1 Samuel 11:1–7a

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”

Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”

So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.”

The cowardly surrender of the men of Jabesh inspires Nahash to great sin. His barbarous proposal is designed to permanently subject the men of Jabesh to servitude. The right eye is essential to a soldier, as the shield in the left hand impedes the vision of the left eye.

But that’s not what matters. What matters is that this is psycho wickedness and it cannot be allowed to stand. To make matters worse, Nahash specifically mentions that his goal is to bring reproach on all Israel. This must be met with righteous force.

And that’s precisely Saul’s reaction. Anyone who is willing to let this evil stand will be treated as a pariah.

Saul is acting like a king in more than one way. His reaction is technically correct, but it also displays compassion for his people. He isn’t thinking about himself.

Also, his “plan” displays great leadership. He leverages his power (over oxen!) to raise an army. He also shows some style. Saul mimics the actions of the Levite in Judges 19.

When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. And so it was that all who saw it said, “No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!” — Judges 19:29–30

Everyone in Israel is familiar with this story.

So they get Saul’s point.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Weekend DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.