1 Samuel 11
11
Defeat of the Ammonites. 1#A text from Qumran (1QSama) introduces this chapter with the report that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had attacked the Gadites and the Reubenites, gouging out their right eyes. Seven thousand of them had fled to Jabesh-gilead. This additional information would explain why Nahash besieged Jabesh-gilead. There is no consensus among scholars whether the Qumran text represents an original reading or a secondary expansion. About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead. All the people of Jabesh begged Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”#1 Sm 12:12; 31:11; 2 Sm 10:2. 2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “This is my condition for making a treaty with you: I will gouge out the right eye of every man,#Right eye of every man: thus rendering them incapable of military action. and thus bring shame on all Israel.” 3The elders of Jabesh said to him: “Give us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” 4When the messengers arrived at Gibeah of Saul and reported the news in the people’s hearing, they all wept aloud. 5Just then Saul came in from the field, behind his oxen. “Why are the people weeping?” he asked. They repeated the message of the inhabitants of Jabesh for him. 6As he listened to this report, the spirit of God rushed upon him and he became very angry.#1 Sm 16:13; Jgs 14:6, 19; 15:14. 7Taking a yoke of oxen, he cut them into pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel#Throughout the territory of Israel: Saul’s gesture summons the Israelite confederacy to a coordinated response against Nahash; cf. Jgs 19:29 for a similar action. Dread of the Lord: often a panic that immobilizes Israel’s enemies; here, however, it has the opposite effect and incites the Israelites to battle. by messengers saying, “If anyone does not come out to follow Saul and Samuel, the same thing will be done to his oxen!” The dread of the Lord came upon the people and they went forth as one.#1 Kgs 11:30; 2 Kgs 13:18. 8When Saul reviewed them in Bezek,#Bezek: probably modern Khirbet Ibziq, northeast of Shechem, on the west slope of the Jordan valley, opposite Jabesh-gilead. there were three hundred thousand Israelites and seventy thousand Judahites.
9To the messengers who had come he said, “Tell the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead that tomorrow, when the sun grows hot, they will be saved.” The messengers went and reported this to the inhabitants of Jabesh, and they rejoiced. 10The men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you may do with us whatever you want.” 11The next day, Saul arranged his troops in three companies and invaded the camp during the dawn watch. They slaughtered Ammonites until the day had gotten hot; by then the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
Saul Accepted as King. 12#With the defeat of the Ammonites, Saul demonstrates his ability to command Israel’s army and defend the land. At Gilgal, Saul’s kingship is ratified; ironically, he loses his kingship at the same place (13:7). The people then said to Samuel: “Who questioned whether Saul should rule over us? Hand them over and we will put them to death.”#1 Sm 10:27. 13But Saul objected, “No one will be put to death this day, for today the Lord has rescued Israel.”#2 Sm 19:23. 14Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal to renew the kingship there.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king in the Lord’s presence. They also sacrificed communion offerings there before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
1 Kings 11
11
1And it came to pass about a month after this that Naas, the Ammonite came up, and began to fight against Jabes Galaad. And all the men of Jabes said to Naas: Make a covenant with us; and we will serve thee.
2And Naas the Ammonite answered them: On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and make you a reproach in all Israel.
3And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel; and if there be no one to defend us; we will come out to thee.
4The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and they spoke these words in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
5And, behold, Saul came, following oxen out of the field, and he said: What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabes.
6And the spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard these words; and his anger was exceedingly kindled.
7And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and sent them into all the coasts of Israel by messengers, saying: Whosoever shall not come forth, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out as one man.
8And he numbered them in Bezec. And there were of the children of Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Juda thirty thousand.
9And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall you say to the men of Jabes Galaad: To-morrow, when the sun shall be hot, you shall have relief. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of Jabes; and they were glad.
10And they said: In the morning we will come out to you; and you shall do what you please with us.
11And it came to pass, when the morrow was come that Saul put the people in three companies. And he came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch; and he slew the Ammonites until the day grew hot. And the rest were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
12And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said: Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men and we will kill them.
13And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day, because the Lord this day hath wrought salvation in Israel.
14And Samuel said to the people: Come and let us go to Galgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.
15And all the people went to Galgal. And there they made Saul king before the Lord in Galgal; and they sacrificed there victims of peace before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.