1 Samuel 11:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death."

NIV: 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."

NASB: Then the people said to Samuel, 'Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, so that we may put them to death!'

CSB: Afterward, the people said to Samuel, "Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!"

NLT: Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, 'Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!'

KJV: And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

NKJV: Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

First Samuel 11:12–15 describes the events that follow the victory over the Ammonites. Saul is fully embraced as king. The people want to execute those who once opposed him (1 Samuel 10:27). He refuses, focusing attention on God's work on Israel's behalf. Samuel calls for a religious celebration with peace offerings and feasting at Gilgal to renew Saul's kingship. Saul and the people rejoice greatly together, and he is firmly established as Israel's king.

Saul calls for all Israelites to join him in battle against the Ammonites who have laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. Nahash, the Ammonite king, has threatened to gouge out the right eyes of the people of Jabesh if they want a treaty with him. Instead, Saul arrives with an enormous Israelite army and slaughters the Ammonites. Samuel calls for the nation to gather at Gilgal for a religious celebration; there, they officially reaffirm Saul's rule as Israel's king.

God allowed Israel to demand a king (1 Samuel 8:19–22) and appointed Saul to the role (1 Samuel 9:15–16). This seems to be followed very soon by a crisis. Constant enemies of Israel, the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 23:3–6), lay siege to a border town. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Saul leads a massive army to rout the invaders. Samuel then arranges a ceremony where the people reaffirm that Saul is indeed king. Saul would have further success against the Philistines (1 Samuel 13—14). But his rule will decay until David (1 Samuel 16:13) replaces him.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 11/22/2024 8:59:49 PM