1 Samuel 11

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 11

1¶ Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this [condition] will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach upon all Israel.

3And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give 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 will come out to thee.

4Then 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 [aileth] the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

8And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, 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.

10Therefore 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.

11And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host 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.

12¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who [is] he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

13And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh-Gilead, demanding the right eyes of its inhabitants as a condition for covenant, which prompted the city to seek aid from Israel. Upon hearing the news, Saul was empowered by the Spirit of God and rallied a vast Israelite army. He led a decisive victory against the Ammonites, utterly scattering them. Following this triumph, Saul mercifully refused to punish those who had previously questioned his reign, and the kingdom was formally renewed at Gilgal.

Medium Summary

Nahash the Ammonite encamped against Jabesh-Gilead, proposing a covenant that required the men to have their right eyes thrust out, bringing reproach upon all Israel. The elders of Jabesh sought a seven-day respite to send messengers throughout Israel for help. When the tidings reached Gibeah, the people wept, and Saul, upon hearing, was filled with the Spirit of God and great anger. He dramatically called Israel to arms by sending pieces of oxen throughout the land, instilling the fear of the LORD and gathering a large army. Saul then led a surprise attack, utterly defeating the Ammonites. After the victory, Saul, in an act of mercy, declared that no man should be put to death, attributing the salvation to the LORD. Subsequently, Samuel led the people to Gilgal, where Saul's kingship was formally renewed with sacrifices and great rejoicing.

Long Summary

Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-Gilead, proposing a covenant of servitude only on the humiliating condition that he would thrust out every man's right eye, thereby laying a reproach upon all Israel. The elders of Jabesh, desperate, requested a seven-day respite to send messengers throughout Israel, hoping for deliverance. These messengers arrived in Gibeah of Saul, sharing the grievous tidings, which caused all the people to lift their voices and weep in anguish. Saul, returning from the field, inquired about the weeping and was informed of Jabesh's plight. Immediately, the Spirit of God came upon Saul, kindling his anger greatly. In a powerful demonstration, he took a yoke of oxen, hewed them into pieces, and sent them throughout Israel with a message that whosoever did not come forth after Saul and Samuel would have the same done to his oxen. This act instilled the fear of the LORD among the people, and they gathered with one consent, numbering three hundred thousand from Israel and thirty thousand from Judah at Bezek. Saul then sent word to Jabesh-Gilead, promising help by the heat of the next day, bringing gladness to the besieged city. On the morrow, Saul divided his forces into three companies and launched a surprise attack on the Ammonite host during the morning watch, slaying them until the heat of the day and scattering the remainder so completely that none were left together. Following this decisive victory, the people, emboldened, sought to put to death those who had questioned Saul's reign. However, Saul, in an act of mercy and humility, declared that no man should be put to death that day, acknowledging that the LORD had wrought salvation in Israel. Samuel then directed the people to Gilgal, where they formally renewed the kingdom and made Saul king before the LORD, offering peace offerings and rejoicing greatly.

Core Concepts

  • Nahash's CrueltyNahash the Ammonite demanded the thrusting out of all right eyes of the men of Jabesh-Gilead as a condition for a covenant, intending to bring reproach upon all Israel. This extreme condition highlights his intent to humiliate and incapacitate the Israelites.
  • Saul's Divine EmpowermentUpon hearing the distress of Jabesh-Gilead, the Spirit of God came upon Saul, igniting his anger and empowering him to act decisively. This divine anointing enabled him to rally Israel and lead them to victory.
  • Call to ArmsSaul dramatically called the tribes of Israel to war by hewing a yoke of oxen into pieces and sending them throughout the land, threatening similar destruction to the oxen of those who did not respond. This act instilled the fear of the LORD, leading to a massive mobilization.
  • Saul's MercyAfter the victory, when the people desired to execute those who had previously questioned his kingship, Saul mercifully declared that no man should be put to death. He attributed the day's salvation to the LORD, demonstrating humility and forgiveness.
  • Renewal of KingshipFollowing the triumph over the Ammonites, Samuel led the people to Gilgal, where they formally renewed Saul's kingship before the LORD. This event solidified Saul's position as king, marked by peace offerings and great rejoicing.
  • God's SalvationSaul explicitly stated that "to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel," acknowledging that the victory was not merely by human might but by divine intervention. This underscores the theological understanding of God's active role in Israel's deliverance.