Berean Study Bible Saul Defeats the AmmonitesNahash, whose name means serpent or snake, was king of the Ammonites, descendants of Lot through Ben-ammi (Genesis 19:38). Ammon had long opposed Israel and sought control over lands east of the Jordan. Nahash’s advance continued the hostility seen in earlier conflicts, including the oppression resisted by Jephthah (Judges 11:4–33). His attack exposed Israel’s need for the king the people had demanded, while also providing the occasion for Saul to act under the empowering Spirit of God. 1Sa 10:27 But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?”… and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. Jabesh-gilead stood in the hill country east of the Jordan, within Israel’s territory in Gilead. Its people had a unique bond with the other tribes because Israel had preserved and provided wives for the survivors of Jabesh-gilead after the tragedy of Judges 21:8–14. Nahash’s siege threatened not merely an isolated town but fellow Israelites whose fate would test the unity of the nation. 1Sa 31:11-13 When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines… All the men of Jabesh said to him, The leaders of Jabesh-gilead faced an enemy they could not resist alone. Israel’s tribal divisions and lack of coordinated defense left the city vulnerable. Their appeal revealed both the immediate terror of the siege and the national weakness that Saul’s kingship was intended to address. 1Ki 20:31-32 Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, … “Make a treaty with us, The men of Jabesh-gilead sought terms of survival rather than destruction. Such a treaty would place the city under Ammonite control and acknowledge Nahash as its master. Their plea showed how deeply Israel’s enemies could humiliate God’s people when they lacked faithful, united leadership. Jos 9:6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said… and we will serve you.” Service to Nahash would mean submission, tribute, and the loss of Israelite freedom. Jabesh-gilead was willing to bear that shame in order to live, but God would raise Saul to deliver them. Saul’s rescue would establish his public role as Israel’s king and point beyond itself to the greater deliverance God provides for His people from their oppressors. Jos 9:8-11 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.… But Nahash the Ammonite replied, Nahash, whose name means “serpent,” king of the Ammonites, ruled a people descended from Lot through Ben-ammi (Genesis 19:36–38). Israel and Ammon had a long history of conflict, including Jephthah’s war against Ammon in Judges 11. Nahash answered the men of Jabesh-gilead as a conqueror who expected submission rather than as a neighbor seeking peace. 1Sa 12:12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites… “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, Nahash offered no honorable covenant or protection. His terms demanded the complete humiliation of Jabesh-gilead and would establish Ammonite dominance over Israel east of the Jordan. Jos 9:15 And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live… that I may put out everyone’s right eye Removing the right eye would disable the men for battle, particularly when using shields and weapons that required clear sight over the shield’s edge. Nahash intended not merely to punish the city but to leave its defenders permanently weak and unable to resist future oppression. Zec 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock!… and bring reproach upon all Israel.” The mutilation of Jabesh-gilead would disgrace the entire nation and advertise Israel’s apparent helplessness before its enemies. Nahash sought to shame the people whom the Lord had set apart, but his cruel demand became the occasion for God to raise Saul and deliver Israel. Psa 44:13-14 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors… “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, Jabesh-gilead faced Nahash’s cruel demand that every man’s right eye be gouged out, a humiliation intended to weaken Israel and disgrace the city. The elders sought a brief delay in the hope that help might arise. 1Sa 10:8 And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely… “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. Israel still functioned largely as a confederation of tribes, without an established king to summon national defense. Messengers carried Jabesh’s urgent appeal throughout the land, exposing the need for united leadership. 2Sa 15:10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel… If there is no one to save us, The city’s survival depended upon a deliverer. Their appeal prepared the way for the Lord to use Saul, showing that Israel’s rescue would come not through Jabesh’s strength but through God’s appointed instrument. Isa 59:16 He saw that there was no man; He was amazed.… we will surrender to you.” Surrender meant submitting to Ammonite oppression and accepting Nahash’s shameful terms. Jabesh’s desperation magnified the significance of the deliverance that followed and revealed Saul’s calling to lead Israel against its enemies. Deu 20:11 If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates… When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul Gibeah, in the territory of Benjamin, was Saul’s hometown and the place closely associated with his emerging kingship. The appeal reached Saul’s own community, where news of Jabesh-gilead’s danger could quickly spread among the tribes. Jabesh-gilead lay east of the Jordan, making its distress a test of whether Israel would defend fellow Israelites across tribal and geographic divisions. 2Sa 21:6 let seven of his male descendants be delivered… and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, The messengers publicly reported Nahash’s cruel demand that the men of Jabesh submit to humiliation and bondage. Their message exposed Israel’s weakness if the tribes remained divided, yet it also created the occasion for the king whom God had appointed to lead His people. The crisis called for more than sympathy; it required decisive, united action. 2Ki 23:2 And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people… they all wept aloud. The people recognized the severity of Jabesh-gilead’s plight but initially responded with grief rather than deliverance. Their tears revealed genuine anguish and helplessness before an enemy they could not face in their own strength. God would soon move Saul by His Spirit to gather Israel, showing that the Lord had not abandoned His covenant people and could provide rescue through the leader He had raised up. Ezr 3:13 The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy… Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. Though Saul had been anointed and publicly presented as Israel’s king, he was still engaged in the ordinary work of a farmer. Israel had not yet developed a royal court or standing army, and Saul’s life still reflected the agrarian character of the nation. His return behind the oxen reveals humility and readiness to serve rather than royal self-exaltation. God was preparing a man from among the people to lead the people in their hour of need. 1Ki 19:19-21 So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat.… “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. Saul did not ignore the public grief around him. His question shows an early concern for Israel’s welfare and opens the way for him to act as the deliverer God had appointed. The king Israel had demanded would now face the very kind of foreign threat from which they expected a king to save them. Jos 7:7-9 “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever…”… “Why are they weeping?” The people’s weeping reflected fear and helplessness before Nahash the Ammonite and his siege of Jabesh-gilead. Their distress exposed Israel’s vulnerability when its tribes were divided and unable to respond together. The crisis would become the occasion for God to unite the nation under Saul’s leadership. Gen 37:34-35 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist,… And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh. Jabesh-gilead lay east of the Jordan and was surrounded by Ammonite territory. Nahash’s demand that the men of the city lose their right eyes was intended not only to defeat them but to disgrace and weaken Israel. The report brought Saul face to face with his first great responsibility as king. Jabesh also had an earlier connection with Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, through the events following Israel’s civil war in Judges 20–21. God would use the threatened city to summon Saul into decisive action and to confirm his calling before all Israel. 1Sa 31:11-13 When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines… When Saul heard their words, This phrase refers to the report brought to Saul about the plight of the people of Jabesh-gilead, who were threatened by Nahash the Ammonite. The context is significant as it highlights the early days of Saul’s reign as king of Israel. The people of Jabesh-gilead were in a desperate situation, and their plea for help reached Saul, who was still in the process of establishing his authority. This moment is pivotal as it demonstrates Saul’s initial response to his kingly duties and the expectations of leadership in ancient Israel. 2Ki 22:11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law,… the Spirit of God rushed upon him, The phrase indicates a divine empowerment that Saul received, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament when God equips individuals for specific tasks. This rushing of the Spirit signifies God’s direct intervention and approval of Saul’s actions. It parallels other instances in the Bible, such as the Spirit coming upon Samson (Judges 14:6) and David (1 Samuel 16:13), indicating a special anointing for leadership and deliverance. This divine empowerment is crucial for understanding the theocratic nature of Israel’s monarchy, where the king was expected to act as God’s representative. 1Sa 10:6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you… and he burned with great anger. God-given indignation rose against the cruelty of Nahash and the shame intended for Israel. Saul immediately summoned the nation to battle, and the Lord brought a decisive victory over the Ammonites. The deliverance established Saul’s authority publicly and showed that Israel’s king was to serve as the Lord’s instrument for the protection of His people. 2Sa 12:5 David burned with anger against the man… He took a pair of oxen, Saul had been working in the fields when news arrived of Jabesh-gilead’s distress, showing that Israel’s new king still lived among the people rather than apart from them. Oxen were essential to farming, transportation, and a family’s livelihood, making their use a weighty sign of the nation’s danger. 1Ki 19:21 So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen,… cut them into pieces, Saul’s severe action echoed the Levite’s summons to Israel in Judges 19:29. The mutilated oxen visibly declared that delay, division, and refusal to defend fellow Israelites would bring ruin to the nation. Jdg 19:29 When he reached his house, he picked up a knife… and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, Human couriers carried the summons through the scattered tribal territories, calling Israel to act as one covenant people. The crisis at Jabesh-gilead required more than sympathy; it demanded united obedience and sacrifice. 2Ch 30:6 At the command of the king, the couriers went… proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Saul joined his royal authority to Samuel’s prophetic leadership, making clear that the mobilization was not merely a personal demand from a new king. Israel was being summoned under God’s appointed leaders to protect their brothers and resist the reproach of the Ammonites. Jdg 21:5 The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes… Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, God Himself moved the hearts of the tribes with a holy fear that overcame hesitation, tribal rivalry, and self-interest. The response revealed that Israel’s deliverance would depend ultimately upon the LORD rather than Saul’s forcefulness alone. Gen 35:5 As they set out, a terror from God fell… and they came out together as one man. The tribes assembled with remarkable unity for the rescue of Jabesh-gilead. Their common response displayed the strength Israel possessed when its people acted together under God’s leadership. Jdg 20:1 Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba… And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, Saul gathered the volunteers at Bezek before marching to rescue Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites. The assembly demonstrated that the newly chosen king could unite the tribes in a common cause. Saul’s leadership was exercised under the empowering work of God’s Spirit, and the mustering of the army brought order and readiness to Israel’s response. Jdg 1:4-5 When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites… there were 300,000 Israelites The men of Israel answered Saul’s call in remarkable numbers, showing national resolve against Nahash and the Ammonite threat. Israel had often suffered when the tribes acted independently, but their united response recalled earlier deliverances under the judges. God was providing His people with a leader through whom they could act together in defense of their covenant community. 2Ch 25:5 Then Amaziah gathered the people of Judah… and 30,000 men of Judah. Judah is counted separately, marking its recognized tribal identity and importance within the nation. Judah’s participation joined the southern tribe to the wider army of Israel and anticipated its later prominence in the kingdom. From Judah would come David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, the promised King whose reign would bring lasting deliverance to God’s people. 2Sa 6:1 David again assembled the chosen men of Israel,… So they said to the messengers who had come, Saul and the assembled Israelites sent the envoys back with a definite answer. The Lord had stirred Saul to unite Israel against Nahash the Ammonite, turning a threatened city into an occasion for Israel’s renewed national solidarity. Pro 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news… “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: Jabesh-gilead lay east of the Jordan in Gilead. Its people had a historical connection with Benjamin through the events of Judges 21, when women from Jabesh-gilead became wives for surviving Benjamites. Saul’s readiness to act also displayed the responsibility of Israel’s king to defend the covenant people. 2Sa 2:4-7 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and… ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow The promised rescue rested ultimately on the Lord, who had repeatedly delivered Israel from enemies when His people cried out to Him. Saul’s confidence showed that Israel’s new king was to serve as an instrument of God’s saving power, not as a replacement for God’s rule. 2Ki 7:1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD!… by the time the sun is hot.’” Deliverance would come early in the day, before the heat of the sun reached its strength. The precise assurance communicated both urgency and certainty: Jabesh would not be abandoned to Ammonite cruelty. Gen 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre… And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced. Hope replaced despair as the besieged city received the good news. Their joy anticipated the relief that follows God’s salvation, for the Lord hears His people in distress and acts decisively for their deliverance. Pro 15:30 The light of the eyes cheers the heart… Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Jabesh-gilead stood east of the Jordan and had longstanding ties with Benjamin through the events of Judges 21:8–14. Nahash the Ammonite had besieged the city and demanded the humiliation of its men, exposing Israel’s vulnerability and the need for godly leadership. 1Sa 31:11-13 When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines… “Tomorrow we will come out, The apparent promise of surrender bought the night needed for Saul’s army to arrive. Messengers had already returned from Gibeah with assurance that deliverance would come by the heat of the next day. 2Ki 18:31-32 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king… and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.” Jabesh spoke as though Nahash held complete power, while God was preparing to overthrow the Ammonite army. Saul’s victory the following morning showed that the Lord had not abandoned His people. Israel’s rescue through Saul anticipated the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish over sin, death, and every enemy of His people. 1Sa 14:36 And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night… The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, Saul acted promptly after the Spirit of God stirred him to deliver Jabesh-gilead. Dividing the army into three companies provided coordinated pressure against the enemy and echoes Gideon’s deployment of three companies in Judges 7:16. Israel’s tribes had rallied around Saul, and this campaign publicly confirmed that the king chosen by the Lord could lead the nation in battle. Jdg 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies… and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites The morning watch, near the end of the night, gave Saul’s forces the advantage of surprise when the Ammonite camp would have been least prepared. The Ammonites had threatened the people of Jabesh with humiliation and permanent disgrace. Saul’s attack demonstrated that the Lord had not abandoned His covenant people to their enemies. Exo 14:24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army… and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. The extended battle resulted in a decisive deliverance. Israel fought, but the victory belonged to the Lord, who had promised to go with His people against their enemies (Deuteronomy 20:4). Saul’s first public victory as king established peace for Jabesh-gilead and showed that God had raised him up for Israel’s protection. 1Ki 18:26-29 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it… And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together. The Ammonite army was completely broken and unable to regroup for another assault. Their scattering fulfilled the prayer that God would rise and scatter His enemies (Psalm 68:1). The deliverance prepared the way for Israel to renew Saul’s kingship at Gilgal with gratitude and unity. Deu 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.…
Saul Confirmed as KingThe people turned to Samuel as the Lord’s prophet, judge, and the one who had publicly anointed Saul. Samuel’s leadership had guided Israel through repentance, deliverance from the Philistines, and the establishment of the monarchy. Their appeal acknowledges that Saul’s kingship had been confirmed through God’s providence and through his deliverance of Jabesh-gilead. 1Sa 8:4-5 So all the elders of Israel gathered together… “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Some Israelites had earlier despised Saul and questioned whether he could save the nation (1 Samuel 10:27). Saul’s decisive victory over Nahash the Ammonite silenced those doubts. The deliverance demonstrated that the Spirit-empowered king had acted as Samuel foretold: he would save Israel from its enemies (1 Samuel 9:16). 1Sa 10:27 But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?”… Bring those men here The people desired national unity behind Saul at a moment when Israel needed strong leadership against surrounding enemies. Their demand also reflects the seriousness with which rejection of the Lord’s appointed king was viewed. Opposition to Saul had become more than personal skepticism after God’s confirmation of his rule. Jos 7:24-25 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan… so we can kill them!” The people sought judgment against those who had dishonored Saul, but Saul refused retaliation and recognized that the Lord had accomplished Israel’s salvation that day (1 Samuel 11:13). His restraint preserved unity and directed praise away from himself to God. Saul’s mercy toward former opponents offers an early picture of the righteous use of authority: justice must serve the Lord’s purposes rather than personal vindication. 2Ki 10:25-28 When he had finished making the burnt offering,… But Saul ordered, Saul exercised the authority entrusted to him as Israel’s newly confirmed king. After the defeat of the Ammonites, some Israelites wanted to execute those who had earlier rejected Saul’s kingship. Rather than using the victory to settle personal or political grievances, Saul acted to preserve the unity of the tribes. 1Sa 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day… “No one shall be put to death this day, Saul’s mercy restrained vengeance at a moment when national celebration could easily have become internal bloodshed. Israel needed reconciliation after its deliverance, not a purge of former opponents. Saul’s decision established peace among the people and recognized that the day belonged to the LORD. 1Sa 24:7 With these words David restrained his men… for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” Saul rightly credited the victory over Ammon to the LORD, who had delivered His people through Saul and the army of Israel. The salvation was a real military rescue, yet it also displayed God’s covenant faithfulness to Israel in its time of distress. By giving God the glory, Saul acknowledged that kingship in Israel remained subject to the LORD, the true Deliverer of His people. 1Sa 14:45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—… Then Samuel said to the people, Samuel exercised God-given authority as prophet, judge, and spiritual leader during Israel’s transition to monarchy. After Saul’s deliverance of Jabesh-gilead, Samuel directed the nation to acknowledge publicly the king whom the Lord had chosen. 1Sa 12:1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened… “Come, let us go to Gilgal Gilgal stood near the Jordan as a memorial of Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua. There the Lord had renewed Israel’s covenant identity through circumcision, Passover, and remembrance of His mighty works (Joshua 4:19–24; 5:2–12). The place called the people back to their dependence on God rather than confidence in human strength. Jos 4:19-20 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up… and renew the kingship there.” Saul had been chosen by lot at Mizpah, but the victory over the Ammonites removed much of the public doubt surrounding his leadership. At Gilgal, the tribes would unite in recognizing Saul as king before the Lord. The renewal affirmed both Saul’s responsibility to rule under God’s authority and Israel’s responsibility to obey the Lord, who remained their true King. 1Sa 10:24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one… So all the people went to Gilgal Gilgal, Israel’s first encampment after crossing the Jordan, stood as a memorial of God’s faithfulness in bringing His people into the land (Joshua 4:19–24). Israel had also renewed covenant obedience there through circumcision and Passover observance (Joshua 5:2–12). Gathering at Gilgal united the tribes around their shared history and called them to remember that the Lord remained Israel’s true King. 1Sa 10:8 And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely… and confirmed Saul as king Samuel had privately anointed Saul and later identified him publicly at Mizpah (1 Samuel 10:1, 17–24). Saul’s deliverance of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites demonstrated the leadership God had given him, and the nation now willingly recognized him as king. The confirmation established Saul’s reign before all Israel, though his authority remained accountable to the Lord and His covenant. 1Sa 12:13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested.… in the presence of the LORD. Israel’s political life could not be separated from worship and obedience. Saul received the crown before the God who had chosen him, and both king and people stood under divine authority. Samuel would soon call the nation to renewed faithfulness, warning that blessing depended on fearing the Lord and serving Him sincerely (1 Samuel 12:14–15). 1Sa 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you… There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, Peace offerings expressed fellowship with God and were often followed by a shared sacrificial meal (Leviticus 3; 7:11–21). Israel celebrated Saul’s confirmation by giving thanks to the Lord, seeking His favor, and acknowledging that national peace and security came from Him rather than from human strength. 1Ki 8:63 And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD… and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly. The victory over Ammon and the united acceptance of Saul gave Israel fresh hope after a season of humiliation and division. Their joy was rightly joined to sacrifice before the Lord, for Israel’s strength rested not merely in a new king but in the God who had delivered them. 1Ki 1:40 All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing…… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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