1 Samuel 11

THen i. e. About that time; this Particle being used in some Latitude, as is frequent: for that this happened before, and was the occasion of their desire of a King, may seem from chap. 12. 12. Although it is possible, that Nahash his preparation, and declared intention of Warring against them, might cause that desire, and that Nahash did not actually come against them (which is here related) till their King was chosen. Nahash the Ammonite Either the same with him, 2 Sam. 10. 2. or his Father and Predecessor. came up To War, probably to revenge and recover their former great loss by Iephthah, Iudg. 11. 33., and encamped against Jabesh-gilead Which was beyond Iordan, and near the Ammonites, who dwelt in part of Arabia.: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us To wit, upon good conditions, so as we shall enjoy our Religion and Properties., and we will serve thee In other things we will be thy Subjects and Tributaties. The occasion of this offer was, that they saw no likelihood of relief from their brethren the Israelites in Canaan, who were remote from them, and then weak and divided, and scarce able to defend themselves from the Philistines..

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 Partly for a Reproach, as it here follows; and partly, to disable them from managing offensive weapons in Battel; for their left Eye served only, or chiefly for Defence, being covered by those large shields which then they used, and held in their left hand. He leaves them one Eye, that they might be fit to serve him in any mean and base office., and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days respite Which it is very probable, and Iosephus and others Affirm, That Nahash granted, out of a foolish self-confidence, and contempt of the broken condition of the Israelites, which he thought utterly unable to give them any relief; at least, in so short a time., 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.

¶ Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul Partly, because it was not far from them; and partly, because it belonged to the Benjamites, who had a special obligation to take more care of that place from whence they had their Wives, Iudg. 21. 10, &c. And partly, because Saul, their new chosen King, was there., and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lift up their voices, and wept Both in compassion towards them, and for fear of themselves, lest it should shortly be their own lot..

And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field For being only Anointed King, and not publickly inaugurated, nor owned, nor presented by the generality of the People, nor having yet had any opportunity of doing any thing worthy of his Place, he thought sit to forbear all Royal State, and to retire to his former private, and Country Life, which, howsoever despised in these latter, vain, ambitious, and slothful Ages of the World, was anciently in great esteem among the Greeks and Romans, whose Princes and Generals did frequently exercise themselves in it. Though some conceive that he now lived in some State, and that he had been in the fields only to recreate himself, and that his coming after the Herd was but accidental, and is mentioned only to usher in what follows of the Yoke of Oxen. and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? and they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul Inspiring him suddenly with more than ordinary Courage, and Zeal, and Resolution, to ingage himself and the people for their Rescue. Compare Iudg. 3. 10. and 6. 34. and 11. 29., when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly Against Nahash, for so insolent and barbarous a Proposition..

And he took a yoke of Oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel Wisely considering, that the sight of Mens Eyes do much more affect their Hearts, than what they only hear with their Ears., by the hand of Messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul, and after Samuel Whom he joyns with himself, both because he was present with him; as appears from v. 12. and that hereby he might gain the more Authority to his Command, and strike the greater Terror into all despisers of it., so shall it be done unto his oxen: and the fear of the LORD Either 1. A great fear; great things being oft thus expressed, as Cedars of God, Mountains of God, &c. Or, 2. A Fear sent upon them by God, as Gen. 35. 5. that they should not dare to deny their help. fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

And when he numbred them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand This great Terror drew so many forth: which is not so strange to him that knows what none deny, That the Land of Canaan contained vast Numbers of People in a little compass., and the men of Judah thirty thousand Who are numbred apart to their honour, to show how readily they, to whom the Kingdom was promised, Gen. 49. 10. submitted to their King, though of another and far meaner Tribe; and how willing they were to hazard themselves for their Brethrens Rescue, although they might have excused themselves from the necessity of defending their own Country from their dangerous Neighbours the Philistines..

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow To wit, the day after your departure hence, or return home; for it seems probable, that some few days had been spent in the gathering and disposing of the Forces, and bringing them towards those parts. by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came, and showed it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

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 They did, and might reasonably and justly understand their own condition before proposed, v. 3. if none came to save them; which they were not now obliged to repeat, although they conjectured, that their Enemies would understand it absolutely, whose Error therein they were no more obliged to Correct, than to prevent their Destruction. Nor did they tell any lye herein, but only concealed part of their intentions, to render their Enemy more secure and fit for Rui...; which kind of Stratagems are usual, and allowed by all persons..

And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people into three companies That so Invading them on several sides with a great Force, he might both strike them with the greater Terror, and prevent their escape., and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch Having marched all the day and night before it., and slew the Ammonites, until the hea... of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us They did not say so in terms, as we may see v. 27. but this was the design and consequence of their Speech, as they rightly construe it.? bring the men, that we may put them to death Which till this time they were not able to do, because that infection was then almost universal..

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD has wrought salvation in Israel I will not destroy any of those whom God has so graciously preserved; nor sully the mirth of this glorious and comfortable Day with the slaughter of any of my Subjects: and therefore I freely forgive them. Wherein Saul showed his Policy as well as his Clemency, this being the most likely way to gain his Enemies, and secure his Friends, and stablish his Throne in the hearts of his People..

Then Whilest the people were together by Iabesh-Gilead, wherein Samuel's great prudence and fidelity to Saul is evident. He suspended the Confirmation of Saul at first, whilst the generality of the people were disaffected and discontented at the meanness of his Person: and now when he had given such eminent proof of his Princely Virtues, and when the peoples hearts were unanimously and eagerly set upon him, he takes this as the fittest season for that work. said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal This place he chose, both because it was near, and, to most of them, in the way to their homes; and because thither the Israelites on this side, and beyond Iordan, might more easily resort; and because it was famous for publick Conventions there kept, and particularly, for the Covenant there renewed by Ioshua between God and the People., and renew the kingdom there i. e. Confirm our former choice, to prevent all such Seditious Expressions and Actions as we had experience of at the former Election..

And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king i. e. They Recognized him, or owned and accepted him for their King by consent; for to speak properly, Saul was not made, or constituted King by the People, but by the Lords immediate Act; see chap. 8. 9. and 10. 1. before the LORD Who was there present in a special manner; both because the People of the Lord were there Assembled, and because there was an Altar, as the following Sacrifices show. The same Phrase is used chap. 10. 17. and 14. 18. in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings Partly to Praise God for so glorious a Victory, and for the firm Settlement of the distracted Kingdome; and partly, to implore the Presence and Assistance of God to the King and Kingdome, in all their Affairs and Exigencies., before the LORD: and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoyced greatly.