Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 11:8

He numbered them - This was done to see who was absent (compare Judges 21:9).

Bezek has been conjectured to be the name of a district rather than of a town. Two villages retained the name in the time of Eusebius 17 miles from Nablous, on the way to Beth-shean.

The children of Israel and the men of Judah - This looks like the language of later times, times perhaps subsequent to the establishment of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Israel here (including Benjamin) is as ten to one compared with Judah. This is about the true proportion.

Continues after advertising

See also 1 Samuel 11:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Samuel 11:8. _THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND, AND_ _THE MEN OF JUDAH THIRTY THOUSAND._] This was a vast army, but the _Septuagint_ make it even more: "All the men of Israe...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. THE KING'S FIRST VICTORY AND THE RENEWAL OF THE KINGDOM AT GILGAL CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The victory over Ammon (1 Samuel 11:1)_ 2. The kingdom renewed (1 Samuel 11:12) Nahash the Ammonite encamped aga...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 SAMUEL 11. SAUL DELIVERS JABESH-GILEAD AND IS MADE KING. (J) continues the ancient narrative, sequel to 1 Samuel 10:16. Putting aside 1 Samuel 11:12, inserted by an editor to connect this chapter wi...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    CHILDREN. sons. MEN. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _in Bezek_ Probably to be identified with _Ibzîk_, about half way between Shechem and Beth-shan, and 7 miles W. of the Jordan. It was within a day's march of Jabesh. _three hundred thousand_, &c. The...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    JABESH-GILEAD DELIVERED. 1 SAMUEL 11:4-11 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And, behold,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND WHEN HE NUMBERED THEM IN BEZEK, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND, AND THE MEN_ _ AND WHEN HE NUMBERED THEM IN BEZEK, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND, AND THE...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SAUL SUBDUES THE AMMONITES This chapter is entirely in the spirit of the narratives in Judges; from 1 Samuel 11:15, it seems to be independent of 1 Samuel 10 but 1 Samuel 11:12 points back to...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 11 SAUL RESCUES THE TOWN OF JABESH V1 Nahash was an *Ammonite. He went with his army to seize the town of Jabesh in the country of Gilead. Th...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BEZEK. — Bezek was in the tribe of Issachar, in the plain of Jezreel, an open district, well adapted for the assembling of the great host which so promptly obeyed the peremptory summons of the war-sig...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַֽ יִּפְקְדֵ֖ם בְּ בָ֑זֶק וַ יִּהְי֤וּ בְנֵֽ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XV. _ THE RELIEF OF JABESH-GILEAD._ 1 Samuel 11:1. PRIMITIVE though the state of society was in those days in Israel, we are hardly prepared to find Saul following the herd in the field afte...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE NEW KING'S GOOD BEGINNING 1 Samuel 11:1 A hundred years before, the Ammonites had been defeated by Jephthah; now they were beleaguering Jabesh-gilead. Help seemed impossible. But when the Spirit...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    It would seem as though Saul, going down as he did to his house in Gibeah, did not take up the active responsibilities of the kingship until the Ammonite invasion occurred. This would seem to have sti...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Bezec, where Adonibezec had reigned, (Judges i.; Menochius) near the place where they crossed the Jordan, a little below Scythopolis, to go to Jabes, which was about thirty miles distant. (Calmet) ---...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (8) And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (9) And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unt...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have already seen that the desire and deliberate decision of the people for a king was a direct blow at the government of God in Israel; but the time was come to permit the will of the people to ha...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    As yet all goes well with Saul; he does not take vengeance on those who oppose him. Before his faith is tried, his natural character would gain him favour with men. And now, in those things which have...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHEN HE NUMBERED THEM AT BEZEK,.... Which was the place appointed to meet at, the same with that in Judges 1:4, Judges 1:4 though some take the word to be an appellative, and not, the proper name...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 t...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The men of Judah thirty thousand_ They were numbered apart to their honour, to show how readily they, to whom the kingdom was promised, (Genesis 49:10,) submitted to their king, though of another tri...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Nahash offereth them of Iabesh Gilead a reprochfull condition. 4 They send messengers and are deliuered by Saul. 12 Saul thereby is confirmed, and his kingdome renewed. 1 THEN Nahash the Ammonite...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE SUMMONING OF THE PEOPLE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And when he, Saul, NUMBERED THEM IN BEZEK, in the Plain of Jezreel, not far from the best northern ford over the Jordan, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND, that is, the northern tribe...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The first test of Saul's prowess is made by Nahash, the Ammonite. His name means "serpent" and Ammon means "peoplish." This expression "peoplish" reminds us of humanism, which makes everything of man...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 The first fruit of Saul's government was the rescue of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites. To save their lives, men will part with liberty, and even consent to have their eyes put out; is it then...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This great terror drew so many forth; which is not so strange to him that knows what none deny, that the land of Canaan contained vast numbers of people in a little compass. THE MEN OF JUDAH are numbe...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 11:8 numbered H6485 (H8799) Bezek H966 children H1121 Israel H3478 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 m

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Saul's victories at Jabesh-gilead. Kingdom renewed at Gilgal. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Saul, Samuel, Nahash. CONCLUSION: Unless the Christian has forsaken his covenant with God, there...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 11:1. _Then Nahash._ Septuagint: “Then within about a month Nahash, &c.” 1 Samuel 11:2. _That I may thrust out all your right eyes._ This was a cruel reply to men who solicited a covenant. Jo...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And he took a yoke of oxen._ RALLYING TO THE KING’S STANDARD Everything seems to point to this as the time when a decisive blow may be struck. If we are only equal to the situation, we may do someth...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then Nahash the Ammonite came up._ THE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES OF A NATIONAL REJECTION OF GOD In the opening verses of this chapter we see the result of disobedience. Instead of happiness for Israel...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 11:1 Saul’s victory over the Ammonites confirms his kingship. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 11:8 BEZEK was probably on the opposite side of the Jordan from Jabesh. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES.— 1 Samuel 11:4. “TOLD THE TIDINGS IN THE EARS OF THE PEOPLE.” Either they were not aware of the election of Saul, as Keil supposes, or they did not approve of his appoi...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    CONFIRMATION OF SAUL IN THE KINGDOM (1Sa 11:1-15; 1 Samuel 12:1.). EXPOSITION THE DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES (1

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in the study last we came to the place where Saul was anointed king over Israel. We remember at the time of his anointing that he was hiding in the stuff. So as Samuel got ready to present, you kn...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 13:15; 1 Samuel 15:4; 2 Chronicles 17:12; 2 Samuel 24:9;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Men of Judah — Who are numbered apart to their honour, to shew how readily they, to whom the kingdom was promised, Genesis 49:10, submitted to their king, though of another tribe; and how willing they...

Continues after advertising