1 Samuel 10:17-27 -- Saul had been instructed to wait for Samuel at Gilgal. However, we next see Samuel calling a national assembly at Mizpah. Again, we do not know which Mizpah, but it's a safe guess it was the one in northern Benjamin, the high flat ridge just north of Gibeah. There Samuel goes through the rigamarole of showing divine election by the casting of lots. First, the tribe of Benjamin, then the clan of Matri, then the family of Kish was chosen. When the lot fell to Saul, he wasn't in sight. The Lord Himself reveals Saul was hiding in the baggage brought by those who had traveled from afar to the assembly. The mere site of this tall man, yet shy, was quite moving to those assembled. Samuel described the laws of God regarding kings, writing it on a scroll. We have never found a trace of this royal charter, but it was clear that one existed.
The assembly was dismissed, and Saul went back home. There was no palace, no grand city of the king. He simply ruled from his farm, though he gained that day a retinue of men. These were moved by Jehovah to establish what served as a cabinet, the beginnings of a royal court. These first would have served at their own expense, leading powerful men of the various tribes. That there was an opposition party willing to give offense, defying tradition regarding gifts of homage, brought no response from Saul. A very noble start, indeed.
11:1-3 -- There arose a king over the Ammonites, whose name was Nachash ("Snake"). He gathered his forces and set siege to the city of Jabesh-gilead. This is the large city in the Jordan Valley, on the East Bank, that had refused to send troops against Benjamin back in Judges 21. The population had been decimated and the surviving virgins given to the remnant of Benjamin, because of the oath the national leaders had taken. The town had been repopulated by a more noble group.
When the people of the city asked terms of peace, Nachash stated he had determined to humiliate the Nation of Israel. He would do this by putting out the right eye of every man in the city. They promised to get back to him in seven days. Bear in mind that most cities were prepared to wait out a siege at least that long. Ancient battles over cities were often a matter of which side could out-wait the other. If the walls and gates were particularly well-built, there was little to gain by attacking directly with Bronze Age weapons. Barring some heroic deed of entry, or simply finding a secret entrance, it was a dreary affair. In this case, given the fertile Jordan, well-watered, the invaders had an advantage. The city had said if no relief came in seven days, they would surrender.
11:4-11 -- The messengers from the city would have made it to Gibeah in two or three days, traveling hard. When Saul's court heard the news, they wept aloud. Even today, in times of disaster, it is common to see in Middle Eastern cultures that folks put on quite a loud display of sorrow. Saul, about his daily business of farming and ranching, comes upon this scene and naturally asks what it's about. When he's told of the siege of Jabesh-gilead, he takes royal action. First, he carves up pair of oxen and sends the butchered parts across the nation by messengers. With this ghastly symbol is the warning that he would take forceful action to do the same to everyone's oxen if they didn't send troops for the defense of the city.
Since Saul had done this under the urging of Jehovah's Spirit, that same Spirit ensured the message struck home to all. They mobilized quickly. The assembly was called for Bezek, a city on the West Bank ridge just above the besieged Jabesh-gilead. It is noteworthy that they are numbered separately for Israel -- the northern 10 tribes -- and for Judah, which included Simeon. The total muster was 330 thousand. The messengers of Jabesh were told to report back that by the heat of the next day, it would all be over. This news was quite joyfully received by the leaders of the city, and they promised to Nachash they would capitulate at about that time.
Saul divided his army into three huge waves, and struck the Ammonite camp at dawn. The fighting continued until midday, at which point the surviving Ammonites were too thinly scattered to make a pair of them anywhere in the area.
11:12-15 -- With this first successful act as king of the nation, Saul's supporters were ready to execute the opposition party. They demanded of Samuel that they be officially identified before the assembly. If Samuel were to point them out, no one would argue. Rather, Saul took the noble course of halting this action. His reason was that the Lord had given them a great deliverance, and it would not be fitting to execute anyone, criminal or otherwise, on such a holy day. To forestall further political turbulence, Samuel suggested they renew the royal charter in the presence of Jehovah at Gilgal. The resulting scene of sacrificial offerings and celebration left everyone feeling quite warm and fuzzy about having such a fine king.
12:1-25 -- Samuel brought the assembly back to earth quickly. First, he demanded that any with a complaint against him should bring how the evidence against him, so that he could settle accounts and retire. There was, of course, nothing against him. He then delivered a long, impassioned message of how this Nation of Israel had sinned repeatedly, been punished for it, been delivered repeatedly, and still acted ungratefully. From the time of Israel, the man himself, the nation was quick to stray from the high calling of Jehovah. To impress upon them the certainty that this was the Word of God, Samuel called for a storm, at a time when such was rare. Wheat was harvested in late June or early July.
At this, the assembly repented and asked forgiveness for daring to seek a king, contrary to God's revealed will. They had rejected Him who made them, and felt the sting of shame. Samuel reminded them that in spite of this sin, God was gracious, and would use their sin for His own glory. He would continue to prosper this king's reign, but they must devote themselves whole-heartedly to serving the Lord faithfully. It was clearly implied the throne could easily be taken out from under the king if he failed in this, as well.
[ Return to Lesson Index ]
[ <-- Previous Lesson ]
[ --> Next Lesson ]
Ed Hurst
27 March 2004
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)