INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 11 This chapter relates the distress the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead were in on account of the Ammonites, 1 Samuel 11:1 upon which they sent messengers to Saul, whose spirit was immediately stirred up to help them, 1 Samuel 11:4, and prepared for it, and came up soon en... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN NAHASH THE AMMONITE CAME UP, AND ENCAMPED AGAINST JABESHGILEAD,.... A month after, as in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, that is, a month after Saul was chosen king; so Josephus p: this prince was preparing for war against Israel before, which they hearing of, requested they might ha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NAHASH THE AMMONITE ANSWERED THEM,.... In a very haughty and scornful manner: ON THIS CONDITION WILL I MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOU, THAT I MAY THRUST OUT ALL YOUR RIGHT EYES; some Jewish writers go into a mystical and allegorical sense of these words, as that Nahash ordered the book of the law to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ELDERS OF JABESH SAID,.... The magistrates and principal men of the city: GIVE US SEVEN DAYS' RESPITE, THAT WE MAY SEND MESSENGERS TO ALL THE COASTS OF ISRAEL; that is, cease from besieging them, from throwing in darts into the city, or any other missive weapons, and from attempting to brea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE MESSENGERS TO GIBEAH OF SAUL,.... Where he was born, and brought up, and now dwelt; and he being elected king, it brought an honour to the place; and from hence had this name, to distinguish it from the others, and this is the first time it was so called. Now the messengers from Jabesh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, SAUL CAME AFTER THE HERD OUT THE FIELD,.... Where he had been to look after the and take care of them, and see what condition they were in, and followed them on their return home; for though he was elected king, he was not inaugurated, and did not take upon him any state; and being desp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON SAUL WHEN HE HEARD THOSE TIDINGS,.... And filled him with pity and compassion to the inhabitants of Jabesh, and with wisdom and prudence, and set his thoughts at work to contrive ways and means for their relief, and with fortitude, courage, and resolution, to attempt... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOOK A YOKE OF OXEN,.... Of his own or his father's, which he had just followed out of the field, and for which chiefly that circumstance is mentioned: AND HEWED THEM IN PIECES; as the Levite did his concubine, Judges 19:29 AND SENT THEM THROUGHOUT ALL THE COASTS OF ISRAEL BY THE HANDS OF M... [ Continue Reading ]
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 of a place, and render it, "with a stone"; with which he numbered, taking a stone from each, and la... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID UNTO THE MESSENGERS THAT CAME,.... From Jabeshgilead, that is, Saul and Samuel said to them, as follows: THUS SHALL YE SAY UNTO THE MEN OF JABESHGILEAD: when they returned unto them, as they were now upon the departure: TOMORROW, BY THAT TIME THE SUN BE HOT; when it smites with the g... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THE MEN OF JABESH SAID,.... To Nahash the Ammonite: TOMORROW WE WILL COME OUT UNTO YOU; meaning if they had no help, which they were well assured they should have; but this condition they expressed not, which they were not obliged to, but left him to conclude they had no hope of any, the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS SO ON THE MORROW,.... After the messengers were returned, and delivered their message, and the men of Jabeshgilead had given the Ammonites reason to expect that they would come out to them according to their agreement: THAT SAUL PUT THE PEOPLE INTO THREE COMPANIES; or "heads" a, under so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO SAMUEL,.... By which it seems that Samuel accompanied Saul in this expedition; though it is somewhat difficult to account for it, that a man of his years should be able to attend so quick a march that Saul made; it may be, therefore, that he might follow after him gently, an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL SAID,.... Preventing Samuel from giving an answer, being ready to forgive injuries; as it was in his power as a king, and him only, to pardon those persons that treated him in so ill a manner, and it was policy so to do, especially in the beginning of his reign; and it plainly appears that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID SAMUEL TO THE PEOPLE,.... Agreeing to what Saul had said, and in order to put them off from demanding the lives of the offenders, and willing to take them while they were in a good disposition: COME, AND LET US GO TO GILGAL; which was the nearest place to them, on the other side Jordan, f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE PEOPLE WENT TO GILGAL,.... Agreed to the motion, and marched along with Saul and Samuel thither: AND THERE THEY MADE SAUL KING BEFORE THE LORD IN GILGAL; that is, they declared him to be king there; he was inaugurated into, and invested with his office, otherwise it was God only that ma... [ Continue Reading ]