Chapter Introduction
One glorious moment. Saul saved Jabesh Gilead.
The right eye is the eye of faith. The left eye was covered with the shield. By the compromise they would be unfitted to fight. Thus Satan seeks to cripple the follower of Christ in service. A compromising saint is always blind in one eye.
Brooks, K. (2009).
Summarized Bible (p. 59).
Logos Bible Software.
1 Samuel 11:1-7
The NKJV (and others) leave chapter 10 at verse 27 and pick up in verse 1 of chapter 11. This awkward transition leaves the reader with the impression that they missed something. This is how the traditional Masoretic text reads. The Dead Sea Scroll copy of 1 Samuel includes a paragraph with introductory info between 10:27 and 11:1. This passage was likely original to First Samuel. However, because the first lines of verse 1 and the omitted text are identical, copyists inadvertently skipped the first part.
The ESV includes this:
[Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn’t a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.] (Found in Dead Sea Scroll 4QSAM)
Gouging out the right eye of the Israelites removed their ability to fight effectively. The right eye dominant couldn’t aim, their sense of depth was off, and they lost some peripheral vision. Some had escaped this tyrant. Giving up an eye was a compromise for peace. In a sense, they said:
“I’d give my right eye to avoid war!”
The Ammonites were the offspring of Lot’s incestuous relations with his daughter. They were located east of the Jordan, northeast of the Dead Sea. They’ve been a constant source of trouble to Israel from the beginning. King Nahash had terrorized and controlled the Israelites in the tribal lands of Gad and Reuben. The seven thousand that escaped went north to Manasseh to the town of Jabesh Gilead.
The folks of Jabesh Gilead then became an enemy of Nahash (the Snake), so they sent a message to the Ammonite king that they wanted to subject themselves to him for the sake of peace. They wanted to know what kind of compromise was available in the terms of a treaty. A guy named ‘Snake’ was attacking God’s people, and they were inviting compromise. This ought to get our attention.
The Israelites used a word that meant cutting a covenant. The sacrifice ceremony involved cutting an animal into pieces and passing it between them. It was a commitment to terms, lest either party end up like the animal. It only worked when both parties preferred peace, possessed honor, respected life, and were trustworthy. Ammon should have been disqualified from this.
Nahash (snake) offered them a deal. He would let them live, put out their eyes, and bring reproach on all of Israel, and they could become his servants. Did anyone think this was a good deal? I’m sure there were some. Some reasoned that to be half blind and alive was better than death. Others would have said that being half blind and in bondage was death. History tells us that many of mankind would give up every liberty in the name of peace and safety.
The handicap he offered was permanent disfigurement. They would not be able to defend themselves. The enemy is very good at leading us to compromise. He makes it easy for us to reason why we should fold up. Beyond the physical part of this deal is the effect on the nation, the nation of God’s people. They would appear weak and defeated. He wanted to bring reproach to all of Israel. We might ask why that is important to this enemy. The answer is found by discovering the real enemy of God’s people: the Snake behind the Snake, Satan.
The elders wisely ask for time to think this over. The Ammonites must have thought that the delay was no big deal. Israel was so weak they felt no military threat in offering them time to think about it.
- Who would come to save Jabesh Gilead?
- After all, these are the same folks who failed to show up at Mizpah when all of Israel was called to deal with the sins of Benjamin (Judges 21:8-9).
- Even if others did come, it would increase their spoils and the humiliation of Israel.
Saul was in the fields when the news came. The Spirit of God came upon him in a moment that resembled Samson.
Saul was in the field. Is this humility? Or is this failure to accept the calling put upon him? When the Spirit of God came upon him, he knew it was time to act as the king. He became enraged. Saul slaughtered the oxen and sent pieces among the people to message others that the same would be done to anyone who didn’t follow him and Samuel. The effect of this was Saul uniting the people of Israel under his kingship against their common enemy. A great army is assembled under Saul’s leadership. He was a great start for the young king.
1 Samuel 11:7b-15
The people of Israel were united under the fear of the Lord. Whatever would have otherwise divided them was secondary to their place among the tribes and within the fear of the Lord. They were three hundred thousand strong when they gathered at Bezek, west of the Jordan, in preparation for crossing and rescuing Jabesh Gilead.
They sent a message ahead that help was coming, and they would arrive around noon. Archaeologists believe they have identified these locations, which were about 14 miles apart.
The men of Jabesh sent word to Nahash that they would come out and surrender the next day. The Ammonites probably let their guard down. The next day, Saul divided the people to form a three-pronged attack. They entered the camp and slaughtered and scattered the Ammonite army.
When the Spirit of God empowers God’s people, they unite to do His will, and there is no end to what they can accomplish.
***
After the battle, those loyal to Saul gave him glory for the victory. They were then ready to go after those who had rebelled from Saul’s kingship or called it into question. But Saul diffused that and did well in giving all glory to God for the victory. Once again, we see good signs of humility and leadership from Saul.
With all the people of Israel present, Samuel moved them to Gilgal for the king's coronation. Saul had been established and proven to be their king.
Big Idea
Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you, for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Yet, he would never have us offer an eye to the enemy as a compromise. Satan would love to cripple the faithful, destroy their ability to battle him and remove us from service to our Lord.
“A compromising saint is always blind in one eye.”
Brooks, K. (2009).
Summarized Bible: OT (p. 59).
Logos Bible Software.
©2004 Doug Ford; Further Study and Revision 2015, 2024
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