1 Samuel 11:2-11

2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.
5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.
7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one.
8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.
9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’ ” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated.
10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”
11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

1 Samuel 11:2-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 11

This chapter relates the distress the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead were in on account of the Ammonites, 1Sa 11:1-3 upon which they sent messengers to Saul, whose spirit was immediately stirred up to help them, 1Sa 11:4-6, and prepared for it, and came up soon enough for their relief, and slew their enemies, 1Sa 11:7-11, which gained him much honour and reputation among the people, and occasioned the renewal of the kingdom to him, 1Sa 11:12-15.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Genesis 34:15
  • 2. S Numbers 16:14
  • 3. 1 Samuel 17:26
  • 4. S 1 Samuel 8:4
  • 5. S Judges 2:16
  • 6. ver 10
  • 7. S 1 Samuel 10:5,26; 1 Samuel 15:34
  • 8. S Genesis 27:38; S Numbers 25:6; Judges 2:4; 1 Samuel 30:4
  • 9. S Judges 3:10; Judges 6:34; Judges 13:25; Judges 14:6; 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 16:13
  • 10. S 1 Samuel 6:14
  • 11. S Judges 19:29
  • 12. Judges 21:5
  • 13. S Judges 20:1
  • 14. Judges 20:2
  • 15. Judges 1:4
  • 16. ver 3
  • 17. S Judges 7:16
  • 18. S Genesis 19:38
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