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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 11:15 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Sa 11:15	Strong Concordance	And all the people [05971] went [03212] to Gilgal [01537]; and there they made Saul [07586] king [04427] before [06440] the LORD [03068] in Gilgal [01537]; and there they sacrificed [02076] sacrifices [02077] of peace offerings [08002] before [06440] the LORD [03068]; and there Saul [07586] and all the men [0582] of Israel [03478] rejoiced [08055] greatly [03966].
	King James	And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Made Saul king - The Septuagint has another reading, "and Samuel anointed Saul king there." The example of David, who, besides his original anointing by Samuel Sa1 16:12-13, was twice anointed, first as king of Judah Sa2 2:4, and again as king over all Israel Sa2 5:3, makes it probable that Saul was anointed a second time; but this may be included in the word "made king" (see Sa1 12:3, Sa1 12:5).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Made Saul king - The Septuagint has another reading, "and Samuel anointed Saul king there." The example of David, who, besides his original anointing by Samuel Sa1 16:12-13, was twice anointed, first as king of Judah Sa2 2:4, and again as king over all Israel Sa2 5:3, makes it probable that Saul was anointed a second time; but this may be included in the word "made king" (see Sa1 12:3, Sa1 12:5).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Made - They owned and accepted him for their king.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
There they made Saul king - It is likely, from these words, that Saul was anointed a second time; he was now publicly acknowledged, and there was no gainsayer. Thus far Saul acted well, and the kingdom seemed to be confirmed in his hand; but soon through imprudence he lost it. On the custom referred to in Sa1 11:7 I am favored with the following observations by a learned correspondent: - "It is considered that the authenticity of records respecting a peculiar people cannot be better illustrated, or the fidelity of the historian more clearly ascertained, than by proving that the manners and customs recorded are in unison with, or bear a resemblance to, the manners and customs of other nations of the same antiquity; or, what may be more correct, in a similar state of improvement; and the records of such rites and customs may possibly acquire an additional mark of authenticity, when the similarity is not so exact as to admit a presumption that the customs of one nation were merely copied from the other. "Sir Walter Scott, in the third canto of the Lady of the Lake, describes the rites, incantations, and imprecations, used prior to the fiery cross being circulated, to summon the rough warriors of ancient times to the service of their chief; and in the first note of this canto he alludes to this ancient custom which, in comparatively modern times, has been used in Scotland, and proves that a similar punishment of death or destruction of the houses for disobeying the summons was inflicted by the ancient Scandinavians, as recorded by Olaus Magnus, in his history of the Goths. A custom still more in point than the one cited may be found to have existed in a more ancient nation, whose history is supposed the most, if not the only authentic narrative of deeds of ancient times, and which also records the sanguinary manners of uncultivated nations; see the preceding chapter, Sa1 10:1-8 (note). The similarity of the custom is to be found in the seventh verse; with the Highlanders a goat was slain; with the Israelites, an ox. The exhibition of a cross stained with the blood of the sacrificed animal was the summons of the former, while part of the animal was the mandate of the latter. Disobedience in the one nation was punished with the death of the parties, and burning of their dwellings; in the other, the punishment was more simple, and more allusive to the sacrificed emblem, the forfeiture or destruction of their oxen. It is not difficult to judge whether the comparison be correct. "The first verses record the sanguinary practices of ancient times, which to many appear merely as the gratification of revenge, or as proofs of victory; yet when it is considered that the right eye must chiefly aid the warrior in aiming at his adversary, whether the weapon be of ancient or modern warfare, here arises a military reason, corroborative of the truth of history, for the deprivation, and in some degree lessening the cruelty of the mutilation, which would be increased if it were caused by revenge or wantonness; though Nahash declares it to be a reproach upon all Israel."

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

There they made Saul king - It is likely, from these words, that Saul was anointed a second time; he was now publicly acknowledged, and there was no gainsayer. Thus far Saul acted well, and the kingdom seemed to be confirmed in his hand; but soon through imprudence he lost it.

On the custom referred to in Sa1 11:7 I am favored with the following observations by a learned correspondent: -

"It is considered that the authenticity of records respecting a peculiar people cannot be better illustrated, or the fidelity of the historian more clearly ascertained, than by proving that the manners and customs recorded are in unison with, or bear a resemblance to, the manners and customs of other nations of the same antiquity; or, what may be more correct, in a similar state of improvement; and the records of such rites and customs may possibly acquire an additional mark of authenticity, when the similarity is not so exact as to admit a presumption that the customs of one nation were merely copied from the other.

"Sir Walter Scott, in the third canto of the Lady of the Lake, describes the rites, incantations, and imprecations, used prior to the fiery cross being circulated, to summon the rough warriors of ancient times to the service of their chief; and in the first note of this canto he alludes to this ancient custom which, in comparatively modern times, has been used in Scotland, and proves that a similar punishment of death or destruction of the houses for disobeying the summons was inflicted by the ancient Scandinavians, as recorded by Olaus Magnus, in his history of the Goths. A custom still more in point than the one cited may be found to have existed in a more ancient nation, whose history is supposed the most, if not the only authentic narrative of deeds of ancient times, and which also records the sanguinary manners of uncultivated nations; see the preceding chapter, Sa1 10:1-8 (note). The similarity of the custom is to be found in the seventh verse; with the Highlanders a goat was slain; with the Israelites, an ox. The exhibition of a cross stained with the blood of the sacrificed animal was the summons of the former, while part of the animal was the mandate of the latter. Disobedience in the one nation was punished with the death of the parties, and burning of their dwellings; in the other, the punishment was more simple, and more allusive to the sacrificed emblem, the forfeiture or destruction of their oxen. It is not difficult to judge whether the comparison be correct.

"The first verses record the sanguinary practices of ancient times, which to many appear merely as the gratification of revenge, or as proofs of victory; yet when it is considered that the right eye must chiefly aid the warrior in aiming at his adversary, whether the weapon be of ancient or modern warfare, here arises a military reason, corroborative of the truth of history, for the deprivation, and in some degree lessening the cruelty of the mutilation, which would be increased if it were caused by revenge or wantonness; though Nahash declares it to be a reproach upon all Israel."

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⁵ And he said [0559] unto them, The LORD [03068] is witness [05707] against you, and his anointed [04899] is witness [05707] this day [03117], that ye have not found [04672] ought [03972] in my hand [03027]. And they answered [0559], He is witness [05707].

³ Behold, here I am: witness [06030] against me before the LORD [03068], and before his anointed [04899]: whose ox [07794] have I taken [03947]? or whose ass [02543] have I taken [03947]? or whom have I defrauded [06231]? whom have I oppressed [07533]? or of whose hand [03027] have I received any bribe [03724] to blind [05956] mine eyes [05869] therewith? and I will restore [07725] it you.

³ So all the elders [02205] of Israel [03478] came [0935] to the king [04428] to Hebron [02275]; and king [04428] David [01732] made [03772] a league [01285] with them in Hebron [02275] before [06440] the LORD [03068]: and they anointed [04886] David [01732] king [04428] over Israel [03478].

⁴ And the men [0582] of Judah [03063] came [0935], and there they anointed [04886] David [01732] king [04428] over the house [01004] of Judah [03063]. And they told [05046] David [01732], saying [0559], That the men [0582] of Jabeshgilead [03003] [01568] were they that buried [06912] Saul [07586].

¹² And he sent [07971], and brought him in [0935]. Now he was ruddy [0132], and withal [05973] of a beautiful [03303] countenance [05869], and goodly [02896] to look to [07210]. And the LORD [03068] said [0559], Arise [06965], anoint [04886] him: for this is he.
¹³ Then Samuel [08050] took [03947] the horn [07161] of oil [08081], and anointed [04886] him in the midst [07130] of his brethren [0251]: and the Spirit [07307] of the LORD [03068] came [06743] upon David [01732] from that day [03117] forward [04605]. So Samuel [08050] rose up [06965], and went [03212] to Ramah [07414].

¹ Then Samuel [08050] took [03947] a vial [06378] of oil [08081], and poured [03332] it upon his head [07218], and kissed [05401] him, and said [0559], Is it not because the LORD [03068] hath anointed [04886] thee to be captain [05057] over his inheritance [05159]?
² When thou art departed [03212] from me [05978] to day [03117], then thou shalt find [04672] two [08147] men [0582] by Rachel's [07354] sepulchre [06900] in the border [01366] of Benjamin [01144] at Zelzah [06766]; and they will say [0559] unto thee, The asses [0860] which thou wentest [01980] to seek [01245] are found [04672]: and, lo, thy father [01] hath left [05203] the care [01697] of the asses [0860], and sorroweth [01672] for you, saying [0559], What shall I do [06213] for my son [01121]?
³ Then shalt thou go on [02498] forward [01973] from thence, and thou shalt come [0935] to the plain [0436] of Tabor [08396], and there shall meet [04672] thee three [07969] men [0582] going up [05927] to God [0430] to Bethel [01008], one [0259] carrying [05375] three [07969] kids [01423], and another [0259] carrying [05375] three [07969] loaves [03603] of bread [03899], and another [0259] carrying [05375] a bottle [05035] of wine [03196]:
⁴ And they will [07592] salute [07965] thee, and give [05414] thee two [08147] loaves of bread [03899]; which thou shalt receive [03947] of their hands [03027].
⁵ After [0310] that thou shalt come [0935] to the hill [01389] of God [0430], where is the garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430]: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither [0935] to the city [05892], that thou shalt meet [06293] a company [02256] of prophets [05030] coming down [03381] from the high place [01116] with a psaltery [05035], and a tabret [08596], and a pipe [02485], and a harp [03658], before [06440] them; and they shall prophesy [05012]:
⁶ And the Spirit [07307] of the LORD [03068] will come [06743] upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy [05012] with them, and shalt be turned [02015] into another [0312] man [0376].
⁷ And let it be, when these signs [0226] are come [0935] unto thee, that thou do [06213] as occasion [04672] serve [03027] thee; for God [0430] is with thee.
⁸ And thou shalt go down [03381] before [06440] me to Gilgal [01537]; and, behold, I will come down [03381] unto thee, to offer [05927] burnt offerings [05930], and to sacrifice [02076] sacrifices [02077] of peace offerings [08002]: seven [07651] days [03117] shalt thou tarry [03176], till I come [0935] to thee, and shew [03045] thee what thou shalt do [06213].

⁷ And he took [03947] a yoke [06776] of oxen [01241], and hewed them in pieces [05408], and sent [07971] them throughout all the coasts [01366] of Israel [03478] by the hands [03027] of messengers [04397], saying [0559], Whosoever cometh not forth [03318] after [0310] Saul [07586] and after [0310] Samuel [08050], so shall it be done [06213] unto his oxen [01241]. And the fear [06343] of the LORD [03068] fell [05307] on the people [05971], and they came out [03318] with one [0259] consent [0376].