 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 bring disgrace on 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 ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.
5 Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God rushed 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 the 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 people 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 you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’ ” 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 struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. The Kingdom Is Renewed 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 worked salvation 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. Meditation The ancient gospel promise that God will crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) is the hope of humanity. Paul promises the day of fully crushing the serpent, Satan, is soon (Romans 16:20), and John reminds believers the already nature of Christ’s rule not only binds the serpent but guarantees his bashing in the final judgement (Revelation 20). The King crushes the serpent. The naming of the Ammonite king is important: Nahash, means “serpent” (the same word used in Numbers 21 and Genesis 3:15). Nahash is another ruler in the long line of the serpent’s seed seeking to oppress God’s people and extinguish God’s promise, and he must be crushed. The people need a king to crush the serpent. Israel did not look to God for salvation, but God, in His grace, provided rescue through the anointed king of His nation. The Spirit of God rushed on Saul who summoned Israel to respond to fight the enemy. The Lord gave victory, crushing the serpent king through His anointed king so His people would be free. Jesus is the true anointed King, the promised seed who crushes Satan and brings salvation to all who believe. The serpent king wants to remove our eyes so we cannot look to the Lord for help and hope. The serpent king wants to kill and destroy. The true King gives salvation to all who believe by being bound and killed in our place. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and He delivers all who trust in Him. Richly Dwelling -How does identifying Nahash as a serpent king change the way you read the narrative? -Why is it significant that God’s anointed king is the only hope for Israel? How does this clearly paint a picture of the gospel? -What difference does this make in your faith, knowing Jesus is the only King who gives victory over the serpent? Where do you need to claim this victory in your life, living freely FROM the power of the enemy? Key Verse 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” Comments are closed.
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