Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. XI.

THen a 1.1 Nahash the Ammonite b 1.2 came up c 1.3, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead d 1.4: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us e 1.5, and we will serve thee f 1.6.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I ‡ 1.7 make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes g 1.8, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, ‡ 1.9 Give us seven days respite h 1.10, 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.

4 ¶ Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul i 1.11, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lift up their voices, and wept k 1.12.

5 And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field l 1.13 and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? and they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul m 1.14, when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly n 1.15.

7 And he took a yoke of Oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel o 1.16, by the hand of Messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul, and after Samuel p 1.17, so shall it be done unto his oxen: and the fear of the LORD q 1.18 fell on the people, and they came out ‡ 1.19 with one consent.

8 And when he numbred them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand r 1.20, and the men of Judah thirty thousand s 1.21.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow t 1.22 by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have ‖ 1.23 help. And the messengers came, and shew∣ed it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To mor∣row we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you u 1.24.

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people into three companies x 1.25, and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch y 1.26, and slew the Ammonites, until the hea•…•… of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, * 1.27 Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us z 1.28? * 1.29 bring the men, that we may put them to death a 1.30.

13 And Saul said, * 1.31 There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel b 1.32.

14 Then c 1.33 said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal d 1.34, and renew the kingdom there e 1.35.

15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king f 1.36 before the LORD g 1.37 in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings h 1.38, before the LORD: and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoyced greatly.

Notes

• a 1.1

  i. e. About that time; this Particle being used in some Latitude, as is frequent: for that this happened before, and was the occasion of their desire of a King, may seem from chap. 12. 12. Although it is possible, that Nahash his pre∣paration, and declared intention of Warring against them, might cause that desire, and that Nahash did not actually come against them (which is here related) till their King was chosen.
• b 1.2

  Either the same with him, 2 Sam. 10. 2. or his Father and Predecessor.
• c 1.3

  To War, probably to re∣venge and recover their former great loss by Iephthah, Iudg. 11. 33.
• d 1.4

  Which was beyond Iordan, and near the Ammonites, who dwelt in part of Arabia.
• e 1.5

  To wit, upon good conditions, so as we shall enjoy our Religion and Pro∣perties.
• f 1.6

  In other things we will be thy Subjects and Tributaties. The occasion of this offer was, that they saw no likelihood of relief from their brethren the Israelites in Canaan, who were remote from them, and then weak and divided, and scarce able to defend themselves from the Phi∣listines.
• ‡ 1.7

  Hebr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 See Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 32. Gen. 1•…•…. 18. Jer. 34. 1•…•….
• g 1.8

  Partly for a Reproach, as it here follows; and partly, to disable them from managing offensive weapons in Battel; for their left Eye served onely, or chiefly for Defence, being covered by those large shields which then they used, and held in their left hand. He leaves them one Eye, that they might be fit to serve him in any mean and base office.
• ‡ 1.9

  Hebr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us.
• h 1.10

  Which it is very probable, and Iosephus and others Affirm, That Nahash granted, out of a foolish self-confidence, and contempt of the broken condition of the Israelites, which he thought utterly unable to give them any relief; at least, in so short a time.
• i 1.11

  Partly, because it was not far from them; and partly, because it belonged to the Benjamites, who had a special ob∣ligation to take more care of that place from whence they had their Wives, Iudg. 21. 10, &c. And partly, because Saul, their new chosen King, was there.
• k 1.12

  Both in compassion to∣wards them, and for fear of themselves, lest it should shortly be their own lot.
• l 1.13

  For being onely Anointed King, and not publickly inau∣gurated, nor owned, nor presented by the generality of the People, nor having yet had any opportunity of doing any thing worthy of his Place, he thought sit to forbear all Royal State, and to retire to his former private, and Country Life, which, howsoever despised in these latter, vain, ambitious, and slothful Ages of the World, was anciently in great esteem among the Greeks and Romans, whose Princes and Generals did frequently exercise themselves in it. Though some con∣ceive that he now lived in some State, and that he had been in the fields onely to recreate himself, and that his coming after the Herd was but accidental, and is mentioned onely to usher in what follows of the Yoke of Oxen.
• m 1.14

  Inspiring him suddenly with more than ordinary Cou∣rage, and Zeal, and Resolution, to ingage himself and the people for their Rescue. Compare Iudg. 3. 10. and 6. 34. and 11. 29.
• n 1.15

  Against Nahash, for so insolent and barba∣rous a Proposition.
• o 1.16

  Wisely considering, that the sight of Mens Eyes do much more affect their Hearts, than what they onely hear with their Ears.
• p 1.17

  Whom he joyns with himself, both because he was present with him; as appears from v. 12. and that hereby he might gain the more Authority to his Command, and strike the greater Terror into all despisers of it.
• q 1.18

  Either 1. A great fear; great things being oft thus expressed, as Cedars of God, Mountains of God, &c. Or, 2. A Fear sent upon them by God, as Gen. 35. 5. that they should not dare to deny their help.
• ‡ 1.19

  Hebr. as one 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• r 1.20

  This great Terror drew so many forth: which is not so strange to him that knows what none deny, That the Land of Canaan contained vast Numbers of People in a little com∣pass.
• s 1.21

  Who are numbred apart to their honour, to shew how readily they, to whom the Kingdom was promised, Gen. 49. 10. submitted to their King, though of another and far meaner Tribe; and how willing they were to hazard themselves for their Brethrens Rescue, although they might have excused themselves from the necessity of defending their own Country from their dangerous Neighbours the Philistines.
• t 1.22

  To wit, the day after your departure hence, or return home; for it seems probable, that some few days had been spent in the gathering and disposing of the Forces, and bring∣ing them towards those parts.
• ‖ 1.23

  Or, delive∣rance.
• u 1.24

  They did, and might reasonably and justly understand their own condition before proposed, v. 3. if none came to save them; which they were not now obliged to repeat, although they conjectured, that their Enemies would under∣stand it absolutely, whose Error therein they were no more obliged to Correct, than to prevent their Destruction. Nor did they tell any lye herein, but onely concealed part of their intentions, to render their Enemy more secure and fit for Rui•…•…; which kind of Stratagems are usual, and allow∣ed by all persons.
• x 1.25

  That so Invading them on several sides with a great Force, he might both strike them with the greater Terror, and prevent their escape.
• y 1.26

  Having marched all the day and night before it.
• * 1.27

  Chap. 10. 27.
• z 1.28

  They did not say so in terms, as we may see v. 27. but this was the design and consequence of their Speech, as they rightly construe it.
• * 1.29

  Luk. 19. 27.
• a 1.30

  Which till this time they were not able to do, because that infection was then almost uni∣versal.
• * 1.31

  2 Sam. 19. 22.
• b 1.32

  I will not destroy any of those whom God hath so graciously preserved; nor sully the mirth of this glorious and comfortable Day with the slaughter of any of my Subjects: and therefore I freely forgive them. Wherein Saul shewed his Policy as well as his Clemency, this being the most like∣ly way to gain his Enemies, and secure his Friends, and sta∣blish his Throne in the hearts of his People.
• c 1.33

  Whilest the people were together by Iabesh-Gilead, wherein Samuel's great prudence and fidelity to Saul is evi∣dent. He suspended the Confirmation of Saul at first, whilst the generality of the people were disaffected and discontented at the meanness of his Person: and now when he had given such eminent proof of his Princely Vertues, and when the peoples hearts were unanimously and eagerly set upon him, he takes this as the fittest season for that work.
• d 1.34

  This place he chose, both because it was near, and, to most of them, in the way to their homes; and because thither the Israelites on this side, and beyond Iordan, might more easily resort; and because it was famous for publick Conventions there kept, and particularly, for the Covenant there renewed by Ioshua between God and the People.
• e 1.35

  i. e. Confirm our former choice, to prevent all such Se∣ditious Expressions and Actions as we had experience of at the former Election.
• f 1.36

  i. e. They Recognized him, or owned and accepted him for their King by consent; for to speak properly, Saul was not made, or constituted King by the People, but by the Lords immediate Act; see chap. 8. 9. and 10. 1.
• g 1.37

  Who was there present in a special manner; both because the People of the Lord were there Assembled, and because there was an Altar, as the following Sacrifices shew. The same Phrase is used chap. 10. 17. and 14. 18.
• h 1.38

  Partly to Praise God for so glorious a Victory, and for the firm Settlement of the distracted Kingdome; and partly, to implore the Pre∣sence and Assistance of God to the King and Kingdome, in all their Affairs and Exigencies.