mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 11.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xii" n="xii" next="iSam.xiii" prev="iSam.xi" progress="29.75%" title="Chapter XI">
<h2 id="iSam.xii-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xii-p0.2">CHAP. XI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xii-p1">In this chapter we have the first-fruits of Saul's
government, in the glorious rescue of Jabesh-Gilead out of the
hands of the Ammonites. Let not Israel thence infer that therefore
they did well to ask a king (God could and would have saved them
without one); but let them admire God's goodness, that he did not
reject them when they rejected him, and acknowledge his wisdom in
the choice of the person whom, if he did not find fit, yet he made
fit, for the great trust he called him to, and enabled, in some
measure, to merit the crown by his public services, before it was
fixed on his head by the public approbation. Here is, I. The great
extremity to which the city of Jabesh-Gilead, on the other side of
Jordan, was reduced by the Ammonites, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.1-1Sam.11.3" parsed="|1Sam|11|1|11|3" passage="1Sa 11:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. Saul's great readiness to
come to their relief, whereby he signalized himself, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.4-1Sam.11.10" parsed="|1Sam|11|4|11|10" passage="1Sa 11:4-10">ver. 4-10</scripRef>. III. The good success
of his attempt, by which God signalized him, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:11">ver. 11</scripRef>. IV. Saul's tenderness,
notwithstanding this, towards those that had opposed him, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.12-1Sam.11.13" parsed="|1Sam|11|12|11|13" passage="1Sa 11:12,13">ver. 12, 13</scripRef>. V. The public
confirmation and recognition of his election to the government,
<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.14-1Sam.11.15" parsed="|1Sam|11|14|11|15" passage="1Sa 11:14,15">ver. 14, 15</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 11" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.1-1Sam.11.4" parsed="|1Sam|11|1|11|4" passage="1Sa 11:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.11.1-1Sam.11.4">
<h4 id="iSam.xii-p1.8">Extremity of Jabesh-Gilead. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1069.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xii-p2">1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped
against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash,
Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.   2 And
Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this <i>condition</i> will I
make <i>a covenant</i> with you, that I may thrust out all your
right eyes, and lay it <i>for</i> a reproach upon all Israel.
  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 <i>there be</i> no man to save us, we will
come out to thee.   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p3">The Ammonites were bad neighbours to those
tribes of Israel that lay next them, though descendants from just
Lot, and, for that reason, dealt civilly with by Israel. See
<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.2.19" parsed="|Deut|2|19|0|0" passage="De 2:19">Deut. ii. 19</scripRef>. Jephthah, in
his time, had humbled them, but now the sin of Israel had put them
into a capacity to make head again, and avenge that quarrel. The
city of Jabesh-Gilead had been, some ages ago, destroyed by
Israel's sword of justice, for not appearing against the wickedness
of Gibeah (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.10" parsed="|Judg|21|10|0|0" passage="Jdg 21:10">Judges xxi.
10</scripRef>); and now being replenished again, probably by the
posterity of those that then escaped the sword, it is in danger of
being destroyed by the Ammonites, as if some bad fate attended the
place. Nahash, king of Ammon (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.1" parsed="|1Chr|19|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:1">1 Chron.
xix. 1</scripRef>) laid siege to it. Now here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p4">I. The besieged beat a parley (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.1" parsed="|1Sam|11|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): "<i>Make a covenant
with us, and we will</i> surrender upon terms, and <i>serve
thee.</i>" They had lost the virtue of Israelites, else they would
not have thus lost the valour of Israelites, nor tamely yielded to
serve an Ammonite, without one bold struggle for themselves. Had
they not broken their covenant with God, and forsaken his service,
they needed not thus to have courted a covenant with a Gentile
nation, and offered themselves to serve them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p5">II. The besiegers offer them base and
barbarous conditions; they will spare their lives, and take them to
be their servants, upon condition that they shall <i>put out their
right eyes,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.2" parsed="|1Sam|11|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. The Gileadites were content to part with their
liberty and estates for the ransom of their blood; and, had the
Ammonites taken them at their word, the matter would have been so
settled immediately, and the Gileadites would not have sent out for
relief. But their abject concessions make the Ammonites more
insolent in their demands, and they cannot be content to have them
for their servants, but, 1. They must torment them, and put them to
pain, exquisite pain, for so the thrusting out of an eye would do.
2. They must disable them for war, and render them incapable,
though not of labour (that would have been a loss to their lords),
yet of bearing arms; for in those times they fought with shields in
their left hands, which covered their left eye, so that a soldier
without his right eye was in effect blind. 3. They must put a
<i>reproach upon all Israel,</i> as weak and cowardly, that would
suffer the inhabitants of one of their chief cities to be thus
miserably used, and not offer to rescue them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p6">III. The besieged desire, and obtain, seven
days' time to consider of this proposal, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.3" parsed="|1Sam|11|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. If Nahash had not granted them
this respite, we may suppose the horror of the proposal would have
made them desperate, and they would rather have died with their
swords in their hands than have surrendered to such merciless
enemies: therefore Nahash, not imagining it possible that, in so
short a time, they should have relief, and being very secure of the
advantages he thought he had against them, in a bravado gave them
seven days, that the reproach upon Israel, for not rescuing them,
might be the greater, and his triumphs the more illustrious. But
there was a providence in it, that his security might be his
infatuation and ruin.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p7">IV. Notice is sent of this to Gibeah. They
said they would send messengers <i>to all the coasts of Israel</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.3" parsed="|1Sam|11|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), which made
Nahash the more secure, for that, he thought, would be a work of
time, and none would be forward to appear if they had not one
common head; and perhaps Nahash had not yet heard of the
new-elected king. But the messengers, either of their own accord or
by order from their masters, went straight to Gibeah, and, not
finding Saul within, told their news to the people, who fell a
weeping upon hearing it, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.4" parsed="|1Sam|11|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. They would sooner lament their brethren's misery and
danger than think of helping them, shed their tears for them than
shed their blood. They wept, as despairing to help the men of
Jabesh-Gilead, and fearing lest, if that frontier-city should be
lost, the enemy would penetrate into the very bowels of their
country, which now appeared in great hazard.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.5-1Sam.11.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|5|11|11" passage="1Sa 11:5-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.11.5-1Sam.11.11">
<h4 id="iSam.xii-p7.4">The Distress of Jabesh-Gilead; Saul Succours
Jabesh-Gilead. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p7.5">b. c.</span> 1069.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xii-p8">5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of
the field; and Saul said, What <i>aileth</i> the people that they
weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.   6
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings,
and his anger was kindled greatly.   7 And he took a yoke of
oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent <i>them</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p8.1">Lord</span> fell on the people, and they came out with
one consent.   8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the
children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of
Judah thirty thousand.   9 And they said unto the messengers
that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To
morrow, by <i>that time</i> the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And
the messengers came and shewed <i>it</i> to the men of Jabesh; and
they were glad.   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 And it was <i>so</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p9">What is here related turns very much to the
honour of Saul, and shows the happy fruits of that other spirit
with which he was endued. Observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p10">I. His humility. Though he was anointed
king, and accepted by his people, yet he did not think it below him
to know the state of his own flocks, but went himself to see them,
and came in the evening, with his servants, <i>after the herd out
of the field,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.5" parsed="|1Sam|11|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. This was an evidence that he was not puffed up with
his advancement, as those are most apt to be that are raised from a
mean estate. Providence had not yet found him business as a king;
he left all to Samuel; and therefore, rather than be idle, he
would, for the present, apply himself to his country business
again. Though the sons of Belial would, perhaps, despise him the
more for it, such as were virtuous and wise, and loved business
themselves, would think never the worse of him. He had no revenues
settled upon him for the support of his dignity, and he was
desirous not to be burdensome to the people, for which reason, like
Paul, he worked with his hands; for, if he neglect his domestic
affairs, how must he maintain himself and his family? Solomon gives
it as a reason why men should look well to their herds because
<i>the crown doth not endure to every generation,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.23-Prov.27.24" parsed="|Prov|27|23|27|24" passage="Pr 27:23,24">Prov. xxvii. 23, 24</scripRef>. Saul's did
not; he must therefore provide something surer.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p11">II. His concern for his neighbours. When he
perceived them in tears, he asked, "<i>What ails the people that
they weep?</i> Let me know, that, if it be a grievance which can be
redressed, I may help them, and that, if not, I may weep with
them." Good magistrates are in pain if their subjects are in
tears.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p12">III. His zeal for the safety and honour of
Israel. When he heard of the insolence of the Ammonites, and the
distress of a city, a mother in Israel, <i>the Spirit of God came
upon him,</i> and put great thoughts into his mind, <i>and his
anger was kindled greatly,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.6" parsed="|1Sam|11|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. He was angry at the insolence of
the Ammonites, angry at the mean and sneaking spirit of the men of
Jabesh-Gilead, angry that they had not sent him notice sooner of
the Ammonites' descent and the extremity they were likely to be
reduced to. He was angry to see his neighbours weeping, when it was
fitter for them to be preparing for war. It was a brave and
generous fire that was now kindled in the breast of Saul, and such
as became his high station.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p13">IV. The authority and power he exerted upon
this important occasion. He soon let Israel know that, though he
had retired to his privacy, he had a care for the public, and knew
how to command men into the field, as well as how to drive cattle
out of the field, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.5 Bible:1Sam.11.7" parsed="|1Sam|11|5|0|0;|1Sam|11|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:5,7"><i>v.</i> 5,
7</scripRef>. He sent a summons to all the coasts of Israel, to
show the extent of his power beyond his own tribe, even to all the
tribes, and ordered all the military men forthwith to appear in
arms at a general rendezvous in Bezek. Observe, 1. His modesty, in
joining Samuel in commission with himself. He would not execute the
office of a king without a due regard to that of a prophet. 2. His
mildness in the penalty threatened against those that should
disobey his orders. He hews a yoke of oxen in pieces, and sends the
pieces to the several cities of Israel, threatening, with respect
to him who should decline the public service, not, "Thus shall it
be done to <i>him,</i>" but, "Thus shall it be done to his
<i>oxen.</i>" God had threatened it as a great judgment (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.31" parsed="|Deut|28|31|0|0" passage="De 28:31">Deut. xxviii. 31</scripRef>), <i>Thy ox shall be
slain before thy eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof.</i> It was
necessary that the command should be enforced with some penalty,
but this was not nearly so severe as that which was affixed to a
similar order by the whole congregation, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.5" parsed="|Judg|21|5|0|0" passage="Jdg 21:5">Judg. xxi. 5</scripRef>. Saul wished to show that his
government was more gentle than that which they had been under. The
effect of this summons was that the militia, or trained bands, of
the nation, <i>came out as one man,</i> and the reason given is,
because <i>the fear of the Lord fell upon them.</i> Saul did not
affect to make them fear him, but they were influenced to observe
his orders by the fear of God and a regard to him who had made Saul
their king and them members one of another. Note, Religion and the
fear of God will make men good subjects, good soldiers, and good
friends to the public interests of the country. Those that fear God
will make conscience of their duty to all men, particularly to
their rulers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p14">V. His prudent proceedings in this great
affair, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.8" parsed="|1Sam|11|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. He
numbered those that came in to him, that he might know his own
strength, and how to distribute his forces in the best manner their
numbers would allow. It is the honour of princes to know the number
of their men, but it is the honour of the King of kings that
<i>there is not any number of his armies,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.3" parsed="|Job|25|3|0|0" passage="Job 25:3">Job xxv. 3</scripRef>. In this muster, it seems, Judah,
though numbered by itself, made no great figure; for, as it was one
tribe of twelve, so it was but an eleventh part of the whole
number, 30,330, though the rendezvous was at Bezek, in that tribe.
They wanted the numbers, or the courage, or the zeal for which that
tribe used to be famous; so low was it, just before the sceptre was
brought into it in David.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p15">VI. His faith and confidence, and (grounded
thereon) his courage and resolution, in this enterprise. It should
seem that those very messengers who brought the tidings from
Jabesh-Gilead Saul sent into the country to raise the militia, who
would be sure to be faithful and careful in their own business, and
them he now sends back to their distressed countrymen, with this
assurance (in which, it is probable, Samuel encouraged him):
"<i>To-morrow,</i> by such an hour, before the enemy can pretend
that the seven days have expired, <i>you shall have
deliverance,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.9" parsed="|1Sam|11|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. Be you ready to do your part, and we will not fail to
do ours. Do you sally out upon the besiegers, while we surround
them." Saul knew he had a just cause, a clear call, and God on his
side, and therefore doubted not of success. This was good news to
the besieged Gileadites, whose right eyes had wept themselves dry
for their calamities, and now began to fail with looking for relief
and to ache in expectation of the doom of the ensuing day, when
they must look their last; the greater the 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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.10" parsed="|1Sam|11|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>) 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 class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p16">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, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>.
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>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.9" parsed="|1Sam|11|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), but brought
it before day, <i>in the morning-watch,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Whom God helps he <i>helps
right early,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.5" parsed="|Ps|46|5|0|0" passage="Ps 46:5">Ps. xlvi.
5</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p17"><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, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.11" parsed="|1Sam|11|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>.
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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.14" parsed="|Judg|21|14|0|0" passage="Jdg 21:14">Judg. xxi. 14</scripRef>), 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, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.31.11-1Sam.31.12" parsed="|1Sam|31|11|31|12" passage="1Sa 31:11,12"><i>ch.</i> xxxi. 11,
12</scripRef>. 2. Because it was the Ammonites' invasion that
induced the people to desire a king (so Samuel says, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.12.12" parsed="|Judg|12|12|0|0" passage="Jdg 12:12"><i>ch.</i> xii. 12</scripRef>), 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>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.12-1Sam.11.15" parsed="|1Sam|11|12|11|15" passage="1Sa 11:12-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.11.12-1Sam.11.15">
<h4 id="iSam.xii-p17.6">Sacrifices Offered to God. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p17.7">b. c.</span> 1069.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xii-p18">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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p18.1">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p18.2">Lord</span> in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed
sacrifices of peace offerings before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xii-p18.3">Lord</span>; and there Saul and all the men of Israel
rejoiced greatly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p19">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, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.16.28" parsed="|Judg|16|28|0|0" passage="Jdg 16:28">Judg. xvi. 28</scripRef>. But the account here given is
of the improvement of this victory at home.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p20">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, <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.12" parsed="|1Sam|11|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p21">II. Saul took this occasion to give further
proofs of his clemency, for, without waiting for Samuel's answer,
he himself quashed the motion (<scripRef id="iSam.xii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.13" parsed="|1Sam|11|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 11:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <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 class="indent" id="iSam.xii-p22">III. Samuel took this occasion to call the
people together <i>before the Lord in Gilgal,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.11.14-1Sam.11.15" parsed="|1Sam|11|14|11|15" passage="1Sa 11:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>. 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>
</div></div2>