1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.
5 Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. 8 When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh-Gilead. The men of Jabesh asked for a treaty that would spare their lives and protect them from further attacks but would subject them to paying taxes to Nahash. Nahash agreed but with one condition, that he gouge out everyone’s right eye. This would bring disgrace upon them. It would also hinder their depth perception making it difficult for them to fight while leaving them able to continue their agricultural livelihood and their ability to pay taxes. The elders of Jabesh asked for a seven-day reprise to see if they could get someone to help them and if not, they would accept the terms. Nabesh probably allowed this because Israel had no standing army at the time so he didn’t think their cry for help would amount to much he couldn’t handle. He was also probably eager to spare the costs of a lengthy siege. Whatever his reasons, the decision ended up costing him.
The messengers came to Gibeah where Saul heard the news after coming in from plowing a field with oxen. Saul was still involved in farming during the early years of his reign while the administration was still being established. The people of Gibeah were related to the people of Jabesh-Gilead (Jud 21:1-23). The Spirit of God came on Saul and he took his oxen, cut them up, and sent pieces throughout Israel with the message that anyone who didn’t join Saul and Samuel would have their oxen suffer the same fate. Samuel was the established leader in Israel while Saul was still an unknown which is why the call was to join Saul and Samuel. This method of gaining support is very similar to the on the Levite used in Judges 19:29. The dread of the Lord fell on the people perhaps fueled by the memory of the punishment that fell on Jabesh-Gilead when they failed to heed a similar call (Jud 21:5). So all Israel responded and came out to fight. The reference to Israel and Judah separately may indicate that the book of Samuel was written after the divided kingdom, or it could indicate that the tribal division that was first hinted at in Joshua 11:21 was growing. The messengers were sent back to tell the people of Jabesh that they would be rescued and the rescue would happen before dawn. The men of Jabesh offered to give themselves up the next day which probably caused the Ammonites to relax and perhaps even begin celebrating prematurely in anticipation of victory. Saul divided his army into three companies and attacked the Ammonites before sunrise. Those who survived were scattered so they could no longer resist.
Saul had shown himself to be one who could lead the people in battle. The people went to Samuel, still Israel’s recognised leader, wanting to put to death those who had voiced their disapproval at Saul being made king. Saul intervened and put the focus on the Lord who had brought them victory. Samuel gathered the people again at Gilgal where they reaffirmed Saul as king over Israel. They celebrated with fellowship offerings before the Lord.
Saul had shown himself to be the king Israel had wanted to lead them in victory over their enemies. This time Saul rightly recognised that it was the Lord who had brought them victory and they celebrated in worship. Do you see every victory in your life as coming from the hand of God and worship Him accordingly? Where do you need to change your perspective in this area?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Plot to Kill Jesus: Matthew 25-26