1 Samuel 11:12

_AND THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO SAMUEL, WHO IS HE THAT SAID, SHALL SAUL REIGN OVER US? BRING THE MEN, THAT WE MAY PUT THEM TO DEATH._ THE PEOPLE SAID ... WHO ... SAID, SHALL SAUL REIGN OVER US? The enthusiastic admiration of the people, under the impulse of grateful and generous feelings, would have dealt summary vengeance on the minority who opposed Saul, had not he, either from principle or policy, shown himself as great in clemency as in valour. The calm and sagacious counsel of Samuel directed the popular feelings into a right channel, by appointing a general assembly of the militia, the really effective force of the nation, at Gilgal, where, amid great pomp and religious solemnities, the victorious leader was confirmed in his kingdom....

12-15 They now honoured Saul whom they had despised; and if an enemy be made a friend, that is more to our advantage than to have him slain. The once despised Saviour will at length be acknowledged by all as the Lord's own anointed king. As yet, upon his mercy-seat, he receives the submission of rebels, and even pleads their cause; but shortly, from his righteous tribunal, he will condemn all who persist in opposing him....

Verse 1 Samuel 11:12. _WHO_ IS _HE THAT SAID, SHALL SAUL REIGN_] Now, flushed with victory and proud of their leader, they wished to give him a proof of their attachment by slaying, even in cool blood, the persons who were at first averse from his being intrusted with the supreme power! The common soldier is scarcely ever inspired by his victory to acts of _magnanimity_; he has shed blood-he wishes to shed more!...

CONFIRMATION OF SAUL IN THE KINGDOM (1Sa 11:1-15; 1 Samuel 12:1.). EXPOSITION THE DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES (1 Samuel 11:1). 1 SAMUEL 11:1, 1 SAMUEL 11:2. NAHASH THE AMMONITE. The same name is found in 2 Samuel 10:2 as that of the father of Hanun, wh

AND THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO SAMUEL,.... By which it seems that Samuel accompanied Saul in this expedition; though it is somewhat difficult to account for it, that a man of his years should be able to attend so quick a march that Saul made; it may be, therefore, that he might follow after him gently, and meet him quickly after the battle was fought, when the people made the following speech to him: WHO IS HE THAT SAID, SHALL SAUL REIGN OVER US? is such a mean inexperienced man fit to rule over us? who can bear his government, and submit to it? what can be expected from him, that he should deliver and save us out of the hands of our enemies? in this they had respect to the sons of Belial, and what they said, 1 Samuel 10:27, but now it appeared he was sufficiently qualified, and God had made him an instrument of salvation, and was a proper person to be king over them:...

4. THE KING'S FIRST VICTORY AND THE RENEWAL OF THE KINGDOM AT GILGAL CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The victory over Ammon (1 Samuel 11:1)_ 2. The kingdom renewed (1 Samuel 11:12) Nahash the Ammonite encamped against Jabesh-gilead. Nahash means “the serpent.” This invasion took place before Saul had been made king. From chapter 12:12 we learn that it really was the occasion why Israel demanded a king. In despair the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead offered to make a covenant with this old foe of Israel, whom Jephthah had so successfully fought. Ammon represents typically the enemy of God's people characterized by evil doctrines and perversions of the truth of God. How often compromise is made with the most subtle errors which emanate from Nahash, the serpent! But he makes his condition,

1 SAMUEL 11. SAUL DELIVERS JABESH-GILEAD AND IS MADE KING. (J) continues the ancient narrative, sequel to 1 Samuel 10:16. Putting aside 1 Samuel 11:12, inserted by an editor to connect this chapter with the Deuteronomic document, the rest shows clearly that the writer knew nothing of any previous public appointment of Saul to be king: when the messengers come to Gibeah, they do not ask for Saul, and no one thinks of him until he himself intervenes. 1 Samuel 8 is probably a later addition; the reference to Judah, before David comes upon the scene, and the exaggerated numbers, are not characteristic of the earlier documents in _Samuel._ 1 SAMUEL 11:1. About a month after Saul's interview with S

AND THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO SAMUEL— We have here a fine picture of the capricious disposition of the common people, and of the prodigious alteration which great success makes in their affections. The moderation of Saul, 1 Samuel 11:13 deserves as much praise, as their precipitate thirst for revenge deserves condemnation....

_The Kingship of Saul Renewed._ 1 Samuel 11:12-15 12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who _is_ 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 today the Lord 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 Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. _11._ How did Saul demonstrate his ?Wis. 11:12; ?Wis. 11:13 After the rout of the Ammonites, many of the people of Israel thought they should punish those evil men who had opposed Saul's becoming king. Saul had now demonstrate

SAUL SUBDUES THE AMMONITES This chapter is entirely in the spirit of the narratives in Judges; from 1 Samuel 11:15, it seems to be independent of 1 Samuel 10 but 1 Samuel 11:12 points back to 1 Samuel 10:27, which is perhaps distinct from 1 Samuel 10:17 even the ceremony at Grilgal may have been a' renewal' (1 Samuel 11:10), in the renewed popular enthusiasm, of the ceremony at Mizpeh. But see on...