11:1ffAt this time, Israel was very susceptible to invasion by marauding tribes such as these Ammonites from east of the Jordan River. Saul’s leadership in battle against this warlike tribe helped unify the nation and proved that he was a worthy military ruler. Saul’s kingship was solidified when he saved the nation from disgrace and spared the people who had criticized him.
Life Application Study Bible1 SamuelChapter 11
1 Samuel 11
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 426, 427
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
111 Samuel 11
1About a month later,* King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gitead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded. 2“All right,” Nahash said, “but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!” 3“Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!” replied the elders of Jabesh. “If no one comes to save us, we will agree to your terms.” ‘When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears. 5Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, “What's the matter? Why is everyone crying?” So they told him about the message from Jabesh. 6Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. 7He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!” And the LORD made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one. 8When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000* men from Judah. 9So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, 11We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!” There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived! 10The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.” 1'But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together. 12Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!” 13But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!” 14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom.” 15So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the LORD they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy.
Textual footnotes
- Greek version; Hebrew lacks About a month ater.
- 11:8 Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 70,000.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
11:3Why would Nahash give the city of Jabesh-gilead seven days to find an army to help them? Because Israel was still disorganized, Nahash was betting that no one would come to the city's aid. He was hoping to take the city without a fight and avoid a battle. He also may not have been prepared to attack the city because a siege against its walls could last weeks or months.
11:6Anger is a powerful emotion. Often it may drive people to hurt others with words or physical violence. But anger directed at sin and the mistreatment of others is not wrong. Saul was angered by the Ammonites’ threat to humiliate and mistreat his fellow Israelites. The Holy Spirit used Saul’s anger to bring justice and freedom. When injustice or sin makes you angry, ask God how you can channel that anger in constructive ways to help bring about a positive change.
11:8Judah, one of the 12 tribes of israel, is often mentioned separately from the other 11. There are several reasons for this. Judah was the largest tribe (Numbers 1:20-46), and it was the tribe from which most of Israel's kings would come (Genesis 49:8-12). Later, Judah would be one of the few tribes to return to God after a century of captivity under a hostile foreign power. Judah would also be the tribe through which the Messiah would come (Micah 5:2).
11:14Saul had been anointed by Samuel at Ramah (10:1); then Saul was publicly chosen at Mizpah (10:17-27); his defeat of the Ammonites confirmed his kingship in the people's minds; at this time, all the people confirmed his rule.
11:15The Israelites offered peace offerings to God as they made Saul their first king. The instructions for giving these offerings are found in Leviticus 3. The peace offering was an expression of gratitude and thanksgiving to God, symbolizing the peace that comes to those who know him and who live in accordance with his commands. Although God did not want his people to have a human king, the people were demonstrating through their offerings that he was still their true King. Unfortunately, this attitude did not last, just as God had predicted (8:7-19).