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SAUL SLAYS THE AMMONITES

I Samuel 11:1-15

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline the text:

 

i.                    NAHASH COMES AGAINST ISRAEL (I Sam. 11:1-3)

ii.                  NEWS OF CONFLICT REACHES SAUL (I Sam. 11:4-9)

iii.                NAHASH IS DEFEATED BY ISRAEL (I Sam. 11:10-11)

iv.                NATION OF ISRAEL RENEWED IN PEACE (I Sam. 11:12-15)

 

2.       What king came against Jabesh-gilead? (I Sam. 11:1)

 

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead…

 

A.     Nahash

1.       His name means “serpent.”

2.       It appears from I Samuel 12:12 that Nahash had come against Israel in times past.  It was part of the occasion for Israel’s desire for a king.

3.       We read nothing more of Nahash after this until he dies in the days of David (II Sam. 10:1-2).

 

B.      The Ammonites

1.       They were descendants of Lot through the son of his younger daughter.

2.       They became enemies of the children of Israel.

3.       The worshipped the gods of Milcom and Molech.

 

C.     Jabesh-gilead

1.       The Ammonites viewed Jabesh-gilead as their city (See Judges 11:13).

2.       Map

 

See the source image

 

 

3.       What did the men of Jabesh-gilead desire of Nahash? (I Sam. 11:1)

 

…and all the men of Jabesh-gilead said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

A.     They desired a covenant of servanthood.

 

B.      This was more desirable that being killed in battle.

 

4.       What condition did Nahash put on the covenant? (I Sam. 11:2)

 

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes…

 

A.     Nahash desired to put out the right eyes of the people of Jabash-gilead.

 

B.      Clarke:   “This cruel condition would serve at once as a badge of their slavery, and a means of incapacitating them from being effective warriors” (e-sword).

 

5.       Why did he desire this condition? (I Sam. 11:2)

 

…and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

 

A.     Reproach

1.       Strong (2781):  disgrace

2.       BDB:  reproach (resting on the condition of shame, disgrace)

 

B.      LESSON:  Adversaries love to revel in the defeat of their enemies.  They seek to humiliate them in the most disgraceful of ways.  (See Proverbs 24:17-18)

 

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:  lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

 

6.       How much time did the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead desire from Nahash? (I Sam. 11:3)

 

And the elders of Jabesh said, Give us seven days respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel:  and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

 

A.     They requested seven days of respite.

 

B.      It was not uncommon in those days for conditions of both battle and surrender to be sought by warring people.

1.       Nahash may have needed that time to better prepare for battle.

2.       Nahash may have thought that Israel was in disarray and was functioning without any form of central government and leader.  Remember, Samuel was an old man at the time.

 

7.       Where did the people go tell of the threat of Nahash? (I Sam. 11:4)

 

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tiding in the ears of the people…

 

A.     They went to Gibeah, the hometown of Saul.

 

B.      This would be Saul’s call to begin his reign over the kingdom.  It would also be his first test as the captain of Israel.

 

 

 

8.       What did the people do when they heard the news? (I Sam. 11:4)

 

…and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

 

A.     They wept.

 

B.      Wept

1.       Strong (1058):  to weep, bemoan

2.       BDB:  to weep, bewail, cry, shed tear, to weep in grief, to weep bitterly

 

9.       Where was Saul before hearing the news? (I Sam. 11:5)

 

And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep?  And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

 

A.     Saul was in the field tending the herds.

 

B.      It is intriguing that Saul had been called to become the king of Israel, yet until this time he had taken no steps to establish and order the nation of Israel.

 

10.   What came upon Saul when he heard “these tidings”? (I Sam. 11:6)

 

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard these tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

 

A.     The Spirit of God came upon him.

 

B.      This is the second time the Spirit of God has come upon him. 

1.       The previous time was when its reception was part of the signs given by Samuel that he would become king (See I Sam. 10:6).  At that time, he prophesied.

2.       Now the Spirit came upon him for a different purpose. 

a.       It energized him.

b.      It may have given him some form of wisdom as to how he should handle this situation.

 

11.   “…and his anger was kindled greatly” (I Sam. 11:6)

 

A.     This display of anger was righteous indignation against a hostile nation who had come against his people and his kingdom.

 

B.      Anger often strengthens us for the fight.

 

12.   How did Saul threaten the people of Israel if they refused to come with Saul? (I Sam. 11:7)

 

And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. 

 

A.     Saul slew two yoke of oxen and threated to destroy the oxen of the Israelites if they did not come to fight.

 

B.      This was a vivid display that showed the seriousness of Saul’s call.

 

C.     Note that he also invoked the name of Samuel in the message.  This would help to strengthen the authority of the message since Saul’s authority had not been well established at this time.

 

13.   T – F    The threat of Saul did not work (I Sam. 11:7)

 

…And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

 

A.     False

 

B.      “The fear of the Lord” involved an awe and respect for God.

1.       He had given them a king.

2.       A threat had come upon the nation.

3.       Now, their king desired to fight for them.

 

14.   How many people came to the assistance of Saul? (I Sam. 11:8)

 

And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the man of Judah thirty thousand.

 

A.     Israel:  300,000     

                             

B.      Judah: 30,000

 

C.     NOTE:  The numbers are large because this is not just “fighting” men like those found in an army.  This was all of the men of Israel and Judah.

 

D.     In the distinction drawn between the children of Judah and the children of Israel we may already discern a trace of that separation of Judah from the rest of the tribes, which eventually led to a formal secession on the part of the latter” (e-sword, K&D).

 

15.   At what time did they tell the man of Jabesh-gilead that they would have help? (I Sam. 11:9)

 

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help…

 

A.     They told them that they would be there on the morrow “by that time the sun be hot.”

 

B.      That time the sun be hot:  about noon

 

16.   What did the men of Jabesh do when they heard the news? (I Sam. 11:9)

 

…and the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

 

A.     They were glad.

 

B.      Glad:

1.       Strong (8055):  to make bright, gleesome

2.       BDB:  to rejoice, gladden, make glad

 

 

 

17.   T – F    The men of Jabesh told Nahash they would come out the following day. (I Sam. 11:10)

 

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good to you.

 

A.     True

 

B.      In verse 3, we read:  “…and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.”

1.       Nahash probably assumed that he had easily won the victory and no one would come to their rescue.

2.       In essence, this was a plot for Nahash to be exposed when the people of Israel came out to fight against him.

 

18.   Into how many companies did Saul divide his army? (I Sam. 11:11)

 

And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies…

 

A.     He put them in three companies.

 

B.      He could attack in three different waves, or, he could attack from three different points of origin.

 

19.   When did they come against the Ammonites? (I Sam.11:11)

 

…and they came into unto the midst of the host in the morning watch…

 

A.     They came “in the morning watch.”

 

B.      This would have been between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. 

 

C.     The Ammonites would have been resting comfortably.  They thought that Jabesh was going to surrender to them the following day.

 

20.   How long did the battle last? (I Sam. 11:11)

 

…and slew the Ammonites unto the heat of the day…

 

A.     Unto the heat of the day, about noon

 

21.   T – F    The Ammonites were scattered so that no two were left together (I Sam. 11:11)

 

…and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

 

A.     True

 

B.      This proves that the rout was complete.

 

22.   What did the people want to do to those who had opposed Saul’s being king? (I Sam. 11:12)

 

And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us?  bring the men, that we may put them to death.

A.     They wanted them brought out and put to death.

 

B.      Remember, these were the worthless children of Belial (See I Sam. 10:27).

1.       They doubted Saul’s ability to deliver them from their enemies.  “How shall this man save us?”

2.       This battle proved that Saul was a man of great military might.  He did deliver Israel from the hands of the Ammonites.

3.       Some were so impressed with the victory that they wanted the doubters destroyed.

 

23.   T – F    Saul immediately commanded for all of those who opposed him to be slain (I Sam.

11:13).

 

And Saul said, There shall not be a man put to death this day…

 

A.     False

 

24.   Why did Saul refuse to put his opposition to death that day? (I Sam. 11:13)

 

…for today the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.

 

A.     Today was a day of victory, a day of joy.  It should not be tainted by slaying their fellow man.

 

B.      Saul shows his positive character again.  It would have been easy to give in to such demands.  The children of Belial were his opposition in the nation.  Saul, however, showed restraint instead of revenge.

 

25.   Where did Saul want all the people to go? (I Sam. 11:14)

 

Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal…

 

A.     He wanted them to go to Gilgal.

 

B.      K&D:  “Gilgal is in all probability the place where Samuel judged the people every year (1Sa_7:16). But whether it was the Gilgal in the plain of the Jordan, or Jiljilia on higher ground to the south-west of Shiloh, it is by no means easy to determine. The latter is favoured, apart from the fact that Samuel did not say “Let us go down,” but simply “Let us go” (cf. 1Sa_10:8), by the circumstance that the solemn ceremony took place after the return from the war at Jabesh; since it is hardly likely that the people would have gone down into the valley of the Jordan to Gilgal, whereas Jiljilia was close by the road from Jabesh to Gibeah and Ramah” (e-sword).

 

26.   Why did he want them to go to that city? (I Sam. 11:14)

 

…and renew the kingdom there.

 

A.     He wanted them to renew the kingdom there.

 

B.      Renew:

1.       Strong (2318):  to cause to be new, rebuild

2.       BDB:  to be new, renew

 

C.     Saul had not immediately established his throne after his anointing.  He now believed that it was time to do this.

 

D.     He would renew in the minds of Israel that he was their king and the kingdom would become fully operative in Israel.

 

27.   When they went to Gilgal, what three things happened? (I Sam. 11:15)

 

And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

 

A.     They made Saul king before the Lord.  NOTE:  Some think that Saul may have been anointed again, but the text does not reveal this.

 

B.      They sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings

 

C.     Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAMUEL’S ADDRESS TO ISRAEL (1)

I Samuel 12:1-11

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline of the section:

 

i.                    I Samuel 12:1-5

ii.                  I Samuel 12:6-11

 

2.       What did Samuel do to hearken unto the voice of Israel? (I Sam. 12:1)

 

 

3.       What is Samuel’s purpose in verse 2?  (I Sam. 12:2)

 

 

 

4.       What does Samuel ask the people to do “before the Lord, and before his anointed”? (I Sam. 12:3)

 

 

5.       Define:  witness (I Sam. 12:3)

 

 

6.       What five questions did he ask of Israel? (I Sam. 12:3)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

E.

 

7.       If Samuel had taken anything wrongfully, what did he say he would do? (I Sam. 12:3)

 

 

 

8.       T- F  Some of the Israelites charged Samuel with taking things from them. (I Sam. 12:4)

 

9.       Who did Samuel say were witnesses to their answer that day? (I Sam. 12:5)

 

A.

 

B.

 

10.   Who had the Lord advanced to bring Israel’s fathers out of land of Egypt? (I Sam. 12:6)

 

 

11.   “Now therefore _______________  ______________, that I may ____________ with you before the Lord…” (I Sam. 12:7)

 

12.   Define:  reason (I Sam. 12:7)

 

 

 

13.   What did Samuel want to reason with them about? (I Sam. 12:7)

 

 

14.   What deliverance does Samuel remind them of first (I Sam. 12:8)

 

 

15.   When Israel forgot God, whose hands did He sell Israel into? (I Sam. 12:9)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

16.   After they were sold into the hands of their enemies, what did they cry, saying? (I Sam. 12:10)

 

 

 

17.   Who had they served instead of God (I Sam. 12:10)

 

A.

 

B.

 

18.   What did they want God to do for them? (I Sam. 12:10)

 

 

19.   What did they promise God in return (I Sam. 12:10)

 

 

20.   What four men were sent by God to deliver Israel from their enemies? (I Sam. 12:11)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

21.   Who is Bedan? (I Sam. 12:11)

 

 

22.   T – F    God delivered them on every side and Israel dwelled safely (I Sam. 12:11)