seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Samuel 11:12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”
13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
This is from the easy English commentary.
In 10:27, some men did not think that Saul could save the Israelites. At Jabesh, Saul proved that he could. This proved that he was a good leader. In verse 13, Saul was not proud. He knew that God had rescued the people. Saul was wise. He did not punish those who opposed his authority. Instead, Samuel had a special meeting. Everyone declared that Saul was king. This time no-one opposed him. The Israelites were happy with God and happy with Saul. The Bible sometimes calls the ‘peace offering’ the ‘fellowship’ or ‘friendship’ offering. The people gave offerings to the Lord. Then they ate part of the offerings together. You can read about this offering in Leviticus 3 and 7:11-21. This was probably the same offering as in 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 9.
People declared Saul as king on three different occasions. This way, Samuel helped the people to accept Saul as king. First, Samuel anointed him with oil in 10:1. This was a private time with just Saul and Samuel. The second time was a public event. God chose Saul from all of the Israelites (10:17-25). But some people opposed Saul. The third time was in 11:14-15. This time all the Israelites went to the holy place. Everyone knew then that God gave Saul the power to be their king.
People declared Saul as king on three different occasions. This way, Samuel helped the people to accept Saul as king. First, Samuel anointed him with oil in 10:1. This was a private time with just Saul and Samuel. The second time was a public event. God chose Saul from all of the Israelites (10:17-25). But some people opposed Saul. The third time was in 11:14-15. This time all the Israelites went to the holy place. Everyone knew then that God gave Saul the power to be their king.
After Saul took on Nahash the terrorist and beat him so severely... the people weren't making fun of Saul for being one of those "prophets" anymore.
The commentary at Bible.org brings some interesting questions.
So far as the people are concerned, this is proof positive that Saul is the kind of king they want. He is their man! The jubilant celebration which follows is something like the victory celebration of the winning team after the Super Bowl. It is like the television beer commercial, in which one Israelite turns to the other and says, “Brother, it doesn’t get any better than this!” It is like the news of his election reaching a presidential candidate at his campaign headquarters. If the Israelites had a band, it would play, “Happy days are here again. . . .”
At this very moment, Samuel summons the people to Gilgal, where they will “renew the kingdom” (11:14). Saul is made king, sacrifices are made before the Lord, and the “men of Israel rejoiced greatly” (11:15). But what is this matter of “renewing the kingdom”? If Saul is Israel’s first king, then he is their “new” king. How then can they “renew the kingdom” by making Saul king?
At this very moment, Samuel summons the people to Gilgal, where they will “renew the kingdom” (11:14). Saul is made king, sacrifices are made before the Lord, and the “men of Israel rejoiced greatly” (11:15). But what is this matter of “renewing the kingdom”? If Saul is Israel’s first king, then he is their “new” king. How then can they “renew the kingdom” by making Saul king?
The commentary goes on into a long winded sermon that leads back to the beginning... They were at Gilgal... where they stopped after crossing the River Jordan. Gilgal was the first place they stepped foot in Canaan. And for some time we've been reading that under the Judges people did "what they thought was right". We saw those words back in Judges 21:25. and in Judges 17:6. They needed a human leader... judges weren't up to the task... so now they have their king.... like everyone else.
It's time to party... they got their king.... he's a pretty boy from a good family out of the line of Jacob and Leah's baby boy Benjamin. He's been anointed, he knows how to raise an army of 300,000, and he's proven himself in battle against that nogoodnik terrorist Nahash.... leaving no two enemy soldiers together.... he's quite a king.... I hope he has a crazy good time at his party....
