A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

a battle and the ensuing loss of life, the men of Jabesh appealed to Nahash for a peaceful solution
to the brewing conflict. Sadistically, Nahash agreed to make a peace treaty with the city on the
condition that he would then gouge out the right eyes of the people. The unacceptable terms of
Nahash’s offer then led the elders of the city to turn to Israel for help.
When the messengers told the people of Gibeah the situation, they began wailing and
weeping. Hearing the reaction of the crowd, Saul inquired as to the cause. As he learned of the
situation at Jabesh, Saul was incensed with anger. He took a pair of oxen and cut them into
pieces. The pieces were then sent throughout all Israel with a warning to the people they too
would be cut apart if they did not follow Saul and Samuel into battle against Nahash. The severe
message from their king had the desired effect on the people, “and they came out with one
consent” (11:7). After gathering an army of 330,000 men, Saul sent a message of support to the
elders of the city of Jabesh. By early afternoon the next day, Saul had divided his army into three
companies, successfully attacked the Ammonites, slaughtered and scattered the enemy, and won
a decisive victory in his first battle as king.
The victory over Nahash caused the people to increase in their admiration for their king.
Some of the people wanted to gather up and kill those who had earlier questioned Saul’s ability
to lead as king. But basking in the glory of his victory, Saul objected to the proposition. “Then
said Samuel to the people, `Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there’ “ (v. 14).
Samuel had tried to get Saul to Gilgal earlier, but Saul failed to go there on his own. Now the
prophet seized the opportunity to take the entire nation to Gilgal, knowing the king would join
them there to be publicly honored.
At Gilgal, Samuel took the opportunity to deliver what would be his last message to the
nation. First, he challenged the people to identify any abuse he had performed in serving in the
office of prophet, priest, and judge. The people responded by affirming, “You have not
defrauded us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything of any man’s hand” (12:4). Though
the people had earlier objected to the corruption of Samuel’s sons, their response to the prophet
on this occasion suggests that, unlike Eli, Samuel had dealt with his sons-either leading them to
repentance of their corruption or eliminating them from the office they had abused.
Then Samuel reviewed the history of Israel, stressing how God had demonstrated His
concern for Israel and how the nation had forgotten God and rejected Him. Again he emphasized
how wrong the people had been in demanding a kin from God, and sought to prove the point
through a miraculous demonstration of the power of God. On Samuel’s request, the Lord sent a
heavy thunderstorm which destroyed much of the wheat harvest which had just ripened. The
people responded to this miracle by acknowledging their sin and asking the prophet to pray for
them (v. 19). Samuel then comforted the people, acknowledging their sin had not yet involved
turning from God completely. Before dismissing the people that day, he stressed God would
bless them only as they feared the Lord and served him wholeheartedly (v. 24). Describing his
own role as a spiritual leader in the land, Samuel declared, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from
me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and
the right way” (v. 23).
THE REJECTION OF SAUL AS KING OF ISRAEL
(1 Sam. 13:1-16:23)
Within two years, Saul was beginning to experience difficulty in leading the nation as
king. He had formed a standing army of 3,000 men and sent the others home intending to call on
them only when they were needed. His standing army had been divided into two companies: a