John Gill Bible Commentary

And it was so on the morrow,.... After the messengers were returned, and delivered their message, and the men of Jabeshgilead had given the Ammonites reason to expect that they would come out to them according to their agreement: that Saul put the people into three companies; or "heads" (a), under so many commanders, assigning to each their number, if equally, 110,000 in each, as Gideon divided his three hundred into three companies, one hundred in each, Jdg 7:16 and Abimelech, Jdg 9:43 it seems to have been their way of fighting in those days: and they came unto the midst of the host: that is, of the Ammonites: in the morning watch; the third and last watch of the night, by break of day, or before, however before the sun was up; so quick was Saul and his men in their march, though on foot. Bunting (b) computes the distance from Gibeah to Bezek forty miles, and from thence to Jabesh sixteen; it is commonly reckoned that it was about sixty miles from Gibeah to Jabesh. Josephus (c) says it was ten "schaeni", each of which contained five or six miles: and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day; that is, till noon, so that from the morning watch till noon he was making slaughter of them: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered; those that were not cut off by the sword of Saul were broken and dispersed, they could not stand their ground against him: so that two of them were not left together; to flee together, but every one shifted for himself, and fled alone. (a) "capita", Pagninus, Montanus, &c. (b) Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 126. (c) Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 5. sect. 3.)