http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell SAUL RESCUES THE CITY OF JABESH SAUL CONFIRMED AS KING 1 SAMUEL 11:1-15
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: 1 Samuel 11:1-15, Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh Saul Confirmed as King by Ron Thomas 1. Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you." 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 the people? 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 upon him in power, 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 turned out as one man.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 8. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men 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 delivered.' " 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 seems good to you." 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. 12. The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring these men to us and we will put them to death." 13. But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel." 14. Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship." 15. So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. (NIV) Commentary: 1 Samuel 11:1-11, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you." 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." The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you." When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, "What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?" Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. 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 turned out as one man. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel num-bered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 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 delivered.' " When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you." 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. (NIV) Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh I. The threat from the Ammonites (1-11). A. The arrogant and over confident Ammonites (11:1-3). 1. 1 Samuel 11:1-3, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 will be subject to you." 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." 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." (NIV) 2. Jabesh-Gilead was on the east side of the Jordan (otherwise known as the Transjordan), thus they were vulnerable to attack because the river would have been a natural barrier. a. According to Josephus and a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS), Nahash was one wicked man. b. It was customary that he would gouge out the right eye of all captured Israelite soldiers. c. As he had gone through the Transjordan area he had done this. d. Finally, a large number escaped and came to Jabesh-Gilead, the last stronghold of Israel on the east of the Jordan. 3. When Nahash besieged the town of Jabesh-Gilead its inhabitants sued for peace. a. Nahash agreed on one condition, their right eyes would be gouged out. 4. The intent was twofold; first, to bring reproach on Israel, and second, to impair Israel s ability to fight.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 a. Those of Jabesh-Gilead knew they were in for a hard way. 5. Their options were few. a. They could come out and fight, they could surrender, they could receive help from abroad, and/or they could receive help from above. b. They chose the third and fourth options and Nahash, in his arrogance, accepted the terms of these options. B. Jabesh-Gilead calls out for help (11:4-8). 1. 1 Samuel 11:4-8, When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, "What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?" Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. 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 turned out as one man. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 2. The news of the tragic situation came to Saul, and the spirit of the Lord came upon him. 3. To get the attention of all those of Israel, he dismembered a yoke of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel. a. This brings to mind the tragic occasion in Judges 19:29-30. i. Judges 19:29, 30, When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. Everyone who saw it said, "Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!" NIV) b. In an interesting twist, in Judges, the people of Jabesh-Gilead did not come out to help Israel against Benjamin (Judges 21:8). i. Judges 21:8, Then they asked, "Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah?" They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the camp for the assembly. (NIV) ii. Perhaps they thought their earlier gesture would be reciprocated, and they would be on their own.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 c. Jabesh-Gilead suffered on that occasion, and if the thought ever occurred in the mind of the old time patriots, Saul removed it quickly with his action of oxen dismemberment! 4. The Israelites reacted strongly to this and a force of about three hundred thirty thousand (330,000) men came together. a. This is not a standing army ready to be deployed, but a militia army coming together to defend Israel s honor. C. The Ammonites defeated (11:9-11). 1. 1 Samuel 11:9-11, 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 delivered.' " When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you." 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. (NIV) 2. Saul gave words of assurance to Jabesh-Gilead. 3. The elders report to Nahash that on the next day they will come out.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 a. As Keil and Delitzsch said, an untruth by which they hoped to assure the besiegers, so that they might be fallen upon unexpectedly by the advancing army of Saul, and thoroughly beaten (E-Sword). 4. With three companies of one hundred ten thousand (110,000) (presumably) men each, Saul brought victory to Israel, defeat to Nahash, and vindication to himself that he is the right man for the position of newly appointed king. Saul Confirmed as King 1 Samuel 11:12-15, The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring these men to us and we will put them to death." But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel." Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship." So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. (NIV) I. The kingdom is renewed in Gilgal (11:12-15). A. Because Saul was able to bring this delivery to the people of Jabesh-Gilead, those who opposed Saul earlier were now in jeopardy of being punished, even killed (11:12). 1. 1 Samuel 11:12, The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring these men to us and we will put them to death." (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 2. Why would there be such a desire to kill those who opposed the newly appointed king? 3. It may have been because others would have perceived them as continual threats to the throne. B. Saul, in one of his grander moments as king, attributed victory to where it rightly belonged (to the Lord) and asserted that no one would die who was in opposition to him because the Lord had granted such a momentous victory (11:13). 1. 1 Samuel 11:13, But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel." (NIV) C. Samuel then called all Israel to Gilgal to renew the kingdom (11:14-15). 1. 1 Samuel 11:14, 15, Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship." So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. (NIV) 2. The significance of this event, in contrast to what is said in 1 Samuel 10:17-27, may have been the public nature of a ceremonial recognition. a. 1 Samuel 10:17-27, Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORD at Mizpah and said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.' But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, 'No, set a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans." When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri's clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage." They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." Then the people shouted, "Long live the king!" Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the LORD. Then Samuel dismissed the people, each to his own home. Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. But some troublemakers said, "How can this fellow save us?" They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 12 Questions 1 Samuel 11:1-15 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. the went up and. And all the of said to him, Make a with us, and we will be to you. 2. But the replied, I will make a with you only on the that I out the of of you and so bring on all. 3. The of said to him, Give us so we can send throughout ; if no one come to us, we will to you. 4. Why would Nahash agree to such a request? 5. When the came to of and these
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 13 to the, they. Just then was from the, behind his, and he asked, What is with the? Why are they? Then they to him what the of had said. 6. When heard their words, the of came upon him in, and he with. He took a of, them into, and the by throughout, proclaiming, This is what will be done to the of who does not follow and. Then the of the on the, and they turned out as. When them at, the of numbered and the of. 7. Why did the men of Israel and Judah respond so completely to Saul s call to arms?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 14 8. Locate Jabesh-Gilead, Gibeah and Bezek. 9. They told the who had come, Say to the men of, By the time the is, you will be! When the went and this to the of, they were. They said to the, we will to you, and you can do to us whatever seems to you. 10. Were the men of Jabesh-Gilead honest with the Ammonites in verse 10. If not, was their dishonesty justified? What were they seeking to achieve? 11. The his men into ; during the of the they into the of the and them until the of the. Those who were, so that no of them were left together.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 15 12. The people then said to, Who was it that asked, Shall over us? Bring these men to us and we will put them to. 13. Why did some want to kill those who had not previously supported Saul s kingship? How would it be to live where citizens have to support the political winner or be subject to execution? 14. What was Saul s response to this proposal? Why did he respond in this manner? Was this a politically astute move or one that would return to trouble his reign? 15. Then said to the., let us go to and there the. So all the went to and as in the of the. There they before the, and and all held a.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 16 16. What were the purposes of this reaffirmation of Saul s kingship? 17. How would you describe Nahash s character and behavior? 18. When besieged by the Ammonites, what options were available to those of Jabesh-Gilead? 19. Why did Saul dismember the yoke of oxen and send the pieces throughout Israel and Judah? 20. List the lessons you have learned from this study of 1 Samuel 11?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 17