Saul’s First Victory

Topic: Anger

Passage: 1 Samuel 11:1–15

July 29, 2022

Commentary

Following the events at Mizpah Saul returned to Gibeah where he apparently made no attempt to establish his leadership in the kingdom. Possibly this is because he did not want to give those who had opposed his appointment (10:27) an opportunity to criticize him. He seemed content to follow Samuel’s instructions and act as each occasion required. Just how long a period of time elapsed between Saul’s appointment and these events of chapters 11-12 cannot be determined with accuracy.

At this time Israel was very susceptible to an invasion that was brewing with the Ammonites from east of the Jordan (vv. 1-3). Because Israel was so disorganized the Ammonites felt that not one would come to their aid. They were hoping to take this territory without a fight and avoid a battle. As the Ammonites prepared to attack Jabesh-gilead the people of that area sent messengers to Saul requesting help (v. 4). Saul was angered by the Ammonites threat to mistreat his fellow Israelites (v. 5). The Holy Spirit used Saul’s anger to bring justice and freedom. He took a yoke of oxen, hacked them to pieces, and sent them though out the coasts of Israel which brought a fear of the Lord to the people (vv. 6-7). Anger is a powerful emotion and often it drives others with words or physical violence. However, anger directed at sin and the mistreatment of others is not wrong.

So all the men came together at Bezek (v. 8). Saul divided them into three companies. There were three hundred thousand from Israel and thirty thousand from Judah. Saul and his officers sent the messengers back to Jabesh with this promise: “We will rescue you tomorrow afternoon (v. 9).” The messengers went back to the people at Jabesh and told them that they were going to be rescued (v. 10). In response Saul mobilized an army at Bezek and from there attacked the Ammonites, as the sun began to peek over the hills of Basham, Saul divided his forces into three groups and launched an attack. For six hours they continued to slaughter the enemy until Israel’s victory was complete (vv. 11-12). The brilliant and decisive defeat of the Ammonites convinced everyone that Saul indeed was the right choice for king (v. 13). The people went to Gilgal and “made Saul king.” Unlike the Mizpah meeting which ended in mixed opinion about Saul a few months earlier. At the Gilgal assembly Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced together greatly (vv. 14-15).

Application

When sin makes me angry I should ask God how I can channel this anger in constructive ways to help bring about a positive change.

1 Samuel 11:1–15 (NET)

¹ Nahash the Ammonite marched against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.”

² But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!”

³ The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you.”

⁴ When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly. ⁵ Now Saul was walking behind the oxen as he came from the field. Saul asked, “What has happened to the people? Why are they weeping?” So they told him about the men of Jabesh.

⁶ The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. ⁷ He took a pair of oxen and cut them up. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, who said, “Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel should expect this to be done to his oxen!” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out as one army. ⁸ When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000 strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000.

⁹ They said to the messengers who had come, “Here’s what you should say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow deliverance will come to you when the sun is fully up.’” When the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh Gilead, they were happy. ¹⁰ The men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you and you can do with us whatever you wish.”

¹¹ The next day Saul placed the people in three groups. They went to the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and struck them down until the hottest part of the day. The survivors scattered; no two of them remained together.

¹² Then the people said to Samuel, “Who were the ones asking, ‘Will Saul reign over us?’ Hand over those men so we may execute them!” ¹³ But Saul said, “No one will be killed on this day. For today the Lord has given Israel a victory!” ¹⁴ Samuel said to the people, “Come on! Let’s go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal, where they established Saul as king in the Lord’s presence. They offered up peace offerings there in the Lord’s presence. Saul and all the Israelites were very happy.

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