_NAHASH, KING OF THE AMMONITES, BESIEGES THE CITY OF JABESH-GILEAD, WHICH CALLS FOR AID FROM THE ISRAELITES: SAUL COLLECTS AN ARMY, AND CONQUERS THE AMMONITES: THE PEOPLE BEING GATHERED TOGETHER AT GILGAL, SAMUEL RENEWS THE KINGDOM OF SAUL THERE._ _Before Christ 1067._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN NAHASH THE AMMONITE— Saul had not long to wait for an occasion to shew himself worthy of the kingdom of Israel. Nahash, a king or general of the Ammonites, came against Israel. This was one of the pretences which the Israelites made use of for a change of government, ch. 1 Samuel 12:12.; and it... [ Continue Reading ]
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._... [ Continue Reading ]
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, 1 Samuel 11:13 deserves as much praise, as their precipitate thirst for revenge des... [ Continue Reading ]
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, tend... [ Continue Reading ]