1 Samuel 11:6

6 Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and {he became very angry}.

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 of Saul, {they reported these things to} the people. Then all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5 {Just then}, Saul was coming from the field behind the cattle. Saul said, "What [is the matter] with the people, that they [are] weeping?" So they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and {he became very angry}.

7 So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent [them] throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, "Whoever [is] not going out after Saul and after Samuel, so will it be done to his oxen." Then the fear of Yahweh fell on the people and they went out as one man.

8 He mustered them at Bezek; the {Israelites} [were] three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah [were] thirty thousand.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "his nose became very hot"