1 Samuel 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 11
NJB (MT versing) Saul Defeats the Ammonites Saul Saves Jabesh Gilead Saul Proves Himself Able to Lead in Battle and Is Publicly Made King Saul Defeats the Ammonites Victory Over the Ammonites 11:1-4 11:1-3 11:1-4 11:1 11:1-4 11:2 11:3 11:4-11 11:4-7b 11:5-11 11:5-11 11:5-10 11:7c-10 11:11 11:11 Saul Is Proclaimed King 11:12-13 11:12-15 11:12-13 11:12 11:12-14 11:13-15 11:14-15 11:14-15 11:15 Etc.
1 Samuel 11:1-4
11:1 "Nahash" Nahash (BDB 638 II, "serpent") was the contemporary Ammonite king (i.e., 1 Sam. 12:12) in Saul's day. Jabesh-gilead was an important Israelite city north of Ammon on the eastern side of the Jordan. ▣ "Ammonite" This was a tribe on the eastern side of Jordan and north of the Dead Sea, from Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughters (Gen. 19:36-38). They were one of the nations that opposed the Israelites in their march to Canaan (cf. Num. 21:24-35; Deut. 2:16-37). ▣ "Jabesh-gilead" Jabesh-Gilead was ready to surrender until the Ammonites demanded physical mutilation as a way to humiliate all of the Israeli tribes. Josephus, (Anitq. 6.5.1) and the Dead Sea Scrolls MSS give a brief historical introduction about the mutilation. "After one month, the war which Saul had with Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, obtained him respect from all the people; for this Nahash had done a great deal of mischief to the Jews that lived beyond Jordan by the expedition he had made against them with a great and warlike army. He also reduced their cities into slavery, and that not only by subduing them for the present, which he did by force and violence, but by weakening them by subtlety and cunning, that they might not be able afterward to get clear of the slavery they were under to him: for he put out the right eyes of those that either delivered themselves to him upon terms, or were taken by him in war; and this he did, that when their left eyes were covered by their shields, they might be wholly useless in war. Now when the king of the Ammonites had served those beyond Jordan in this manner, he led his army against those that were called Gileadites; and having pitched his camp at the metropolis of his enemies, which was the city of Jabesh, he sent ambassadors to them, commanding them either to deliver themselves up, on condition to have their right eyes plucked out, or to undergo a siege, and to have their cities overthrown. He gave them their choice, Whether they would cut off a small member of their body, or universally perish. However, the Gileadites were so affrighted at these offers, that they had not courage to say anything to either of them, neither that they would deliver themselves up, nor that they would fight him; but they desired that he would give them seven days' respite that they might send ambassadors to their countrymen, and entreat their assistance; and if they came to assist them they would fight; but if that assistance were impossible to be obtained from them, they said they would deliver themselves up to suffer whatever he pleased to inflict upon them." NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 467, notes that the right eye was used for aiming weapons. 11:3 "elders" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS.
1 Samuel 11:5-11
11:5 Saul was king but obviously this title had not yet affected his daily agricultural activities. There was no sense of a national unity at this point. Notice they began to unite in v. 8, "as one man." 11:6 See note at 1 Sam. 10:10. ▣ "he became very angry" Notice the coming of the Spirit invoked a nationalist fervor. Saul is functioning as a "Judge" (i.e., military deliverer). 11:7 Saul summons an army by means of national pride threats religious loyalty ▣ "cut them in pieces" Josephus (Antiq. 6.5.3) interprets this as a threat to cut the hamstring of work animals, as he did to his oxen, if the men of the tribes did not volunteer for military service. The MT, however, states Saul cut up both oxen and sent them to each of the tribes, similar to Jdgs. 19:29. He even adds Samuel's name to the threat. 11:8 Again the numbers in the historical books are usually round numbers affected by the definition of "thousands" ▣ "300,000. . .30,000" Josephus (Antiq. 6.5.3) gives a higher number. Judah ‒ 70,000 all other tribes ‒ 700,000 (the LXX has "600,000") It is surprising that Judah is listed separately. For a good discussion, see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 823, #3. SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) 11:10 There was an element of deception in the military plans, like Ai. 11:11 There were elements of military strategy. They believed YHWH was with them but they acted themselves also. Josephus (Antiq. 6.5.3) adds that not only was Jabesh-gilead relieved but Saul advanced and defeated all of Ammon. ▣ "the morning watch" It is uncertain how many divisions of the night were common in this period. Most scholars think three divisions (i.e., Jdgs. 7:19). If so, this was about dawn.
1 Samuel 11:12-13
11:12 This victory sealed Saul's acceptance as king by the tribes. 11:13 Saul's compassion and lack of revenge (cf. 1 Sam. 10:27) is seen clearly in this verse. Also seen clearly is that the victory belongs to YHWH, not Saul (v. 6)!
1 Samuel 11:14-15
11:14 "renew the kingdom" This type of renewal (or "reaffirmation," BDB 293, KB 293, Piel IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense) ceremony was done several times in Israel's history. It was a way to recognize YHWH's presence and revelations. In this context it was the full acceptance of YHWH's choice for king, Saul! 11:15 "peace offerings" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING.