20140328 Friday, March 28 2014
1 Samuel 11: Saul The Deliverer

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) chose Saul to be Israel's first human king because he was physically impressive, humble and intelligent (see 1 Samuel 9: Saul Of Benjamin and Samuel The Seer and 1 Samuel 10: King Saul of Israel). Saul was not a fool who became a king; he was a king who became a fool.

The era of the Judges (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Judges and Israel In History and Prophecy: Samuel) ended with the beginning of the Israelite monarchy (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Saul and David). It was nevertheless the task of the first king of Israel to do what the Judges had been given to do - to deliver the people of Israel from the foreign oppression that they had brought upon themselves by their liberal unfaithfulness and corruption. Saul's first challenge as king was to deliver Israel from the Ammonites - who demanded that Israel not only serve the invaders, but "thrust out all your right eyes."

"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.

11:2 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, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

11:3 And 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." (1 Samuel 11:1-3 KJV)

When Saul heard of the demand, "the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly." The next day, he delivered a decisive defeat upon the Ammonites.

"11:4 Then 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. 11:5 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.

11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 11:7 And 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. 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

11:9 And 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. 11:10 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.

11:11 And 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." (1 Samuel 11:4-11 KJV)

Although the actual demand for a king by the Israelites was for someone to fight their battles for them (see 1 Samuel 8: Our King May Judge Us), the incident caused them to return to Samuel - who they had rejected. Samuel brought them to their senses with the proclamation "the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel." Saul was then formally accepted as the king that they demanded.

"11:12 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.

11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 11:15 And 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." (1 Samuel 11:12-15 KJV)

Fact Finder: How did the Ammonites originate? How were they related to Abraham?
See Genesis 19: Fire And Brimstone Upon Sodom And Gomorrah; see also Why Did Lot's Wife Look Back?