1 Samuel 11

1 Soon Nahash [the Ammonite king, a non-Israelite ruler] the Ammonite came up [to ascend, to rise] and laid siege [encamped against, besieged] to Jabesh-gilead [a town in the Gilead region, east of the Jordan River]. All [every, the entire population] the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make [to cut, to establish] a treaty [covenant, agreement] with us, and we will serve [be your subjects, obey] you [as our ruler, master].” word study 2 But Nahash [the Ammonite king] the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty [covenant, agreement] with you on one condition, that I may put out [thrust out, gouge out] everyone’s right [benjamin, the direction of the right hand] eye [the source of sight] and bring [lay, cause to be] reproach [shame, scorn] upon all [every, the entirety of] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people].” word study 3 “Hold off [give us a reprieve, allow us to wait] for seven days,” replied the elders [responsible leaders, old men] of Jabesh, “and let us send [dispatch, send out] messengers [representatives] throughout [to all the borders, every part of] Israel [the people of God, Jacob’s descendants]. If there is no one [none, nothing] to save [rescue, deliver] us, we will surrender [come out, give ourselves up] to you [toward you, to your authority].” word study 4 When the messengers [representatives] came to Gibeah [a city in Palestine, the birthplace of King Saul] of Saul [Shaul, the desired one] and relayed these words [tidings, news] in the hearing [ears, presence] of the people [nation, community], they all [every single one] wept [lifted up their voice and cried, shed tears] aloud [out loud, with a loud voice]. word study 5 Just then [at that moment, behold] Saul [Shaul, the desired one] was returning [coming back, following] from the field [the land, the countryside], behind his oxen [cattle, domesticated animals]. “What troubles [affects, is happening to] the people [nation, community]?” asked Saul [Shaul, the leader]. “Why are they weeping [crying, shedding tears]?” And they relayed [told, recounted] to him the words [things, matters] of the men [individuals, persons] from Jabesh [the city, the town]. word study 6 When Saul [the desired one, a Benjamite king] heard their words, the Spirit [the breath of life] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] rushed [to prosper, to succeed] upon him, and he burned [was incensed, became furious] with great [exceedingly, very much] anger [strong emotions, zeal]. word study 7 He took a pair [yoke, team] of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers [representatives] throughout the land [territory, borders] of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done [happen, occur] to the oxen [cattle, livestock] of anyone who does not march [follow, go out] behind [after, in support of] Saul [Shaul, the desired one] and Samuel [Shemuel, heard by God].” Then the terror [dread, fear] of the LORD [Yehovah] fell [came, descended] upon [on, over] the people [nation, community], and they turned out [came out, assembled] as one man [united, single]. word study 8 And when Saul [as their leader] numbered them at Bezek [a place of lightning-fast battles], there were [three hundred thousand, a multitude] 300,000 Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] and 30,000 [thirty thousand, a large company] men of Judah [the tribe of Judah, son of Jacob]. word study 9 So they said to the messengers [representatives] who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead [a town in the territory of Gilead]: ‘Deliverance [salvation, rescue] will be yours tomorrow [at a future time, by the next day] by the time the sun [the celestial body] is hot [in its heat, chaos].’” And when the messengers [an ambassador, an envoy] relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced [were glad, celebrated with joy]. word study 10 Then the men [individuals, people] of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow [in the future, after today] we will come out [go out, emerge], and you can do with us [treat us, act towards us] whatever [all that, everything] seems [appears, is considered] good [pleasant, beneficial] to you [in your eyes, according to your will].” word study 11 The next day [morrow, following day] Saul organized the troops [people, army] into three divisions, and during the morning [at the break of day, dawn] watch [period of guarding, vigil] they invaded the camp [encampment, army] of the Ammonites [descendants of Lot, a neighboring nation] and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day [heat of the day, when the sun is at its strongest]. And the survivors [those who remained, were left] were so scattered [dispersed, broken apart] that no two of them were left together [united, in one place]. word study 12 Then the people [a nation, a multitude] said to Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet], “Who [a question of identity] said that Saul [Shaul, a desired leader] should not reign [to advise, to rule as king] over us [upon us, with authority]? Bring those men [individuals, males] here so we can kill [to die, to put to death] them [the ones who opposed]!” word study 13 But Saul [the first king of Israel] ordered, “No one [not a single man] shall be put to death [executed, killed] this day [at this time, today], for today [on this very day] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has worked [accomplished, brought about] salvation [deliverance, rescue] in Israel [the people of God, the chosen nation].” word study 14 Then Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet of Israel] said to the people [a nation or community], “Come [let us walk, go], let us go [move, journey] to Gilgal [a region in Palestine, a wheel or rolling] and renew [restore, make new again] the kingship [royal authority, realm] there [in that place, at that time].” word study 15 So all [every single one] the people went to Gilgal [the circle, a region in Palestine] and confirmed Saul [Shaul, the desired one] as king [to reign, ruler] in the presence [face to face, before] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. There they sacrificed [offered, slaughtered] peace offerings [voluntary sacrifices to show thanks] before the LORD, and Saul and all [every] the Israelites [descendants of Jacob] rejoiced [to be glad, celebrate] greatly [exceedingly, very much]. word study