1Nahash the Ammonite making war against Jabesh-gilead proposeth very reproachful terms to the inhabitants, who petition for a respite of seven days. 4They send to Saul, who bringeth them succours, and smiteth the Ammonites. 12The people call for the death of those who had vilified Saul, to which Saul will by no means consent. 14His kingdom is joyfully renewed to him at Gilgal.
1THEN Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against 1Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
1 See Judges 21:8.
2And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, 2On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a 3reproach upon all Israel.
2 Hebr. Therein.
3 Other, shame.
3And 4the elders of Jabesh said unto him, 5Give 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 6will come out to thee.
4 That is, the governors of the city of Jabesh.
5 Or, let us be at peace seven days.
6 Namely, to deliver up ourselves into your hands.
4¶Then came the messengers to 7Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
7 This city was first called Gibeah of Benjamin, because it was situated in the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin. It was then first called Gibeah of Saul, after that Saul (who was born there) was made king of Israel.
5And, behold, 8Saul 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.
8 For when he was in private anointed king over Israel by Samuel, and accepted by the greatest part of the people, he did not as yet begin to execute that office in public, and therefore he did not conduct a royal state, but lived a private and common life, until he was publicly installed by all the people.
69And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and 10his anger was kindled greatly.
9 That is, God immediately by the power of His Spirit gave unto Saul the gifts of strength and courage to oppose the Ammonites.
10 Namely, against Nahash, because he had propounded such reproachful terms of peace to the inhabitants of Jabesh.
7And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and 11sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of 12messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after 13Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And 14the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they camea out with one consent.
11 Namely, the pieces of the oxen, so that the Israelites, seeing them, might remember what damage would befall them, if they refused to follow Saul in this expedition.
12 Either of the messengers of the Jabeshites, or of others, whom he had chosen for the purpose.
13 Samuel is here adjoined, because he as judge and prophet went along with Saul to raise this siege, as appears verse 12; especially because Saul was not as yet publicly invested into the kingdom.
14 That is, a fear, which the Lord sent upon them.
a Judges 20:1.
8And when he 15numbered them 16in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
15 Or, mustered them.
16 That is, in the border near or about the city of Bezek, whereof mention is made Judges 1:5.
9And 17they 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.
17 Namely, Samuel and Saul.
10Therefore the men of Jabesh 18said, 19To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
18 Namely, unto the Ammonites, who besieged them.
19 Meaning, if no relief come. See verse 3. They conceal the relief that was promised them, that the enemy would not be upon its guard, but might be surprised and set upon unawares.
11And it was so on 20the morrow, that Saul put the people in three 21companies; and they came into the midst 22of the host in 23the 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.
20 It seems that this was the next day after that the messengers of Jabesh were returned to the city, and it was the eighth day after the promise of surrendering the city, in case they were not relieved within seven days.
21 Hebr. heads. Also Judges 7:16, 20.
22 Namely, of the Ammonites.
23 Namely, when they were wont to draw away the guard.
12¶And the people said unto Samuel, Whobis he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
b 1 Sam. 10:27.
13And Saul said, 24There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
24 See the like example 2 Sam. 19:22.
14Then 25said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew 26the kingdom there.
25 Namely, in the camp by Jabesh, after they had smitten the Ammonites, and so relieved Jabesh.
26 That is, invest Saul there in the kingdom. There were certain men that would accept of Saul for their king, 1 Sam. 10:27. Samuel doubted not whether now the malevolent persons would not accept him, seeing they had seen his courage in the battle, and that others would have put them to death, but that Saul hindered it.
15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king 27before 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.
27 See 1 Sam. 10:17; 14:18.