1 Samuel 11:11

11 And it was done, when the morrowtide came, Saul ordained the people into three parts; and he entered into the middle (of the) tents (of Ammon) in the waking of the morrowtide, and he smote Ammon till the day was hot; forsooth the residues were scattered, so that twain together were not left in them. (And it was done, when the morning came, Saul divided the people into three parts, or groups; and they entered into the midst of the tents of the Ammonites during the morning watch, and they struck down the Ammonites until the day was hot; and the rest of them scattered, so that two of them were not left together.)

1 Samuel 11:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 11:11

And it was so on the morrow
After the messengers were returned, and delivered their message, and the men of Jabeshgilead had given the Ammonites reason to expect that they would come out to them according to their agreement:

that Saul put the people into three companies;
or "heads" ^F1, under so many commanders, assigning to each their number, if equally, 110,000 in each, as Gideon divided his three hundred into three companies, one hundred in each, ( Judges 7:16 ) and Abimelech, ( Judges 9:43 ) it seems to have been their way of fighting in those days:

and they came unto the midst of the host:
that is, of the Ammonites:

in the morning watch;
the third and last watch of the night, by break of day, or before, however before the sun was up; so quick was Saul and his men in their march, though on foot. Bunting ^F2 computes the distance from Gibeah to Bezek forty miles, and from thence to Jabesh sixteen; it is commonly reckoned that it was about sixty miles from Gibeah to Jabesh. Josephus ^F3 says it was ten "schaeni", each of which contained five or six miles:

and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day;
that is, till noon, so that from the morning watch till noon he was making slaughter of them:

and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered;
those that were not cut off by the sword of Saul were broken and dispersed, they could not stand their ground against him:

so that two of them were not left together; to flee together,
but every one shifted for himself, and fled alone.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Myvar) "capita", Pagninus, Montanus
F2 Travels of the Patriarchs p. 126.
F3 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 5. sect. 3.)

1 Samuel 11:11 In-Context

9 And they said to the messengers that came, Thus ye shall say to the men that be in Jabesh of Gilead, Tomorrow shall be health to you, when the sun is hot (Tomorrow, help shall come to you, when the sun is hot). Then the messengers came, and told to the men of Jabesh; the which were glad,

10 and said to Ammon, Early we shall go out to you, and ye shall do to us all that pleaseth to you. (and they said to the Ammonites, Early in the morning, we shall come out to you, and then ye can do to us all that pleaseth you.)

11 And it was done, when the morrowtide came, Saul ordained the people into three parts; and he entered into the middle (of the) tents (of Ammon) in the waking of the morrowtide, and he smote Ammon till the day was hot; forsooth the residues were scattered, so that twain together were not left in them. (And it was done, when the morning came, Saul divided the people into three parts, or groups; and they entered into the midst of the tents of the Ammonites during the morning watch, and they struck down the Ammonites until the day was hot; and the rest of them scattered, so that two of them were not left together.)

12 And the people said to Samuel, Who is this, that said, Saul shall not reign upon us? Give ye (up) the men, and we shall slay them.

13 And Saul said, No man shall be slain in this day, for today the Lord hath made health in Israel. (And Saul said, No one shall be killed on this day, for today the Lord hath given victory to Israel.)