Yesterday we read how Saul became King of Israel. Today we read the story of his first leadership test, an attack on Jabesh Gilead. The people of Jabesh Gilead never forget Saul's rescue. At the end of 1 Samuel, when Saul is killed in battle and the Israelite army thoroughly beaten it is the men of Jabesh Gilead who take Saul's body back from the Philistines and bury it.
Under the Judges, Israel was a fairly loose association of tribes more than it was a nation. During Saul's reign they become more of a nation, though there is still a distinction between Israel and Judah, which we see here when the narrator tells us how many soldiers come from Israel and from Judah. That separation continues throughout the time that Israel is one nation, and after Solomon's reign the kingdom separates fully into Israel and Judah.
Blessings on your week,
Sam
1 Samuel 11:1-11
About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, namely that I gouge out everyone’s right eye, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.” 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the hearing of the people; and all the people wept aloud.
5Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the message from the inhabitants of Jabesh. 6And the spirit of God came upon Saul in power when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one. 8When he mustered them at Bezek, those from Israel were three hundred thousand, and those from Judah seventy thousand.
9They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.’” When the messengers came and told the inhabitants of Jabesh, they rejoiced. 10So the inhabitants of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11The next day Saul put the people in three companies. At the morning watch they came into the camp and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
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