1 Samuel 11:6

6 When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly took control of him,^[a] and his anger burned furiously.

1 Samuel 11:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 11:6

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 their deliverance; so the Targum,

``the spirit of fortitude from the Lord dwelt on Saul:''

and his anger was kindled greatly; against Nahash the Ammonite for insulting Israel, and threatening to use the inhabitants of Jabesh in such a cruel manner.

1 Samuel 11:6 In-Context

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul's [hometown], and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud.

5 Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. "What's the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?" Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

6 When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly took control of him, and his anger burned furiously.

7 He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the land of Israel by messengers who said, "This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn't march behind Saul and Samuel." As a result, the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.

8 Saul counted them at Bezek. There were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men from Judah.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 10:10; Jdg 14:6