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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have the first-fruits of Saul's government, in the
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glorious rescue of Jabesh-Gilead out of the hands of the Ammonites. Let
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not Israel thence infer that therefore they did well to ask a king (God
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could and would have saved them without one); but let them admire God's
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goodness, that he did not reject them when they rejected him, and
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acknowledge his wisdom in the choice of the person whom, if he did not
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find fit, yet he made fit, for the great trust he called him to, and
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enabled, in some measure, to merit the crown by his public services,
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before it was fixed on his head by the public approbation. Here is,
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I. The great extremity to which the city of Jabesh-Gilead, on the
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other side of Jordan, was reduced by the Ammonites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. Saul's great readiness to come to their relief, whereby he
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signalized himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:4-10">ver. 4-10</A>.
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III. The good success of his attempt, by which God signalized him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:11">ver. 11</A>.
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IV. Saul's tenderness, notwithstanding this, towards those that had
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opposed him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:12,13">ver. 12, 13</A>.
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V. The public confirmation and recognition of his election to the
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government,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:14,15">ver. 14, 15</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Extremity of Jabesh-Gilead.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1069.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against
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Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a
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covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
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2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this <I>condition</I>
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will I make <I>a covenant</I> with you, that I may thrust out all your
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right eyes, and lay it <I>for</I> a reproach upon all Israel.
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3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days'
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respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of
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Israel: and then, if <I>there be</I> no man to save us, we will come
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out to thee.
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4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the
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tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up
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their voices, and wept.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The Ammonites were bad neighbours to those tribes of Israel that lay
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next them, though descendants from just Lot, and, for that reason,
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dealt civilly with by Israel. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+2:19">Deut. ii. 19</A>.
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Jephthah, in his time, had humbled them, but now the sin of Israel had
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put them into a capacity to make head again, and avenge that quarrel.
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The city of Jabesh-Gilead had been, some ages ago, destroyed by
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Israel's sword of justice, for not appearing against the wickedness of
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Gibeah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+21:10">Judges xxi. 10</A>);
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and now being replenished again, probably by the posterity of those
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that then escaped the sword, it is in danger of being destroyed by the
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Ammonites, as if some bad fate attended the place. Nahash, king of
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Ammon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:1">1 Chron. xix. 1</A>)
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laid siege to it. Now here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The besieged beat a parley
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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"<I>Make a covenant with us, and we will</I> surrender upon terms, and
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<I>serve thee.</I>" They had lost the virtue of Israelites, else they
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would not have thus lost the valour of Israelites, nor tamely yielded
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to serve an Ammonite, without one bold struggle for themselves. Had
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they not broken their covenant with God, and forsaken his service, they
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needed not thus to have courted a covenant with a Gentile nation, and
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offered themselves to serve them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The besiegers offer them base and barbarous conditions; they will
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spare their lives, and take them to be their servants, upon condition
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that they shall <I>put out their right eyes,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The Gileadites were content to part with their liberty and estates for
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the ransom of their blood; and, had the Ammonites taken them at their
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word, the matter would have been so settled immediately, and the
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Gileadites would not have sent out for relief. But their abject
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concessions make the Ammonites more insolent in their demands, and they
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cannot be content to have them for their servants, but,
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1. They must torment them, and put them to pain, exquisite pain, for so
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the thrusting out of an eye would do.
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2. They must disable them for war, and render them incapable, though
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not of labour (that would have been a loss to their lords), yet of
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bearing arms; for in those times they fought with shields in their left
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hands, which covered their left eye, so that a soldier without his
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right eye was in effect blind.
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3. They must put a <I>reproach upon all Israel,</I> as weak and
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cowardly, that would suffer the inhabitants of one of their chief
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cities to be thus miserably used, and not offer to rescue them.</P>
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<P>
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III. The besieged desire, and obtain, seven days' time to consider of
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this proposal,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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If Nahash had not granted them this respite, we may suppose the horror
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of the proposal would have made them desperate, and they would rather
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have died with their swords in their hands than have surrendered to
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such merciless enemies: therefore Nahash, not imagining it possible
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that, in so short a time, they should have relief, and being very
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secure of the advantages he thought he had against them, in a bravado
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gave them seven days, that the reproach upon Israel, for not rescuing
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them, might be the greater, and his triumphs the more illustrious. But
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there was a providence in it, that his security might be his
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infatuation and ruin.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Notice is sent of this to Gibeah. They said they would send
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messengers <I>to all the coasts of Israel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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which made Nahash the more secure, for that, he thought, would be a
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work of time, and none would be forward to appear if they had not one
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common head; and perhaps Nahash had not yet heard of the new-elected
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king. But the messengers, either of their own accord or by order from
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their masters, went straight to Gibeah, and, not finding Saul within,
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told their news to the people, who fell a weeping upon hearing it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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They would sooner lament their brethren's misery and danger than think
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of helping them, shed their tears for them than shed their blood. They
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wept, as despairing to help the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and fearing lest,
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if that frontier-city should be lost, the enemy would penetrate into
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the very bowels of their country, which now appeared in great
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hazard.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa11_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Distress of Jabesh-Gilead; Saul Succours Jabesh-Gilead.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1069.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and
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Saul said, What <I>aileth</I> the people that they weep? And they told
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him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
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6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those
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tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
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7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and
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sent <I>them</I> throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of
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messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and
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after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
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8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel
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were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty
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thousand.
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9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye
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say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by <I>that time</I> the
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sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and
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shewed <I>it</I> to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
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10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out
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unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
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11 And it was <I>so</I> on the morrow, that Saul put the people in
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three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the
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morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day:
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and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so
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that two of them were not left together.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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What is here related turns very much to the honour of Saul, and shows
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the happy fruits of that other spirit with which he was endued. Observe
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here,</P>
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<P>
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I. His humility. Though he was anointed king, and accepted by his
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people, yet he did not think it below him to know the state of his own
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flocks, but went himself to see them, and came in the evening, with his
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servants, <I>after the herd out of the field,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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This was an evidence that he was not puffed up with his advancement, as
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those are most apt to be that are raised from a mean estate. Providence
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had not yet found him business as a king; he left all to Samuel; and
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therefore, rather than be idle, he would, for the present, apply
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himself to his country business again. Though the sons of Belial would,
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perhaps, despise him the more for it, such as were virtuous and wise,
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and loved business themselves, would think never the worse of him. He
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had no revenues settled upon him for the support of his dignity, and he
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was desirous not to be burdensome to the people, for which reason, like
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Paul, he worked with his hands; for, if he neglect his domestic
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affairs, how must he maintain himself and his family? Solomon gives it
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as a reason why men should look well to their herds because <I>the
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crown doth not endure to every generation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:23,24">Prov. xxvii. 23, 24</A>.
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Saul's did not; he must therefore provide something surer.</P>
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<P>
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II. His concern for his neighbours. When he perceived them in tears, he
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asked, "<I>What ails the people that they weep?</I> Let me know, that,
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if it be a grievance which can be redressed, I may help them, and that,
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if not, I may weep with them." Good magistrates are in pain if their
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subjects are in tears.</P>
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<P>
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III. His zeal for the safety and honour of Israel. When he heard of the
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insolence of the Ammonites, and the distress of a city, a mother in
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Israel, <I>the Spirit of God came upon him,</I> and put great thoughts
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into his mind, <I>and his anger was kindled greatly,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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He was angry at the insolence of the Ammonites, angry at the mean and
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sneaking spirit of the men of Jabesh-Gilead, angry that they had not
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sent him notice sooner of the Ammonites' descent and the extremity they
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were likely to be reduced to. He was angry to see his neighbours
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weeping, when it was fitter for them to be preparing for war. It was a
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brave and generous fire that was now kindled in the breast of Saul, and
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such as became his high station.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The authority and power he exerted upon this important occasion. He
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soon let Israel know that, though he had retired to his privacy, he had
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a care for the public, and knew how to command men into the field, as
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well as how to drive cattle out of the field,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:5,7"><I>v.</I> 5, 7</A>.
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He sent a summons to all the coasts of Israel, to show the extent of
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his power beyond his own tribe, even to all the tribes, and ordered all
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the military men forthwith to appear in arms at a general rendezvous in
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Bezek. Observe,
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1. His modesty, in joining Samuel in commission with himself. He would
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not execute the office of a king without a due regard to that of a
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prophet.
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2. His mildness in the penalty threatened against those that should
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disobey his orders. He hews a yoke of oxen in pieces, and sends the
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pieces to the several cities of Israel, threatening, with respect to
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him who should decline the public service, not, "Thus shall it be done
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to <I>him,</I>" but, "Thus shall it be done to his <I>oxen.</I>" God
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had threatened it as a great judgment
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:31">Deut. xxviii. 31</A>),
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<I>Thy ox shall be slain before thy eyes, and thou shalt not eat
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thereof.</I> It was necessary that the command should be enforced with
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some penalty, but this was not nearly so severe as that which was
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affixed to a similar order by the whole congregation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+21:5">Judg. xxi. 5</A>.
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Saul wished to show that his government was more gentle than that which
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they had been under. The effect of this summons was that the militia,
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or trained bands, of the nation, <I>came out as one man,</I> and the
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reason given is, because <I>the fear of the Lord fell upon them.</I>
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Saul did not affect to make them fear him, but they were influenced to
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observe his orders by the fear of God and a regard to him who had made
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Saul their king and them members one of another. Note, Religion and
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the fear of God will make men good subjects, good soldiers, and good
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friends to the public interests of the country. Those that fear God
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will make conscience of their duty to all men, particularly to their
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rulers.</P>
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<P>
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V. His prudent proceedings in this great affair,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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He numbered those that came in to him, that he might know his own
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strength, and how to distribute his forces in the best manner their
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numbers would allow. It is the honour of princes to know the number of
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their men, but it is the honour of the King of kings that <I>there is
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not any number of his armies,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+25:3">Job xxv. 3</A>.
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In this muster, it seems, Judah, though numbered by itself, made no
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great figure; for, as it was one tribe of twelve, so it was but an
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eleventh part of the whole number, 30,330, though the rendezvous was at
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Bezek, in that tribe. They wanted the numbers, or the courage, or the
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zeal for which that tribe used to be famous; so low was it, just before
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the sceptre was brought into it in David.</P>
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<P>
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VI. His faith and confidence, and (grounded thereon) his courage and
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resolution, in this enterprise. It should seem that those very
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messengers who brought the tidings from Jabesh-Gilead Saul sent into
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the country to raise the militia, who would be sure to be faithful and
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careful in their own business, and them he now sends back to their
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distressed countrymen, with this assurance (in which, it is probable,
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Samuel encouraged him): "<I>To-morrow,</I> by such an hour, before the
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enemy can pretend that the seven days have expired, <I>you shall have
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deliverance,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Be you ready to do your part, and we will not fail to do ours. Do you
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sally out upon the besiegers, while we surround them." Saul knew he had
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a just cause, a clear call, and God on his side, and therefore doubted
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not of success. This was good news to the besieged Gileadites, whose
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right eyes had wept themselves dry for their calamities, and now began
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to fail with looking for relief and to ache in expectation of the doom
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of the ensuing day, when they must look their last; the greater the
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exigence the more welcome the deliverance. When they heard it they
|
|
were glad, relying on the assurances that were sent to them. And they
|
|
sent into the enemies' camp
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
|
|
|
|
to tell them that next day they would be ready to meet them, which the
|
|
enemies understood as an intimation that they despaired of relief, and
|
|
so were made the more secure by it. If they took not care, by sending
|
|
out scouts, to rectify their own mistake, they must thank themselves if
|
|
they were surprised: the besieged were under no obligation to give them
|
|
notice of the help they were assured of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. His industry and close application to this business. If he had
|
|
been bred up to war from his youth, and had led regiments as often as
|
|
he had followed droves, he could not have gone about an affair of this
|
|
nature more dexterously nor more diligently. When the Spirit of the
|
|
Lord comes upon men it will make them expert even without experience. A
|
|
vast army (especially in comparison with the present usage) Saul had
|
|
now at his foot, and a long march before him, nearly sixty miles, and
|
|
over Jordan too. No cavalry in his army, but all infantry, which he
|
|
divides into three battalions,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
And observe,
|
|
|
|
1. With what incredible swiftness he flew to the enemy. In a day and a
|
|
night he came to the place of action, where his own fate, and that of
|
|
Israel, must be determined. He had passed his word, and would not break
|
|
it; nay, he was better than his word, for he promised help next day,
|
|
<I>by that time the sun was hot</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
but brought it before day, <I>in the morning-watch,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Whom God helps he <I>helps right early,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:5">Ps. xlvi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. With what incredible bravery he flew upon the enemy. Betimes in the
|
|
morning, when they lay dreaming of the triumphs they expected that day
|
|
over the miserable inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead, before they were aware
|
|
he was in the midst of their host; and his men, being marched against
|
|
them in three columns, surrounded them on every side, so that they
|
|
could have neither heart nor time to make head against them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> To complete his honour, God crowned all these virtues
|
|
with success. Jabesh-Gilead was rescued, and the Ammonites were totally
|
|
routed; he had now the day before him to complete his victory in, and
|
|
so complete a victory it was that those who remained, after a great
|
|
slaughter, were scattered so that <I>two of them were not left
|
|
together</I> to encourage or help one another,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
We may suppose that Saul was the more vigorous in this matter,
|
|
|
|
1. Because there was some alliance between the tribe of Benjamin and
|
|
the city of Jabesh-Gilead. That city had declined joining with the rest
|
|
of the Israelites to destroy Gibeah, which was then punished as their
|
|
crime, but perhaps was now remembered as their kindness, when Saul of
|
|
Gibeah came with so much readiness and resolution to relieve
|
|
Jabesh-Gilead. Yet that was not all; two-thirds of the Benjamites that
|
|
then remained were provided with wives from that city
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+21:14">Judg. xxi. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that most of the mothers of Benjamin were daughters of
|
|
Jabesh-Gilead, for which city Saul, being a Benjamite, had therefore a
|
|
particular kindness; and we find they returned his kindness,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+31:11,12"><I>ch.</I> xxxi. 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Because it was the Ammonites' invasion that induced the people to
|
|
desire a king (so Samuel says,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+12:12"><I>ch.</I> xii. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that if he had not done his part, in this expedition, he would have
|
|
disappointed their expectations, and for ever forfeited their
|
|
respect.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa11_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa11_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa11_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa11_15"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Sacrifices Offered to God.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1069.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who <I>is</I> he that said,
|
|
Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to
|
|
death.
|
|
13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this
|
|
day: for to day the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath wrought salvation in Israel.
|
|
14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to
|
|
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
|
|
15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul
|
|
king before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed
|
|
sacrifices of peace offerings before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and there Saul and
|
|
all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the improvement of the glorious victory which Saul had
|
|
obtained, not the improvement of it abroad, though we take it for
|
|
granted that the men of Jabesh-Gilead, having so narrowly saved their
|
|
right eyes, would with them now discern the opportunity they had of
|
|
avenging themselves upon these cruel enemies and disabling them from
|
|
ever straitening them in like manner again; now shall they be avenged
|
|
on the Ammonites for their right eyes condemned, as Samson on the
|
|
Philistines for his two eyes put out,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+16:28">Judg. xvi. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
But the account here given is of the improvement of this victory at
|
|
home.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The people took this occasion to show their jealousy for the honour
|
|
of Saul, and their resentment of the indignities done him. Samuel, it
|
|
seems, was present, if not in the action (it was too far for him to
|
|
march) yet to meet them when they returned victorious; and to him, as
|
|
judge, the motion was made (for they knew Saul would not be judge in
|
|
his own cause) that the sons of Belial that would not have him to reign
|
|
over them should be brought forth and slain,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Saul's good fortune (as foolish men commonly call it) went further with
|
|
them to confirm his title than either his choice by lot or Samuel's
|
|
anointing him. They had not courage thus to move for the prosecution of
|
|
those that opposed him when he himself looked mean, but, now that his
|
|
victory made him look great, nothing would serve but they must be put
|
|
to death.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Saul took this occasion to give further proofs of his clemency,
|
|
for, without waiting for Samuel's answer, he himself quashed the motion
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>There shall not a man be put to death this day,</I> no, not those
|
|
men, those bad men, that had abused him, and therein reflected on God
|
|
himself,
|
|
|
|
1. Because it was a day of joy and triumph: "<I>To day the Lord has
|
|
wrought salvation in Israel;</I> and, since God has been so good to us
|
|
all, let us not be harsh one to another. Now that God has made the
|
|
heart of Israel in general so glad, let not us make sad the hearts of
|
|
any particular Israelites."
|
|
|
|
2. Because he hoped they were by this day's work brought to a better
|
|
temper, were now convinced that this man, under God, could save them,
|
|
now honoured him whom before they had despised; and, if they are but
|
|
reclaimed, he is secured from receiving any disturbance by them, and
|
|
therefore his point is gained. If an enemy be made a friend, that will
|
|
be more to our advantage than to have him slain. And all good princes
|
|
consider that their power is for edification, not for destruction.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Samuel took this occasion to call the people together <I>before
|
|
the Lord in Gilgal,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. That they might publicly give God thanks for their late victory.
|
|
There they <I>rejoiced greatly,</I> and, that God might have the praise
|
|
of that which they had the comfort of, they <I>sacrificed to him,</I>
|
|
as the giver of all their successes, <I>sacrifices of
|
|
peace-offerings.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. That they might confirm Saul in the government, more solemnly than
|
|
had been yet done, that he might not retire again to his obscurity.
|
|
Samuel would have the kingdom renewed; he would renew his resignation,
|
|
and the people should renew their approbation, and so in concurrence
|
|
with, or rather in attendance upon, the divine nomination, they made
|
|
Saul king, making it their own act and deed to submit to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
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