1 Samuel 11:1-3 KJV,ASV

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1

1. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up—Nahash ("serpent"); (see :-). The Ammonites had long claimed the right of original possession in Gilead. Though repressed by Jephthah ( :-), they now, after ninety years, renew their pretensions; and it was the report of their threatened invasion that hastened the appointment of a king (1 Samuel 12:12). Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee—They saw no prospect of aid from the western Israelites, who were not only remote, but scarcely able to repel... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:2

2. thrust out all your right eyes—literally, "scoop" or "hollow out" the ball. This barbarous mutilation is the usual punishment of usurpers in the East, inflicted on chiefs; sometimes, also, even in modern history, on the whole male population of a town. Nahash meant to keep the Jabeshites useful as tributaries, whence he did not wish to render them wholly blind, but only to deprive them of their right eye, which would disqualify them for war. Besides, his object was, through the people of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:3

3, 4. send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel—a curious proof of the general dissatisfaction that prevailed as to the appointment of Saul. Those Gileadites deemed him capable neither of advising nor succoring them; and even in his own town the appeal was made to the people—not to the prince. :-. THEY SEND TO SAUL, AND ARE DELIVERED. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 11:1-5

The Ammonite siege of Jabesh-gilead 11:1-5The Ammonites were Israel’s enemies to the east. They were descendants of Lot whom Jephthah had defeated earlier (Judges 11:12-33). Nahash evidently sought revenge for Jephthah’s victory over his nation. Jabesh-gilead lay a few miles east of the Jordan Valley and about 25 miles south of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee). Chinnereth is the Hebrew word for "lyre." The lake has the shape of a lyre, which accounts for this name. The men of Jabesh-gilead... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 11:1-11

4. Saul’s effective leadership in battle 11:1-11Israel’s king not only needed to be an admirable individual in his personal conduct, but he also needed to be an effective military commander. The writer pointed out Saul’s abilities in this area in this chapter. The nation consequently united behind him because of his success. This was the third divine indication that God had chosen Saul to lead Israel following his private anointing and his public choice by lot. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Saul subdues the AmmonitesThis chapter is entirely in the spirit of the narratives in Judges; from 1 Samuel 11:15, it seems to be independent of 1 Samuel 10 but 1 Samuel 11:12 points back to 1 Samuel 10:27, which is perhaps distinct from 1 Samuel 10:17-24 even the ceremony at Grilgal may have been a’ renewal’ (1 Samuel 11:10), in the renewed popular enthusiasm, of the ceremony at Mizpeh. But see on 1 Samuel 12:12.1. Nahash] It is very doubtful if this is the Nahash of 2 Samuel 10:2. 3. Come... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 11:1

(1) Nahash the Ammonite.—Nahash was king of the children of Ammon (see 1 Samuel 12:12). This royal family was in some way related to David (see 2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:16-17). At the time of David’s exile owing to the rebellion of Absalom, a son of Nahash the Ammonite is specially mentioned as showing kindness to the fugitive king. Jabesh-gilead was a city situated in Northern Gilead, in the territory assigned to Manasseh. Josephus states that it was the capital of the country of Gilead.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 11:2

(2) On this condition.—The horrible cruelty of this scornful proposal gives us an insight into the barbarous customs of this imperfectly civilised age. Indeed, many of the crimes we read of in these books—crimes which, to modern ears, justly sound shocking and scarcely credible—are referable to the fact that civilisation and its humanizing influences had made but little way as yet among the nations of the world.The object of Nahash’s cruelty was to incapacitate the inhabitants of Jabesh from... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 11:3

(3) Give us seven days’ respite.—This kind of proposal has always in time of war been a common one; such a request from a beleaguered fortress we meet with constantly, especially in mediæval chronicles. It was, no doubt, made by the citizens in the hope that Saul the Benjamite, in whose election as king they had recently taken a part, would devise some means for their rescue. Between Benjamin and the city of Jabesh-gilead there had long existed the closest ties of friendship. How far back this... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 11:1-15

The Relief of Jabesh-gilead 1 Samuel 11:0 Of the rejoicing after the relief of Jabesh-Gilead Dr. Blaikie says: 'It was perhaps the happiest occasion in all the reign of Saul. What constituted the chief element of brightness to the occasion was the sunshine of heaven. God was there, smiling on His children. There were other elements too. Samuel was there, happy that Saul had conquered, that he had established himself upon the throne, and above all, that he had, in a right noble way,... read more

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:3

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 11:1-5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 11:1-11

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 11:1

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 11:2

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 11:3

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 11:1-15

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