1 Samuel 11

CHAPTERS 11 AND 12THEME: Saul’s victory over the Ammonites; transfer of authority from Samuel to Saul

1 Samuel 11:1

SAUL’S VICTORY OVER THE AMMONITESIn the previous chapter I said some rather harsh things about King Saul, although I did not seem to have sufficient grounds at the time. I had only a strong suspicion that he was not genuine. I felt that he would have made a good actor but not a good king, even though he had a good beginning. This was a very strong, ugly demand made by Nahash on the men of Jabesh. They needed deliverance.

1 Samuel 11:4

Notice how Saul identifies himself with Samuel. I do not think at this particular time that Saul’s name could have stood alone. When Saul asked the people to come and linked his name with Samuel’s name, however, the people came. They also came because of two main fears. They were afraid of Saul and also fearful of what the Ammonites might do to them.

1 Samuel 11:11

Saul divided his men into three companies. Then the Israelites went after the Ammonites and slew and scattered them so badly that not two of them were left together. Each Ammonite that survived fled by himself.

1 Samuel 11:12

Some of the Israelites opposed the idea of having Saul as their king. Samuel ignored that opposition until the nation was united in favor of Saul. Saul’s leadership in dealing with the Ammonites took care of the resistance.

1 Samuel 11:13

Now all of Israel accepts Saul as king. You may be saying, “Well, now, preacher, you see that you were wrong. You were prejudiced against King Saul, and look, he is making good!” Yes, he certainly started off like a great king, but let’s keep reading. It is too bad that his story doesn’t end here.