1 Samuele 11:8 Commento

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 (Sa1 11:1-3). II. Saul's great readiness to come to their relief, whereby he signalized himself (Sa1 11:4-10). III. The good success of his attempt, by which God signalized him (Sa1 11:11). IV. Saul's tenderness, notwithstanding this, towards those that had opposed him (Sa1 11:12, Sa1 11:13). V. The public confirmation and recognition of his election to the government (Sa1 11:14, Sa1 11:15).

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 11 This chapter relates the distress the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead were in on account of the Ammonites, Sa1 11:1 upon which they sent messengers to Saul, whose spirit was immediately stirred up to help them, Sa1 11:4, and prepared for it, and came up soon enough for their relief, and slew their enemies, Sa1 11:7, which gained him much honour and reputation among the people, and occasioned the renewal of the kingdom to him, Sa1 11:12.

And they said unto the messengers that came,.... From Jabeshgilead, that is, Saul and Samuel said to them, as follows: thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead: when they returned unto them, as they were now upon the departure: tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot; when it smites with the greatest heat, as at noon: this morrow seems not to be the next from their return home, or going from Saul, but the morrow after they were got home, and should deliver the message to those that sent them, Sa1 11:10 and so Josephus (z) says, it was on the third day the assistance was promised them: ye shall have help; Saul with his army by that time would come and raise the siege: and the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; what Saul had promised, and what a numerous army he had raised, and had now upon the march for their relief, and tomorrow would be with them: and they were glad; it was good news and glad tidings to them; it cheered their hearts, and gave them spirit. (z) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 5.) sect. 3.

9. First the children of Israel are said to have gone out, then to have been mustered by Saul, because the chosen preacher, when he attempts to move the soldiery of his subjects against hidden enemies, first observes their brave resolve, then places them in the number of warriors. For we are, as it were, inside and cannot be mustered, as long as the virtue of our mind is hidden from our pastors. And when we go out we are mustered, because when we reveal to them the fortitude of our minds, they trust that they now have companions in the spiritual fight. But when they desire to raise weak minds to the resolve of good work, they strive not only to instruct us with the teachings of the greater ones, but also to kindle us with the examples of the lesser elect. Rightly therefore it is reported that three hundred thousand of the children of Israel, but thirty thousand of the men of Judah, were mustered. For the number thirty pertains to the rectitude of faith and the zeal of good works, because the precepts of the law are nothing if they do not tend toward the contemplation of the supreme Trinity. Fittingly therefore they are called men of Judah who are contained in thirty thousand, because they have the confession of right faith and the strength of good works. Our fathers, however, were of the same faith and works, but in the contemplation of divinity, inasmuch as they had advanced far higher than we, they also displayed stronger works of faith. Wherefore also three hundred thousand of the children of Israel are mustered. Thirty indeed comes from three and ten, and ten goes into thirty, but in the number thirty both the ten and the three are simple; but in order to count up to three hundred, we multiply ten by thirty and thirty by ten, because even if the contemplation is great and the works of the subject people are great, nevertheless those which preceded in our fathers were incomparable. For it is as if our number ten is gathered tenfold in their perfection, since our achievements are greatly subordinated to their perfection. Therefore thirty thousand men of Judah and three hundred thousand children of Israel, mustered with us, lead preachers to fight against Nahash — if, when they wish to help tempted and abstinent subjects, they set before them both the outstanding deeds of the strongest fathers and those of the lesser ones. Israel indeed is interpreted as "Seeing God," or "in whom God is"; which name certainly does not suit one who is still weak or unskilled. As many perfect men as we bring forth in the affliction of the flesh and the contemplation of the mind, with that many armed men we strike down the serpent Nahash. But let us now hear with what words the army of the king encourages the besieged. (Verse 9.) And they said to those who had come: "Thus shall you say to the men who are in Jabesh-Gilead: Tomorrow there shall be deliverance for you, when the sun grows hot."

And there were three hundred thousand sons of Israel, etc. There were in the people of the nations, those who were most ready to defend the faith, who believed rightly, hoped, and acted through love. For the number three, because of the confession of the Holy Trinity, is to faith; ten and a hundred because of the choice of the reward of the right hand, and the daily denarius to be given to good vineyard workers, are related to hope. Moreover, a thousand because of the solid nature of the denarius, which naturally looks to the immutable and stable operation of perfect love, it can rightly be understood in the same Church either of the Jews or of the nations, by the strength of the men of Judah first confessing God; but by the sons of Israel, the sublimity of those who have learned to contemplate Him more perfectly, as the Psalm says: "God is known in Judah, His name is great in Israel." It is to be noted that according to the letter much before the times of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, separately the tribe of Judah, but separately also the others that were called Israel, were counted, although not yet divided by empire or religion.

Nahash, king of the Ammonites, besieges Jabesh-gilead; and proposes to its inhabitants the most degrading conditions of peace, Sa1 11:1, Sa1 11:2. They apply to their brethren for help, Sa1 11:3, Sa1 11:4. Saul hears of their distress; takes a yoke of oxen, hews them in pieces, and sends them throughout the coasts of Israel, with the threat that all who did not come to his standard should have his cattle served in like manner; in consequence of which he is soon at the head of an army of three hundred and thirty thousand men, Sa1 11:5-8. He sends to Jabesh-gilead, and promises help, Sa1 11:9, Sa1 11:10. Saul attacks the Ammonites next morning, and gives them a total overthrow, Sa1 11:11. The people are greatly encouraged, and propose to put to death those who are opposed to Saul's government: but this he prevents, Sa1 11:12, Sa1 11:13. Samuel leads the people to Gilgal: they offer sacrifices, and renew the kingdom to Saul, Sa1 11:14, Sa1 11:15.

The children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand - This was a vast army, but the Septuagint make it even more: "All the men of Israel were ἑξακοσιας χιλιαδας, Six Hundred thousand; and the men of Judah ἑβδομηκοντα χιλιαδας, Seventy thousand." Josephus goes yet higher with the number of the Israelites: "He found the number of those whom he had gathered together to be ἑβδομηκοντα μυριαδας Seven Hundred thousand." Those of the tribe of Judah he makes seventy thousand, with the Septuagint. These numbers are not all right; and I suspect even the Hebrew text to be exaggerated, by the mistake or design of some ancient scribe.

NAHASH OFFERS THEM OF JABESH-GILEAD A REPROACHFUL CONDITION. (Sa1 11:1-4) Then Nahash the Ammonite came up--Nahash ("serpent"); (see Jdg 8:3). The Ammonites had long claimed the right of original possession in Gilead. Though repressed by Jephthah (Jdg 11:33), they now, after ninety years, renew their pretensions; and it was the report of their threatened invasion that hastened the appointment of a king (Sa1 12:12). Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee--They saw no prospect of aid from the western Israelites, who were not only remote, but scarcely able to repel the incursions of the Philistines from themselves.

Bezek--This place of general muster was not far from Shechem, on the road to Beth-shan, and nearly opposite the ford for crossing to Jabesh-gilead. The great number on the muster-roll showed the effect of Saul's wisdom and promptitude.