1 Samuel 11:7-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:5-11

What is here related turns very much to the honour of Saul, and shows the happy fruits of that other spirit with which he was endued. Observe here, I. His humility. Though he was anointed king, and accepted by his people, yet he did not think it below him to know the state of his own flocks, but went himself to see them, and came in the evening, with his servants, after the herd out of the field, 1 Sam. 11:5. This was an evidence that he was not puffed up with his advancement, as those are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:7

And he took a yoke of oxen ,.... Of his own or his father's, which he had just followed out of the field, and for which chiefly that circumstance is mentioned: and hewed them in pieces ; as the Levite did his concubine, Judges 19:29 and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers ; some carrying a piece one way, and some another, throughout all the tribes; for to them all the government of Saul extended, and which by this he let them know it did: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:8

And when he numbered them at Bezek ,.... Which was the place appointed to meet at, the same with that in Judges 1:4 ; see Gill on Judges 1:4 though some take the word to be an appellative, and not, the proper name of a place, and render it, "with a stone"; with which he numbered, taking a stone from each, and laying them on a heap, and then telling them F21 Vid. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 22. 2. & Gloss. in ib. ; so Bizakion signifies little stones F23 Suidas in voce βιζακιων ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:7

He took a yoke of open - The sending the pieces of the oxen was an act similar to that of the Levite, Judges 19:29 ; (note), where see the note. And both customs are similar to the sending about of the bloody cross, to call the clans to battle, practiced by the ancient Highlanders of Scotland. See at the end of this chapter, 1 Samuel 11:15 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:8

The children of Israel were three hundred thousand , and the men of Judah thirty thousand - This was a vast army, but the Septuagint make it even more: "All the men of Israel were ἑξακοσιας χιλιαδας , Six Hundred thousand; and the men of Judah ἑβδομηκοντα χιλιαδας , Seventy thousand." Josephus goes yet higher with the number of the Israelites: "He found the number of those whom he had gathered together to be ἑβδομηκοντα μυριαδας Seven Hundred thousand."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:4-11

The perfecting gift. The facts are— 1 . The message brought to Gibeah throws the inhabitants into grief and consternation. 2 . Saul, on hearing the tidings, is aroused by the Spirit of God to summon the nation to follow him and Samuel. 3 . The people responding to the call, help is assured to the men of Jabesh. 4 . The result is the utter defeat of the Ammonites. The effect of the appeal of the men of Jabesh on the people of Gibeah, on Saul, and subsequently on the conflict... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:7

Acting then with Divine enthusiasm, Saul cut into pieces a yoke of oxen, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers. For a similar act see 19:29 . Probably Saul cut the oxen into twelve pieces, and sent one to each tribe, with the threat that in case of disobedience their oxen would be similarly treated. The threat was moderate in that it did not touch their persons, but severe as regards their property, the labouring ox being man's faithful friend and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:8

He numbered them in Bezek . This place was in the tribe of Issachar, and must be distinguished from that mentioned in 1:3 , 1:4 , which was in Judah, and too remote from the scene of operations. And here Saul appears as the commander-in-chief; for the numbering included the forming of battalions, arranged in thousands, hundreds, and fifties, and the setting officers over them. These, naturally, were the chief men in each district. The result would be that, coming to Bezek, the appointed... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:7

Though not expressly stated, it is doubtless implied that he sent the portions by the messengers to the twelve tribes, after the analogy, and probably in imitation, of Judges 19:29. He made use of the revered name of Samuel to strengthen his own weak authority. Samuel accompanied Saul in the expedition 1 Samuel 11:12. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:8

He numbered them - This was done to see who was absent (compare Judges 21:9).Bezek has been conjectured to be the name of a district rather than of a town. Two villages retained the name in the time of Eusebius 17 miles from Nablous, on the way to Beth-shean.The children of Israel and the men of Judah - This looks like the language of later times, times perhaps subsequent to the establishment of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Israel here (including Benjamin) is as ten to one compared... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:5-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:4-11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:8

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