5. (1 Sam 11:9-11) The defeat of Nahash and the Ammonites
They said to the messengers who had come, "Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.'" So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. Then the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you." The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot: The distance between Bezek and Jabesh-Gilead is about 20 miles. Saul would have probably marched most of the way that evening, and then stopping for food and sleep, would have continued his advance early the next morning.
Tomorrow we will come out to you: This message was intended to lull the Ammonites into a false sense of security. The Ammonites would assume that the men of Jabesh-Gilead had given up all hope of being delivered and would be unprepared for a military fight.
In three companies: In order to effectively rout the Ammonites, the men of Israel are divided up into three companies, which could then attack the Ammonites from three sides at once. This is a similar tactic which Gideon used to defeat Midian in Judges 7:16: "He [Gideon] divided the 300 men into three companies, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hand of all them, with torches inside the pitchers."
The morning watch: The morning watch was the last of the three watches of the night, each lasting four hours. The first watch would be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The second watch would be from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. And the third watch would be from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Thus, the first onslaught of the men of Israel would have taken place sometime between 2 and 6 a.m.
Struck down the Ammonites...those who survived were scattered: Victory! Jabesh-Gilead was rescued from the cruel hands of Nahash and the Ammonites, and its inhabitants long remembered the debt of gratitude which they owed Saul. It was the men of Jabesh-Gilead who, at the risk of their lives, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines and gave them an honorable burial (1 Samuel 31:11-13: "Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men rose and walked all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.")
B. Saul's coronation
1. (1 Sam 11:12-13) Saul shows mercy to his former opponents
Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is he that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel."
Then the people said to Samuel: Even after this glorious victory, the people turn to Samuel. It is doubtless that Samuel's presence and influence had great weight in gaining the obedience of the people to obey Saul's command (verse 7). It was to Samuel to whom the people looked to bring punishment to the men who had dared to question the wisdom of electing Saul as king.
Who is he that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?': At this moment of great victory, the supported of Saul wanted to expose and kill those who did not support him as king (as described in 1 Samuel 10:27).
Not a man shall be put to death this day: This is a tremendously wise decision on Saul's part. Anything like a bloody vengeance would have been the start of future feuds and bitter feelings between the new king and the powerful families of the other tribes, who disliked and opposed the election of Saul as king. By this determined refusal to avenge the cruel hatred shown to him, Saul set a precedent for future kings, and showed how forgiving all past wrongs was a royal virtue.
Today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel: It would have been so easy, after this incredible victory, for Saul to take credit for Israel's deliverance. Yet, Saul humbly acknowledges God and reminds Israel of God's mercy. Saul's words remind Israel that God had overlooked Israel's sins and had given them a glorious victory. In the same way, it was only right for Saul to forgive his neighbors' sins without bloodshed.
2. (1 Sam 11:14-15) Saul is accepted as king by the entire nation
Then Samuel said to the people, "Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there." So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Then Samuel said to the people: Samuel knew that the people of Israel were not entirely behind Saul when he was proclaimed as king at Mizpah (1 Samuel 10:24-27). Samuel wisely sees this time of victory as a strategic opportunity to "renew the kingdom".
Although Saul had been selected by God and anointed king, he had to prove himself before many would accept his reign as king. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It was understandable for some to say, "Let's see what kind of man Saul is before we follow his leadership." But once it was demonstrated, as it was in this chapter, it would have been wrong for the people to fail to support Saul.
Let us for to Gilgal: This was a well-known sanctuary and was situated in the Jordan River Valley near Jericho. It was also not far from Jabesh-Gilead. It would be natural to move from the bloody field of battle to the nearest religious spot to consecrate the king.
They made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal: It wasn't that Saul was not king before this, but it is at Gilgal in which all the nation of Israel finally accepts Saul as their ruler. Saul was anointed king by Samuel in 1 Samuel 10:1 and recognized as king by much of the nation in 1 Samuel 10:24. But it is not until Saul demonstrates great leadership and rouses Israel to a stunning victory before all of Israel hail Saul as their king.
All the men of Israel rejoiced greatly: Indeed, after a great victory and all Israel finally being unfied by accepting Saul as their king, it was a great day of joy and celebration.
Concluding remarks: Saul lead Israel in battle, and God delivered Israel from the hands of Nahash and the Ammonites. But this chapter goes far deeper than just a triumphal win for Israel. It shows the strong and subtle temptations Saul had to overcome--pride, insecurity and revenge. As Saul becomes more and more success as a king, he must continue the inward battle, an inward battle which can only be won by being filled with the Spirit of the LORD and walking in that Spirit.
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