1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

42 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionJephthah's victory over his nation. Jabesh-gilead lay a few miles east of the Jordan Valleyand about 25 miles south of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee). 128 The men of Jabesh-gileadoffered to surrender and serve the Ammonites provided Nahash would make a covenantwith them rather than slaughtering them.Nahash's purpose to put out the right eye of his enemies was not uncommon in that day.This wound made a conquered nation easier to control, and it testified to the conqueror'ssuperior power. Specifically it made aiming arrows with the right eye impossible andtherefore insured the Ammonites' safety. Perhaps Nahash's decision to attack Jabeshgileadwas the result of the Israelites breaking a treaty with his nation."In the ancient Near East, the physical mutilation, dismemberment, ordeath of an animal or human victim could be expected as the inevitablepenalty for treaty violation." 129Nahash's willingness to let his enemies appeal for help shows he had no fear thatthreatening reinforcements would come. He was sure of his superiority and may haveviewed the delay as an opportunity to insure victory. At this time Israel lacked a centralgovernment, national solidarity, and a standing army. However, Saul was now Israel'sking.The announcement of the messengers from Jabesh-gilead led the people in Saul'shometown, as well as elsewhere undoubtedly, to weep. They had again forgotten God'spromises to protect them since they were His people. Their reaction was a result ofviewing the situation from the natural perspective only.Why was Saul at home farming since he was Israel's king? He had not yet receiveddirection from God or Samuel to do anything else, as far as we know. The fact that he,the anointed king, was plowing shows his humility. Estate owners never worked the landthemselves. 130 Furthermore he was willing to work hard. Thus he was not self-centered atthis time (cf. 2 Cor. 4:5).Saul's deliverance of Jabesh-gilead 11:6-11God's Spirit came on Saul in the sense that He stirred up his spirit (cf. 10:6, 10). Hisresponse to the messengers' news was appropriate indignation since non-Israelites wereattacking God's covenant people (Gen. 12:3). Saul may have had a personal interest inJabesh-gilead since some of his ancestors evidently came from there (cf. 31:11-13).Following the civil war in Israel, during which many Benjamites had died, many of thosewho remained alive took wives from the women of Jabesh-gilead and the women ofShiloh (Judg. 21).128 Chinnereth is the Hebrew word for "lyre." The lake has the shape of a lyre, which accounts for its name.129 Youngblood, p. 637.130 Marvin Chaney, "Systemic Study of the Israelite Monarchy," Semeia 37 (1986):61.