Philistines lay on their borders, against whom they must be guarded. Note; Where the fear of God is in the heart, there men will make conscience of their duty in every station, and be, on principle, good subjects, good soldiers, and good servants.
3. Confident of success, Saul sends the messengers back with assurance of immediate relief: he doubted not but on the morrow he should be with them, which filled the city with joy. To perform his promise, he marches instantly in three bodies; and though the distance was sixty miles, and all on foot, on the third day before the morning-watch, he broke into the camp of the Ammonites, lulled into security with the message which the men of Jabeth-gilead had sent them on the return of the messengers, that they would come out to them the next day. A general route ensued; till mid-day, they made havock of the flying Ammonites; and so dispersed and destroyed them, that not two of all their numerous hosts were left together. Note; When we go out. dependant upon God, we shall return crowned with victory.
4. Samuel, it seems, had either accompanied them in the expedition, or met them on their return: and, jealous now for the honour of their king, endeared to them by his victory, though they had before taken notice of the insult, the people apply to him, as judge in Israel, for the death of these sons of Belial, who had despised the anointed of the Lord. Saul, like a good king, taking more pleasure in exercising his clemency, than executing the offenders, interposes, and will not have that day stained with Israelitish blood, in which God had wrought so great a salvation for them. Note; All our successes must be ascribed to God; for it is his arm alone that obtains the victory for us over our enemies spiritual and temporal. Samuel now seizes the favourable disposition of the people, to confirm the kingdom to Saul: he led them to Gilgal; and, amidst the joyful sacrifices for their past victory, Saul is solemnly invested with the supreme power by universal consent, and with great solemnity. Note; It is good to make use of a favourable gale while it blows.