1 Samuel 11 10

1 Samuel 11:10 kjv

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

1 Samuel 11:10 nkjv

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you."

1 Samuel 11:10 niv

They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like."

1 Samuel 11:10 esv

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."

1 Samuel 11:10 nlt

The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish."

1 Samuel 11 verses

1 Samuel 11 10 Meaning

The men of Jabesh-Gilead, under siege by Nahash the Ammonite and facing brutal terms of surrender, strategically declared their intention to "come out" the next day. This seeming capitulation was a calculated delay tactic, giving Saul, who had been informed of their plight and moved by God's Spirit, the crucial time needed to gather the Israelite army and launch a surprise counter-attack, thus securing their miraculous deliverance. Their words were an ironic acquiescence, hiding a desperate hope for divine intervention through Saul.

1 Samuel 11 10 Context

The men of Jabesh-Gilead were under a dire siege from Nahash the Ammonite. Nahash had offered humiliating terms of surrender: that he would gouge out the right eye of every man, a permanent disfigurement meant to bring national disgrace upon Israel and render them useless for warfare (as the right eye was crucial for holding a shield and seeing an opponent). Messengers from Jabesh traveled throughout Israel to seek help. When they reached Gibeah, Saul heard their plea and, empowered by the Spirit of God, acted decisively. He rallied the tribes of Israel by symbolically dismembering oxen and sending the pieces throughout the land, compelling the people to follow him and Samuel into battle. The men of Jabesh's declaration in verse 10 is their response, intended to gain a 24-hour reprieve until "tomorrow," a period that directly aligned with Saul's strategic timing for his planned attack. They risked appearing to surrender completely to ensure their rescue. This incident marks Saul's first major military campaign as king, validating his anointing.

1 Samuel 11 10 Word analysis

• Therefore (וַיֹּאמְרוּ, vayyoʾmᵉrû): This introductory conjunction connects the men of Jabesh’s statement directly to Saul's recent mobilization (implied by the messengers' return from Saul with hope) and the dire demand of Nahash. It signals a response born of their specific circumstances and Saul's unseen preparations.
• the men of Jabesh (אַנְשֵׁי יָבֵישׁ, ʾanšê yāvesh): Refers to the collective leadership or representatives of the besieged city. Their voice is presented as unified, speaking on behalf of the entire community, which emphasizes the communal peril and the unanimous nature of this desperate strategy. Jabesh-Gilead had a historical connection with the tribe of Benjamin (Judg 21), aligning with Saul’s tribal lineage.
• said (אָמְרוּ, ʾāmᵉrû): The verb indicates a formal and collective pronouncement made to Nahash. This was not a private thought but a communicated decision.
• Tomorrow (מָחָר, māḥār): This single word is critical to the entire strategy. It is the tactical component of their "surrender." By stipulating "tomorrow," they gained a crucial period, allowing Saul and the assembled Israelite army sufficient time to travel and position themselves for a surprise attack at dawn. It indicates their expectation or calculation of help arriving within that specific timeframe.
• we will come out to you (נֵצֵא אֲלֵיכֶם, netsēʾ ʾălêkhem): To "come out" of a besieged city typically means to surrender and open the gates. In this context, it appears as an act of submission but is, in reality, a deliberate feint, a part of their strategic delay. It indicates their willingness to physically emerge and face the consequences Nahash would inflict.
• and you may do to us (וַעֲשִׂיתֶם לָנוּ, vaʿăśîtem lānu): This phrase expresses an apparent concession of complete power and agency to Nahash. The Jabeshites position themselves as passive recipients of whatever their enemy chooses to do.
• whatever seems good to you (כָּל־הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם, kol-haṭṭôv bəʿêneikhem):
  • "Good" (הַטּוֹב, haṭṭôv): The word "good" here is used ironically and ominously. For Nahash, "good" meant brutal mutilation and subjugation, aligned with his ruthless will. For the men of Jabesh, it meant devastation. This statement serves as a bitter, almost sarcastic, acquiescence to their supposed fate.
  • "in your eyes" (בְּעֵינֵיכֶם, bəʿêneikhem): This emphasizes that the judgment of what is "good" rests entirely with the Ammonites. It highlights the perceived helplessness of the Jabeshites in the face of Nahash's will. However, this full apparent surrender cleverly conceals their true hope and the imminent divine intervention. This phrase serves as a masterful psychological ploy, leading Nahash to believe he had secured his victory and lowering his guard.

1 Samuel 11 10 Bonus section

The phrase "whatever seems good to you" holds a deep irony. In other biblical contexts, what is "good in the eyes of the Lord" implies justice, righteousness, and divine favor. Here, "good in your eyes" (Nahash's eyes) is inherently evil and destructive. This stark contrast highlights the depravity of Nahash's intentions against the ultimate good and salvation that Yahweh would soon bring. The men of Jabesh knew that Nahash’s "good" was their ruin, yet their words set the stage for Yahweh’s true "good" through Saul's victory. This event served not only as a rescue for Jabesh but as a definitive establishment of Saul's authority in the eyes of all Israel. His swift, decisive action, empowered by the Spirit of God, silenced any doubters regarding his suitability for kingship after his initial hesitant public appearance.

1 Samuel 11 10 Commentary

1 Sam 11:10 vividly captures a pivotal moment of tension, desperation, and calculated risk. The apparent surrender of the men of Jabesh-Gilead was a masterful tactical maneuver. Their agreement to Nahash's demand for surrender "tomorrow" was not genuine submission but a desperate stratagem to gain time. This interval was absolutely crucial for Saul, who had, in the previous verses, been empowered by God’s Spirit to gather the entire fighting force of Israel. The city's willingness to feign utter defeat underscores their precarious situation, yet also their deep-seated hope, likely fueled by the news of Saul’s response (v. 9). The irony of offering "whatever seems good" to Nahash highlights the stark contrast between human cruelty and God's imminent salvation. This seemingly passive acceptance disarmed the Ammonites, allowing Saul's pre-dawn strike to be a devastating surprise. The deliverance of Jabesh-Gilead by Saul validates his anointing, solidifies his kingship, and serves as a powerful testament to God's providence and timely intervention through a divinely appointed leader, often working through human strategies, even those involving deception for the sake of survival against an evil adversary.