Nahash Threatens Jabesh-gilead
Study note
Nahash the Ammonite besieged the city of Jabesh-gilead, east of the Jordan River. The terrified men of Jabesh offered to make a treaty and serve Nahash. But Nahash cruelly demanded that he be allowed to gouge out the right eye of every man as a disgrace to all Israel. The elders asked for seven days to send for help, and Nahash arrogantly agreed, confident that no one would come.
1 Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, brought his army and surrounded the city of Jabesh-gilead. The men of Jabesh tried to negotiate, saying, "Make a peace agreement with us, and we will serve you." Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
2 But Nahash replied with a cruel condition: "I will make a deal with you, but only if I get to gouge out the right eye of every man in this city. That will be my way of humiliating all of Israel." And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
3 The elders of Jabesh said, "Give us seven days to send messengers all across Israel. If nobody comes to help us, we will surrender to you." And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
Saul Rallies Israel
Study note
Messengers brought the news to Gibeah, Saul's hometown. When Saul came in from plowing his fields and heard what was happening, the Spirit of God came upon him powerfully and he burned with anger. He cut up a pair of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel with a warning: anyone who did not come to fight would have the same done to their oxen. The fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came together as one, numbering 330,000 soldiers.
4 The messengers reached Gibeah, where Saul lived, and shared the news. The entire town broke down and wept out loud. Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
5 At that moment, Saul was coming in from the fields, walking behind his oxen. He asked, "What is wrong? Why is everyone crying?" They repeated what the men from Jabesh had said. And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6 When Saul heard the story, the Spirit of God came rushing over him, and he was filled with a blazing anger. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
8 Saul counted the troops at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand soldiers from Israel and thirty thousand from Judah. And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
Victory Over the Ammonites
Study note
Saul divided his army into three groups and attacked the Ammonites early in the morning. By the heat of the day, the Ammonites were completely defeated and scattered so thoroughly that no two of them were left together. This decisive military victory proved to the people that Saul was a capable leader.
9 They told the messengers from Jabesh-gilead, "Go home and tell your people: 'Help is on the way. By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be free.'" When the men of Jabesh got this news, they were thrilled. And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10 The men of Jabesh sent word to Nahash: "We will come out to you tomorrow. You can do whatever you want to us." Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
11 The next morning, Saul split his army into three groups. They hit the Ammonite camp at dawn and slaughtered them through the morning hours until the heat of the day. The survivors scattered so badly that no two of them came to be in the same place. And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
Saul Confirmed as King at Gilgal
Study note
After the victory, the people wanted to punish those who had earlier questioned Saul's ability to lead. But Saul showed mercy, saying no one should be put to death on a day when the Lord had given Israel such a great victory. Samuel called everyone to Gilgal, where they renewed the kingdom. Saul was officially confirmed as king before the Lord, with peace offerings and great celebration.
12 The people said to Samuel, "Remember those people who questioned whether Saul should be king? Bring them here so we can execute them!" And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
13 But Saul stepped in and said, "Nobody will be put to death today, because this is a day when the Lord rescued Israel." And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
14 Samuel spoke up, "Come on, everyone! Let us all travel to Gilgal and officially confirm Saul as our king." Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
15 So the whole nation went to Gilgal and formally made Saul their king in the Lord's presence. They offered peace offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites threw a great celebration. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.