11 And it was so on the morrow, H4283 that Saul H7586 put H7760 the people H5971 in three H7969 companies; H7218 and they came H935 into the midst H8432 of the host H4264 in the morning H1242 watch, H821 and slew H5221 the Ammonites H5983 until the heat H2527 of the day: H3117 and it came to pass, that they which remained H7604 were scattered, H6327 so that two H8147 of them were not left H7604 together. H3162
And he divided H2673 the three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 into three H7969 companies, H7218 and he put H5414 a trumpet H7782 in every man's hand, H3027 with empty H7386 pitchers, H3537 and lamps H3940 within H8432 the pitchers. H3537
And Adonibezek H137 said, H559 Threescore and ten H7657 kings, H4428 having their thumbs H931 H3027 and their great toes H7272 cut off, H7112 gathered H3950 their meat under my table: H7979 as I have done, H6213 so God H430 hath requited H7999 me. And they brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and there he died. H4191
But Barak H1301 pursued H7291 after H310 the chariots, H7393 and after the host, H4264 unto Harosheth H2800 of the Gentiles: H1471 and all the host H4264 of Sisera H5516 fell H5307 upon the edge H6310 of the sword; H2719 and there was not a man H259 left. H7604
And he took H3947 the people, H5971 and divided H2673 them into three H7969 companies, H7218 and laid wait H693 in the field, H7704 and looked, H7200 and, behold, the people H5971 were come forth H3318 out of the city; H5892 and he rose up H6965 against them, and smote H5221 them.
And Nahash H5176 the Ammonite H5984 answered H559 them, On this H2063 condition will I make H3772 a covenant with you, that I may thrust out H5365 all your right H3225 eyes, H5869 and lay H7760 it for a reproach H2781 upon all Israel. H3478
And David H1732 smote H5221 them from the twilight H5399 even unto the evening H6153 of the next day: H4283 and there escaped H4422 not a man H376 of them, save four H702 hundred H3967 young H5288 men, H376 which rode H7392 upon camels, H1581 and fled. H5127 And David H1732 recovered H5337 all that the Amalekites H6002 had carried away: H3947 and David H1732 rescued H5337 his two H8147 wives. H802
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 11
Commentary on 1 Samuel 11 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 11
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,
1Sa 11:1-4
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 Deu. 2:19. 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 (Judges 21:10); 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 (1 Chr. 19:1) laid siege to it. Now here,
1Sa 11:5-11
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,
1Sa 11:12-15
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, Jdg. 16:28. But the account here given is of the improvement of this victory at home.