Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. Ver. 1. _Then Nahash the Ammonite came up._] After long preparations, 1Sa 12:12 and for the old hatred, Eze 25:15 and upon the old claim,... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _On this condition will I make a covenant._] Slaves he would make them, and perpetually so, - stigmatical sla... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. Give us seven days' respite.] This the tyrant yielded unto, _non ex pietate, sed ex animositat... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _And all the people lifted up their voices, and wept._] This was to "weep with those that weep." Rom 12:15 And if in addition they "turned again u... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _Saul came after the herd out of the field._] His volunteers, belike, that guarded him home were dismissed, and he returned to... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. Ver. 6. _And the Spirit of God came upon Saul._] That is, The spirit of fortitude, saith the Chaldee Paraphrast; not that "spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind." 2Ti 1:7 _ And his anger wa... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. Ver. 8. _And the men of Judah thirty thousand._] All which yielded, now that God had signified his will, to be commanded by Benjamin, the least of the tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, 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. Ver. 9. _Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot._] Not _tertio... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _Tomorrow we will come out,_] viz., If help come not in the meanwhile; but this they cunningly concealed.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _Who is he that said?_] Saul's prudence and diligence crowned with so good success, had made him many friends. Those of Jabeshgilead showed their thankfulness man... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. Ver. 13. _There shall not a man be put to death this day._] _Mitisima sors est Regnorum sub Rege novo._ _a_ But this held not long with Saul; witness his dealing with David, Jonathan... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there._ Ver. 14. _And renew the kingdom there,_] _i.e., _ The covenant of the kingdom between the new king and his people, for the preventing of future rebellion.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _And there they made Saul king._] Serrarius saith these were the c... [ Continue Reading ]