1 Samuel 11:8

in Bezek Probably to be identified with Ibzîk, about half way between Shechem and Beth-shan, and 7 miles W. of the Jordan. It was within a day's march of Jabesh.

three hundred thousand, &c. The numbers seem large, but not too large for a general levy of the nation. Cp. Judges 20:2. The separate numbering of Israel and Judah has been taken to mark the date of the book as posterior to the Division of the Kingdom. It may however be only an indication of a tendency on the part of Judah to isolation which was confirmed by the separation in the early part of David's reign, and prepared the way for the Disruption.