Year of the Bible
1 Samuel 11
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Commentary on the First Book of Samuel, Chapter 11:
Saul has been chosen as King by God, but he is still living as a commoner. A crisis in the nation brings him to center-stage. An enemy, King Nahash of the Ammonite nation, puts an Israelite city under siege. Rather than risking his own army in battle, Nahash tells the Israelites he will let them live if they surrender to him and let him gouge out their right eyes as a sign of defeat and disgrace. When Saul hears of this situation, God’s Spirit fills him so that he rides through the nation rallying people to come to the aid of their kinsmen. He defeats the Ammonite army and shows mercy to the defeated soldiers. After the battle, the people offer sacrifices to God and make Saul their King.
The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 11:
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the hearing of the people; and all the people wept aloud.
5 Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, “What ails the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. 8 When he mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.’ ” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 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.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has wrought deliverance in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
"And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled." (v.6) Lord, are there areas in my life in which you want to stir up righteous anger and move me to action?
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
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1 Najás, el amonita, subió y acampó
frente a Yabés de Galaad. Todos los
de Yabés de Galaad dijeron a Najás:
–Haz un pacto con nosotros y seremos
vasallos tuyos.
2 Najás, el amonita, les contestó:
–Haré un pacto con vosotros con
una condición: sacaos todos el ojo derecho
para llenar así de escarnio a todo
Israel.
3 Los ancianos de Yabés le dijeron:
–Danos un plazo de siete días para
enviar mensajeros por todo el territorio
de Israel. Si no hay quien nos defienda,
nos someteremos a ti.
4 Llegaron los mensajeros a Guibeá
de Saúl, refirieron estos planes al pueblo
y todos alzaron la voz y rompieron a llorar.
5 En ese momento regresaba Saúl del
campo tras los bueyes, y preguntó:
–¿Qué le ocurre al pueblo que está
sumido en llanto?
Entonces le contaron los planes de
los de Yabés, 6 y Saúl, al oírlo, se sintió
invadido por el espíritu de Dios, se llenó
de furor 7 y, tomando un par de bueyes,
los despedazó y envió los trozos por
todo el territorio de Israel por medio de
mensajeros, diciendo: «Esto mismo se
hará a los bueyes del que no siga a Saúl
y a Samuel». El temor del Señor sobrecogió
al pueblo y salieron como un solo
hombre.
8 Saúl les pasó revista en Bézec: los
hijos de Israel eran trescientos mil y los
de Judá treinta mil. 9 Y dijo a los mensajeros
que habían venido:
–Decid a los de Yabés de Galaad:
«Mañana, cuando más caliente el sol, os
llegará la salvación».
Los mensajeros fueron a anunciarlo
a los de Yabés, que se alegraron mucho.
10 Los de Yabés dijeron a Najás:
–Mañana partiremos hacia vuestras
posiciones y haréis con nosotros lo que
os parezca mejor.
11 A la mañana siguiente Saúl distribuyó
al pueblo en tres cuerpos, irrumpieron
en el campamento al romper la
aurora y abatieron a los amonitas hasta
el momento de más calor del día. Y los
supervivientes fueron dispersados y no
quedaron dos juntos.
12 Entonces el pueblo dijo a Samuel:
–¿Quién es el que decía: «Va a reinar
Saúl sobre vosotros?». Entréganos
a esos hombres, que les haremos morir.
13 Pero Saúl dijo:
–Que nadie muera hoy, porque hoy
el Señor ha llevado a cabo la salvación
de Israel.
14 Y Samuel dijo al pueblo:
–Vayamos a Guilgal e inauguremos
allí la monarquía.
15 Todo el pueblo se encaminó a
Guilgal. Allí proclamaron rey a Saúl
ofreciendo sacrificios de comunión
ante el Señor. Saúl y todos los hijos de
Israel lo celebraron con mucha alegría.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
"Y el espíritu de Dios se apoderó de Saúl al oír estas palabras, y su enojo se encendió en gran medida". (v.6) Señor, ¿hay áreas en mi vida en las que quieres despertar un enojo justo y moverme a la acción?
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para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).