Catholic Commentary on 1 Samuel 11

"Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul when he heard these words, and he burned with anger." (1 Samuel 11:6)

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

Nahash the Ammonite threatens to gouge out the right eye of every Israelite in Jabesh-gilead. The elders ask for seven days to seek help. Messengers come to Gibeah and the people weep. Saul comes from the fields and asks what is wrong. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul when he heard these words, and he burned with anger. He mobilises Israel: 300,000 from Israel and 30,000 from Judah. He sends reassurance to Jabesh: by the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued. By the morning watch Saul's army is in position; they strike from three directions and scatter the Ammonites.

In the aftermath the people want to execute those who had despised Saul. He refuses: no one will be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel. Samuel calls the people to Gilgal to reaffirm the kingship. The restraint Saul shows in refusing to execute his opponents is the mark of the Spirit-filled leader who does not use victory as a license for settling scores. The Catechism identifies this mercy in victory as the mark of legitimate authority exercised in the fear of God (CCC 1898).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, no one will be put to death today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel. The day of victory is not the day for revenge. The grace that wins the battle produces the mercy that restrains the hand after it. When God gives you a victory, use the day to celebrate rescue, not to settle scores.

Prayer

Lord God, the Spirit came powerfully on Saul and he burned with anger to protect your people. Give us righteous anger at injustice and mercy in victory. Let the day of rescue be a day of mercy, not revenge. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

11
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
1 Soon Nahash * 11:1 DSS and LXX About a month later Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty † 11:1 Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant. with us, and we will serve you.”
 
2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
 
3 “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”
 
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.
 
5 Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
 
6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.”
 
Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man. 8 And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 ‡ 11:8 DSS and LXX 70,000 men of Judah. 9 So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’ ”
 
And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.
 
10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”
 
11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
Saul Confirmed as King
 
12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”
 
13 But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
 
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”
 
15 So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

*11:1 11:1 DSS and LXX About a month later Nahash

†11:1 11:1 Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

‡11:8 11:8 DSS and LXX 70,000

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