1Sa 11:1 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.
Nahash the Ammonite - Nahash was king of the children of Ammon, as appears from 1Sa_12:12. He seems to have been connected with the family of David, since Abigail, David’s sister, was “the daughter (perhaps granddaughter) of Nahash” 2Sa_17:25; 1Ch_2:16-17; and, perhaps, in consequence of this connection, he and his family were very friendly to David 2Sa_17:27.
Nahash the Ammonite - little is known about Nahash; there was a king of this name among the Ammonites in the time of David, 2Sa_10:2, but one scholar believes this is probably not the same person. Nahash might have been a common name of the Ammonitish kings.
Jabesh-Gilead - Jabesh-Gilead a city in the land of Gilead , from whence it had its name, and lay in the half tribe of Manasseh, on the other side Jordan, see Jdg_21:8, must have been re-populated after its destruction. It lay near to the Ammonites, and was part of the country they laid claim to in the times of Jephthah, which they now renewed, and attempted to gain it by force. The Ammonites and Moabites resented the possession of Gilead by the Israelites Jdg_10:6-18; 11. The Ammonites had long claimed the right of original possession in Gilead . Though repressed by Jephthah (Jdg_11:33), they now, after ninety years, renew their pretensions; and it was the report of their threatened invasion that hastened the appointment of a king (1Sa_12:12).
Make a covenant with us - They found they were in no condition to risk a war; and they wish to have peace, and desire to know his conditions.
we will serve thee - not as slaves, but as tributaries; they were willing to pay a yearly tax to him. The occasion of this offer was, that they saw no likelihood of relief from their brethren in Canaan .
we will serve thee--They saw no prospect of aid from the western Israelites, who were not only remote, but scarcely able to repel the incursions of the Philistines from themselves.
Saul's Victory over the Ammonites - The first fruit of Saul's government was the rescue of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites. Even after the election by lot at Mizpeh, Saul did not seize upon the reins of government at once, but returned to his father's house in Gibeah, and to his former agricultural occupation; not, however, merely from personal humility and want of ambition, but rather from a correct estimate of the circumstances. The monarchy was something so new in Israel, that the king could not expect a general and voluntary recognition of his regal dignity and authority, especially after the conduct of the worthless people mentioned in 1Sa_10:27, until he had answered their expectations from a king (1Sa_8:6, 1Sa_8:20), and proved himself a deliverer of Israel from its foes by a victorious campaign. But as Jehovah had chosen him ruler over his people without any seeking on his part, he would wait for higher instructions to act, before he entered upon the government. The opportunity was soon given him.
1Sa 11:2 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.
I may thrust out all your right eves - This cruel condition would serve at once as a badge of their slavery, and a means of incapacitating them from being effective warriors. He who opposes his shield to the enemy with his left hand, thereby hides his left eye, and looks at his enemy with his right eye; he therefore who plucks out that right eye makes men useless in war according to Josephus. Nahash meant to keep the Jabeshites useful as tributaries, whence he did not wish to render them wholly blind, but only to deprive them of their right eye, which would disqualify them for war. Besides, his object was, through the people of Jabesh-gilead, to insult the Israel nation. This answer on the part of Nahash shows unmistakeably that he sought to avenge upon the people of Israel the shame of the defeat which Jephthah had inflicted upon the Ammonites.
Nahash the Ammonite answered them - In a very haughty and scornful manner:
lay it for a reproach upon all Israel - that they did not come up to the relief of their brethren, and defend them, and signifying that they must all expect the same treatment from him.
1Sa 11:3 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.
Give us seven days respite - Such promises are frequently made by besieged places: “We will surrender if not relieved in so many days;” and such conditions are generally received by the besiegers.
Give us seven days respite - it seems that this was granted by Nahash out of a bravado, and to reproach and insult all Israel, and bid them defiance; with whom he sought to quarrel, having a design upon their land, and knowing very well their condition, being awed by the Philistines; and having just chosen a king, and he an inexperienced man in the affairs of war, and had no army; nor was it likely that one could be assembled in so short a time, and come to the relief of this people, and therefore he thought himself safe enough in granting their request.
Give us seven days respite - that is, cease from besieging them, from throwing in darts into the city, or any other missive weapons, and from attempting to break open the gates, or break down the walls of it, and storm it; such a space of time they desire, which was as little as could be granted, to go and return in, and without this it would not be a reproach to all Israel, if they were ill used by them, since they had no knowledge of their case, nor time to come up for their assistance:
the elders of Jabesh - The magistrates and principal men of the city:
send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel--a curious proof of the general dissatisfaction that prevailed as to the appointment of Saul. Those Gileadites deemed him capable neither of advising nor succoring them; and even in his own town the appeal was made to the people--not to the prince.
1Sa 11:4 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.
They came to Gibeah - on account of the connection between the Benjamites and the people of Jabesh Judg. 21. The Benjaminites, of all the tribes, had great reason to show regard to them, since it was from thence they had four hundred wives, when they were reduced to six hundred men only, in order to raise up their tribe:
In the ears of the people - They did not even inquire for Saul, so little was he looked upon as king. 1Sa_11:5 shows how completely he was still in a private and humble station.
In the ears of the people - Saul being not at home in the city, but in the fields, they reported to them the hardships their city was under, being besieged by the Ammonites, and threatened that if not relieved in such a time, all their right eyes would be plucked out:
The people lifted up their voices and wept - moved with sympathy to their brethren, and who by their intermarriage with them were nearly related to them; and who might fear they would not stop there, but having taken that place would march forward, and come to them, and use them in like manner; the thought of which was very distressing to them. They saw no hope of deliverance, and they expected that their reproach would be laid on all Israel .
1Sa 11:5 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.
Saul came after the herd - He had been bred up to an agricultural life, and after his consecration he returned to it, waiting for a call of Divine providence, which he considered he had now received in the message from Jabesh-gilead.
Saul said, what aileth the people - he supposed some evil had befallen them, and desired to know what it was, that, if it lay in his power to help them, he might:
1Sa 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
the Spirit of God came upon him - as upon the Judges before him. 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 their deliverance
1Sa 11:7 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 one consent.
hewed them in pieces - Though not expressly stated, it is doubtless implied that he sent the portions by the messengers to the twelve tribes, after the analogy, and probably in imitation, of Jdg_19:29 And he came into his house, he took a knife and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, with her bones, into twelve pieces and sent her into all the borders of Israel. He made use of the revered name of Samuel to strengthen his own weak authority. Samuel accompanied Saul in the expedition 1Sa_11:12.
He took a yoke of open - Of his own or his father's, which he had just followed out of the field.
whosoever cometh not after Saul and after Samuel - he names both, because he himself, though chosen king, was not inaugurated into his office, nor was Samuel put out of his; and because he knew he was despised by some, who would not object to and refuse the authority of Samuel, and therefore if they would not follow him, they would follow Samuel; and he mentions himself first, because of his superior dignity:
whosoever cometh not after Saul and after Samuel - The introduction of Samuel's name after that of Saul, is a proof that Saul even as king still recognised the authority which Samuel possessed in Israel as the prophet of Jehovah.
so shall it be done unto his oxen - be cut to pieces as these were; he does not threaten to cut them in pieces, but their oxen, lest he should seem to exercise too much severity at his first coming to the throne:
the fear of the Lord fell on the people - they feared, should they be disobedient, the Lord would cut them to pieces, or in some way destroy them, as well as Saul would cut their oxen to pieces; for their minds were impressed with a sense of this affair being of the Lord:
1Sa 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
He numbered them - This was done to see who was absent.
Bezek - Which was the place appointed to meet at, the same with that in Jdg_1:4 And Judah went up. And the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand. And they killed ten thousand men of them in Bezek.
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.
the men of Judah thirty thousand - which tribe is mentioned distinctly, because a noble and warlike tribe, which usually first went up to battle; and though the number of them at this time assembled may seem comparatively small, yet this may easily be accounted for; because they bordered upon the Philistines, who watched every opportunity to take an advantage of them, and therefore could not leave their tribe destitute, but reserved a sufficient number to guard their coasts
the men of Judah thirty thousand - In the distinction drawn between the children of Judah and the children of Israel we may already discern a trace of that separation of Judah from the rest of the tribes, which eventually led to a formal secession on the part of the latter.
1Sa 11:9 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.
Sent messengers - The distance from Bezek to Jabesh-Gilead would perhaps be about twenty miles.
tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot - when it smites with the greatest heat, as at noon: this morrow seems not to be the next from their return home, or going from Saul, but the morrow after they were got home, and should deliver the message to those that sent them, 1Sa_11:10 and so Josephus says, it was on the third day the assistance was promised them:
1Sa 11:10 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.
Tomorrow we will come out unto you - - Probably the last of the “seven days’ respite” 1Sa_11:3. Their words were spoken in guile, to throw the Ammonites off their guard. They concealed the information they had received of Saul’s promised assistance. They did come out unto them; but it was in a different manner to what the Ammonites expected.
1Sa 11:11 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.
Put the people in three companies - The march from Bezek may have begun the night before. This disposition of the forces “in three companies” (imitating Gideon’s strategy) would not have been made until the morning when they were very near the Ammonitish forces. Intending to attack the Ammonites in three different points, and to give his own men more room to act.
In the morning watch - the morning watch was the last of the three watches, of four hours each, into which the night was anciently divided by the Hebrews. The time thus indicated would be between two and six in the morning.
slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day - that is, till noon , so that from the morning watch till noon he was making slaughter of them:
1Sa 11:12 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.
Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign - Now, flushed with victory and proud of their leader, they wished to give him a proof of their attachment by slaying, even in cool blood, the persons who were at first averse from his being intrusted with the supreme power! The common soldier is scarcely ever inspired by his victory to acts of magnanimity; he has shed blood - he wishes to shed more!
Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign - The enthusiastic admiration of the people, under the impulse of grateful and generous feelings, would have dealt summary vengeance on the minority who opposed Saul, had not he, either from principle or policy, shown himself as great in clemency as in valor. The calm and sagacious counsel of Samuel directed the popular feelings into a right channel, by appointing a general assembly of the militia, the really effective force of the nation, at Gilgal, where, amid great pomp and religious solemnities, the victorious leader was confirmed in his kingdom [1Sa_11:15].
the people said unto Samuel - By which it seems that Samuel accompanied Saul in this expedition.
1Sa 11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
There shall not a man be put to death - This was as much to Saul’s credit as the lately proposed measure was to the discredit of his soldiers.
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 this temper did not always continue with him.
today the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel - he does not ascribe the victory to the quick dispatch he made, to his wisdom and prudence in forming the scheme he did, and to his valor and courage, and that of his troops, but to the power and goodness of God.
1Sa 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
Let us go to Gilgal - to Gilgal by Jericho , the nearest place to them, on the other side Jordan, where was a famous sanctuary, in the tribe of Benjamin. This is where the children of Israel first encamped when they passed over Jordan , where the tabernacle and ark first were, and an altar was built, and where meetings used to be held on certain occasions; all which might be reasons why Samuel proposed to go to this place.
Renew the kingdom - that is, recognize Saul, own and declare him king of Israel .
1Sa 11:15 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.
Made Saul king - The Septuagint has another reading, “and Samuel anointed Saul king there.” 1 Sam 11:15 And all the people went to Galgala, and Samuel anointed Saul there to be king before the Lord in Galgala, and there he offered meat-offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord: and Samuel and all Israel rejoiced exceedingly. (Septuagint) The example of David, who, besides his original anointing by Samuel 1Sa_16:12-13, was twice anointed, first as king of Judah 2Sa_2:4, and again as king over all Israel 2Sa_5:3, makes it probable that Saul was anointed a second time; but this may be included in the word “made king” (1Sa_12:3, 1Sa_12:5). He was now publicly acknowledged, and there was no gainsayer. Thus far Saul acted well, and the kingdom seemed to be confirmed in his hand; but soon through imprudence he lost it.
before the Lord - this place this being a sanctified place, where the tabernacle and ark of God had been; it is possible that the ark was brought hither; but it was enough that the people and congregation of the Lord were here, and who, when assembled in his name, His presence was with them: an altar was built, and on which they offered these peace offerings by way of thanksgiving, partly for the victory obtained over the Ammonites, and partly for the renewal of the kingdom to Saul, and their unanimity in it, as well as to implore and obtain future peace and prosperity:
