1 Samuele 11:4

4 I messi vennero dunque a Ghibea di Saul, riferirono queste parole in presenza del popolo, e tutto il popolo alzò la voce, e pianse.

1 Samuele 11:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 11:4

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 came hither directly, because they knew that Saul, the chosen king, dwelt here, and 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:

and told the tidings 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:

and all 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.

1 Samuele 11:4 In-Context

2 E Nahas, l’Ammonita, rispose loro: "Io farò alleanza con voi a questa condizione: ch’io vi cavi a tutti l’occhio destro, e getti così quest’obbrobrio su tutto Israele".

3 Gli anziani di Iabes gli dissero: "Concedici sette giorni di tregua perché inviamo de’ messi per tutto il territorio d’Israele; e se non vi sarà chi ci soccorra, ci arrenderemo a te".

4 I messi vennero dunque a Ghibea di Saul, riferirono queste parole in presenza del popolo, e tutto il popolo alzò la voce, e pianse.

5 Ed ecco Saul tornava dai campi, seguendo i bovi, e disse: "Che ha egli il popolo, che piange?" E gli riferiron le parole di quei di Iabes.

6 E com’egli ebbe udite quelle parole, lo spirito di Dio investi Saul, che s’infiammò d’ira;