I Samuel 11 Commentary: Saul's First Victory and Confirmation as King
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh–gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
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.
And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh–gilead, 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.
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.
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.
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.
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
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.
Context: A Kingdom Established, A Crisis Emerges
The events of I Samuel 11 unfold shortly after Israel's demand for a king (I Samuel 8:19–22) and Saul's subsequent anointing (I Samuel 9:15–16). The narrative reveals a nation grappling with its newfound monarchy, immediately facing external threats that test the king's leadership and the people's unity. The constant threat of the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 23:3–6), long-standing enemies of Israel, sets the stage for Saul's first major challenge. His success in this chapter solidifies his position, yet foreshadows the complexities and eventual downfall that will characterize his reign, ultimately paving the way for David (I Samuel 16:13).
Nahash's Cruel Ultimatum (I Samuel 11:1-3)
The chapter opens with Nahash, king of the Ammonites, laying siege to Jabesh-gilead, a city located east of the Jordan River in the region of Transjordan, near Ammonite territory (Genesis 19:38). Jabesh-gilead held a particular connection to Saul's tribe of Benjamin (I Samuel 9:1–2). The elders of Jabesh, realizing their vulnerability, sought terms for surrender, hoping to avoid complete destruction. Nahash, however, seized the opportunity not merely for conquest, but for humiliation. He demanded the gouging out of the right eye of every man in Jabesh-gilead, a crippling and demeaning act designed to shame Israel. This condition was so severe that the townspeople were ill-prepared to defend themselves.
The elders requested a week's time to consider the terms, sending messengers throughout Israel to seek help (I Samuel 11:3). Nahash, confident that no rescue would arrive, granted their request. This delay, seemingly a reprieve, became the catalyst for Saul's rise to power.
The Spirit Empowers Saul (I Samuel 11:4-6)
News of the siege and Nahash's brutal terms reached Gibeah, Saul's hometown, plunging the people into mourning (I Samuel 11:4). Saul, who had seemingly returned to his former life of plowing, was deeply moved by the distress of his people. The Spirit of God rushed upon him, filling him with righteous anger (I Samuel 11:6). This divine empowerment marked a turning point, transforming Saul from a humble farmer into a leader ready to defend his nation.
Rallying Israel (I Samuel 11:7-11)
Saul took decisive and dramatic action to mobilize the Israelite forces. He cut up a yoke of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel, accompanied by a chilling message: "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen" (I Samuel 11:7). This unconventional call to arms, invoking both Saul's authority and divine sanction, proved remarkably effective. The people responded with unprecedented unity, assembling a large army at Bezek, not far from Jabesh-gilead.
Saul's swift and decisive action instilled hope in the besieged city. Messengers were sent back to Jabesh-gilead, promising deliverance by the following day (I Samuel 11:9). Heartened by the news, the elders of Jabesh informed Nahash that they would surrender the next day, lulling the Ammonites into a false sense of security.
Under the cover of darkness, Saul divided his forces into three companies and launched a surprise attack on the Ammonite camp before dawn (I Samuel 11:11). The attack was devastatingly successful, scattering the Ammonites and securing a complete victory for Israel. The completeness of the victory was so thorough that the few survivors were completely scattered—no two of them were left together.
Saul's Kingship Affirmed (I Samuel 11:12-15)
The victory at Jabesh-gilead solidified Saul's position as king in the eyes of the people (see 8:20). Overjoyed and emboldened, the people demanded that those who had previously opposed Saul's kingship (I Samuel 10:27) be put to death (I Samuel 11:12). However, Saul, in a display of wisdom and mercy, rejected this call for vengeance, recognizing that the victory was the Lord's doing (I Samuel 11:13). This act of grace set a high standard for leadership, but unfortunately, this was the spiritual high point of Saul’s reign. Things would roll downhill.
Samuel then called for the nation to gather at Gilgal, a historically significant site where the Israelites had first camped after entering the Promised Land under Joshua (Joshua 5:10-12). The purpose of this gathering was twofold: to reaffirm Saul's kingship and to renew the people's commitment to him (I Samuel 11:14-15). Sacrifices of peace offerings were made, and Saul and the people celebrated together, marking a moment of national unity and renewed faith. Saul was confirmed in the LORD’s presence, and Israel rejoiced greatly.
A Moment of Grace, A Shadow of Things to Come
While the events at Gilgal might suggest a complete resolution of the earlier tensions surrounding Saul's selection, it's important to remember that God's blessing on Saul was an act of grace that did not erase Israel's sin in demanding a king. Samuel would later remind the people of this in his final address (I Samuel 12), urging them to remain faithful to the Lord even under their chosen king. The victory over Nahash, while significant, was just the beginning of Saul's reign, a reign that would be marked by both successes and failures, ultimately revealing the complexities of leadership and the enduring need for obedience to God's will.
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh–gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
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.
And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh–gilead, 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.
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.
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.
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.
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
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.
Context: A Kingdom Established, A Crisis Emerges
The events of I Samuel 11 unfold shortly after Israel's demand for a king (I Samuel 8:19–22) and Saul's subsequent anointing (I Samuel 9:15–16). The narrative reveals a nation grappling with its newfound monarchy, immediately facing external threats that test the king's leadership and the people's unity. The constant threat of the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 23:3–6), long-standing enemies of Israel, sets the stage for Saul's first major challenge. His success in this chapter solidifies his position, yet foreshadows the complexities and eventual downfall that will characterize his reign, ultimately paving the way for David (I Samuel 16:13).
Nahash's Cruel Ultimatum (I Samuel 11:1-3)
The chapter opens with Nahash, king of the Ammonites, laying siege to Jabesh-gilead, a city located east of the Jordan River in the region of Transjordan, near Ammonite territory (Genesis 19:38). Jabesh-gilead held a particular connection to Saul's tribe of Benjamin (I Samuel 9:1–2). The elders of Jabesh, realizing their vulnerability, sought terms for surrender, hoping to avoid complete destruction. Nahash, however, seized the opportunity not merely for conquest, but for humiliation. He demanded the gouging out of the right eye of every man in Jabesh-gilead, a crippling and demeaning act designed to shame Israel. This condition was so severe that the townspeople were ill-prepared to defend themselves.
The elders requested a week's time to consider the terms, sending messengers throughout Israel to seek help (I Samuel 11:3). Nahash, confident that no rescue would arrive, granted their request. This delay, seemingly a reprieve, became the catalyst for Saul's rise to power.
The Spirit Empowers Saul (I Samuel 11:4-6)
News of the siege and Nahash's brutal terms reached Gibeah, Saul's hometown, plunging the people into mourning (I Samuel 11:4). Saul, who had seemingly returned to his former life of plowing, was deeply moved by the distress of his people. The Spirit of God rushed upon him, filling him with righteous anger (I Samuel 11:6). This divine empowerment marked a turning point, transforming Saul from a humble farmer into a leader ready to defend his nation.
Rallying Israel (I Samuel 11:7-11)
Saul took decisive and dramatic action to mobilize the Israelite forces. He cut up a yoke of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel, accompanied by a chilling message: "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen" (I Samuel 11:7). This unconventional call to arms, invoking both Saul's authority and divine sanction, proved remarkably effective. The people responded with unprecedented unity, assembling a large army at Bezek, not far from Jabesh-gilead.
Saul's swift and decisive action instilled hope in the besieged city. Messengers were sent back to Jabesh-gilead, promising deliverance by the following day (I Samuel 11:9). Heartened by the news, the elders of Jabesh informed Nahash that they would surrender the next day, lulling the Ammonites into a false sense of security.
Under the cover of darkness, Saul divided his forces into three companies and launched a surprise attack on the Ammonite camp before dawn (I Samuel 11:11). The attack was devastatingly successful, scattering the Ammonites and securing a complete victory for Israel. The completeness of the victory was so thorough that the few survivors were completely scattered—no two of them were left together.
Saul's Kingship Affirmed (I Samuel 11:12-15)
The victory at Jabesh-gilead solidified Saul's position as king in the eyes of the people (see 8:20). Overjoyed and emboldened, the people demanded that those who had previously opposed Saul's kingship (I Samuel 10:27) be put to death (I Samuel 11:12). However, Saul, in a display of wisdom and mercy, rejected this call for vengeance, recognizing that the victory was the Lord's doing (I Samuel 11:13). This act of grace set a high standard for leadership, but unfortunately, this was the spiritual high point of Saul’s reign. Things would roll downhill.
Samuel then called for the nation to gather at Gilgal, a historically significant site where the Israelites had first camped after entering the Promised Land under Joshua (Joshua 5:10-12). The purpose of this gathering was twofold: to reaffirm Saul's kingship and to renew the people's commitment to him (I Samuel 11:14-15). Sacrifices of peace offerings were made, and Saul and the people celebrated together, marking a moment of national unity and renewed faith. Saul was confirmed in the LORD’s presence, and Israel rejoiced greatly.
A Moment of Grace, A Shadow of Things to Come
While the events at Gilgal might suggest a complete resolution of the earlier tensions surrounding Saul's selection, it's important to remember that God's blessing on Saul was an act of grace that did not erase Israel's sin in demanding a king. Samuel would later remind the people of this in his final address (I Samuel 12), urging them to remain faithful to the Lord even under their chosen king. The victory over Nahash, while significant, was just the beginning of Saul's reign, a reign that would be marked by both successes and failures, ultimately revealing the complexities of leadership and the enduring need for obedience to God's will.