1 Samuel 11:6

6 When Saul heard this, the spirit of God took control of him, and he became furious.

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 The messengers arrived at Gibeah, where Saul lived, and when they told the news, the people started crying in despair.

5 Saul was just then coming in from the field with his oxen, and he asked, "What's wrong? Why is everyone crying?" They told him what the messengers from Jabesh had reported.

6 When Saul heard this, the spirit of God took control of him, and he became furious.

7 He took two oxen, cut them in pieces, and had messengers carry the pieces throughout the land of Israel with this warning: "Whoever does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle will have this done to his oxen!" The people of Israel were afraid of what the Lord might do, and all of them, without exception, came out together.

8 Saul gathered them at Bezek: there were 300,000 from Israel and 30,000 from Judah.