S a¹ 1-. Aggression of Nahash.
b¹ -1. Men of Jabesh-gilead. Message to Nahash.
a² 2. Ultimatum of Nahash.
b² 3,4. Men of Jabesh-gilead. Message to Saul.
a³ 5-9. Ultimatum of Nahash.
b³ 10. Men of Jabesh-gilead. Reply to Nahash.
a4 11. Defeat of Nahash.1060 B.C.
1 Samuel 11)
1: Then Nahash (= serpent) the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead:
and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash (those who had not obeyed the summons of Judg.21:8 were extinguished, and their daughters given to remnant of Benjamin. This gave them a claim on Saul, who was a Benjamite), “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
2: 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 (as the shield covered the left eye, the right was necessary for seeing. The loss of it incapacitated men from fighting), and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.”
3: And the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite (a very short respite), that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel: and then, if there be no savior, we will come out to you.”
4: 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: And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6: And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger (= righteous indignation) was kindled greatly.
7: And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces (always used of dividing what is already dead, and mostly of sacrifices), and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of the messengers, saying, “Whosoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. (He hit them right in heir pocket-books) And the fear (= reverence) of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent (Heb. as one man).
8: And when he numbered them in Bezek (= lightning), the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (Not brought back together until Ezek. 39:16-38)
9: And they said to the messengers that came, “Thus shall you all say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, you all shall have salvation.’ ” (or deliverance) And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10: Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you all shall do with us all that seems good to you.” (There is a little covert activity going on here)
11: And it was so on the next day, that Saul put the People in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp 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. (Israel always wins WHEN they have God's blessings. They don't always have it, especially when they don't obey God's command)
12: And the People said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ bring the men, that we may put them to death.”
13: And Saul said, “There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the Lord has wrought salvation in Israel.”
Q D¹ 11:14,15. People assembled. D² 12:1-25. People addressed.
14: Then said Samuel to the People, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal (= wheel), and renew the kingdom there.”
15: And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal (re-establishing Saul as king); and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (1st victory with king)