Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, “By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.” (1 Samuel 11:9)Here is the second of three installments in the story of Jabesh Gilead. You remember Jabesh in Gilead. Episode One: When the tribes of Israel united against Benjamin (Judges 19-20), Jabesh did not join the fight. After Israel realized how close it had come to losing the tribe of Benjamin altogether, Jabesh was attacked and its young women given to Benjamin as wives.
And where did Saul hail from? You got it. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.
In Episode Two, Jabesh Gilead (it must have risen from the ashes) was besieged by the Ammonites. When word of their plight reached Saul, the new king of Israel realized his first test had arrived. To make a long, confusing story short, Saul led Israel’s fighting men and rescued Jabesh. Saul’s kingship, which had been received unenthusiastically at best, was strengthened and acclaimed by everyone.
Episode Three is the tear-jerker. Rather than tell you the story, I’ll let you read it for yourself: 1 Samuel 31:11-13.
How the mighty have fallen.
I hadn't made the connection of where his 'hometown folks' would have been before. Interesting. Yikes on the ox whacked up and sent out to everyone with the 'this'll happen to you if you don't join!'... a bit mafia horse-head in the bed-esque, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'd also forgotten how the power of the Spirit *was* on Saul at first... his later stumbling around the rocks after David is sadly more what comes to mind than his triumphant-seeming start. - Amy