1 Samuel 11:11 kjv
And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
1 Samuel 11:11 nkjv
So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
1 Samuel 11:11 niv
The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
1 Samuel 11:11 esv
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.
1 Samuel 11:11 nlt
But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
1 Samuel 11 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 14:24 | And in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians. | God acting in the morning watch. |
| Deut 23:3-6 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD... because they met you not with bread and with water in the way... hired Balaam. | Divine proscription of Ammonites, historical enmity. |
| Jud 3:13 | And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. | Ammonite historical aggression. |
| Jud 7:16-22 | And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand... so the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow... in the camp. | Three companies strategy for decisive victory. |
| Jud 19:25 | ... and abused her, and all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. | Reference to 'morning' for surprise. |
| Josh 10:20 | ... the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them with a great slaughter... until they were consumed, that the rest which remained entered into fenced cities. | Complete rout of enemies, remnants fleeing. |
| 1 Sam 10:6 | And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. | Saul's prior empowerment by the Spirit. |
| 1 Sam 11:6 | And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. | Divine Spirit empowering Saul for this battle. |
| 1 Sam 11:7 | And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel... so the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. | Saul's decisive call to mobilize Israel. |
| 1 Sam 11:13 | And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. | The Lord's salvation (victory) attributed to this day. |
| 1 Sam 12:13 | Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. | Saul's kingship validated by this act. |
| 2 Sam 4:5 | ...and went and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. | Reference to 'heat of the day'. |
| 2 Sam 8:2 | And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line... two lines to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive... | Example of thorough military victory. |
| 2 Chr 20:1,23 | ...the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle... the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped every one to destroy another. | Later Ammonite conflict, divine self-destruction. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. | Victory is not by human strength alone. |
| Psa 44:3-7 | For they got not the land in possession by their own sword... but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. | God as the source of victory. |
| Pro 21:30-31 | There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. | Human preparation is futile without divine aid. |
| Isa 41:15-16 | Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small... | Metaphor for thorough destruction of enemies. |
| Mt 28:1-2 | In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn... for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door... | "As it began to dawn" - timing of a key event. |
| 1 Cor 15:25-26 | For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. | Christ's ultimate victory over all enemies. |
1 Samuel 11 verses
1 Samuel 11 11 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate and decisive military victory achieved by King Saul and the Israelite forces against the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead. Following God's empowerment and Saul's call to arms, the Israelite army launched a surprise, multi-pronged attack on the Ammonite camp at dawn. They continued to inflict heavy losses until midday, resulting in the total scattering and military disintegration of the Ammonite forces, rendering them unable to regroup or resist further. This complete rout marked a crucial validation of Saul's newly established kingship.
1 Samuel 11 11 Context
First Samuel chapter 11 narrates the critical events immediately following Saul's anointing as king, setting the stage for his formal affirmation. Nahash the Ammonite laid siege to Jabesh-Gilead and offered brutal surrender terms: the gouging out of every man's right eye. This humiliation sent messengers throughout Israel, provoking great anguish. When Saul heard the news (1 Sam 11:4-5), the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him (1 Sam 11:6), inspiring a kingly wrath. He rallied the tribes of Israel, demonstrating leadership by force of divine authority, calling them to come to Jabesh-Gilead's aid. He strategized the attack for the "morrow" (the next day) to achieve a decisive rescue. The verse directly describes the execution of that strategy and the immediate, successful outcome of the battle, thereby proving Saul's God-given capability to lead Israel as their king. Historically, this marked the beginning of Israel's unified military force under a central authority, moving from the sporadic leadership of judges to a monarchy. It was a test of Saul's nascent reign and divine validation.
1 Samuel 11 11 Word analysis
- And it was so: A common narrative connector, signifying immediate consequence or fulfillment of what was just stated, often with divine impetus or providence behind the action.
- on the morrow (Heb. māḥār): "The next day." Emphasizes the swift, unhesitating response of Saul, demonstrating his decisiveness and strategic urgency to capitalize on the element of surprise and prevent further suffering.
- Saul: The central human agent, whose leadership is being proven and affirmed. This act legitimizes his anointing as king.
- put the people in three companies: Saul's strategic brilliance, guided by God's Spirit. This tactic (Heb. šelōšāh rō'šîm, "three heads/companies") was known from earlier Israelite military victories, such as Gideon's over the Midianites (Jud 7:16). It signifies a multi-directional assault, designed for encirclement and confusion of the enemy.
- and they came: Refers to the united Israelite force, demonstrating their responsiveness to Saul's call and their corporate participation in the divinely-led warfare.
- into the midst of the host: A daring and effective military penetration, indicating the surprise element and the depth of the initial assault right into the heart of the Ammonite camp.
- in the morning watch (Heb. 'ašmōret ha-bōqer): The final period of the night, typically from 2 AM to 6 AM. This was the darkest part before dawn, ideal for a sudden, concealed, and unexpected attack, catching the enemy unaware and still asleep. It maximized psychological impact.
- and slew the Ammonites: Direct and violent action. The Ammonites (Heb. Bēnê ‘Ammôn, "sons of Ammon") were a perpetual enemy of Israel, originating from incest (Gen 19:38) and historically opposing God's people (e.g., in the wilderness, during the time of Judges). Their defeat here is an act of divine judgment.
- until the heat of the day (Heb. ḥōm ha-yōm): Roughly from mid-morning to noon, around 9 AM to 12 PM. This indicates a sustained, relentless, and exhaustive engagement, ensuring that the initial surprise was followed by continuous pressure until the enemy was completely broken and could no longer fight effectively.
- and they that remained were scattered: Implies that some Ammonite soldiers survived the direct assault, but their military unit was completely broken. Scattering (Heb. nāpuṣ, to be dispersed, shattered) signifies demoralization and disarray.
- so that no two of them were left together (Heb. lō' niš'ar bahem šnayim yaḥdav): A hyperbole emphasizing the utter and absolute destruction of the Ammonite fighting capability. It means there was no possibility of regrouping, rallying, or mounting any further resistance. Each survivor was left isolated and fleeing, demonstrating the thoroughness of the victory and the completeness of their rout.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "on the morrow Saul put the people in three companies": This highlights Saul's prompt strategic leadership, demonstrating both military acumen and the effective mobilization of a newly united Israelite force under his command.
- "they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch": This phrase details the execution of a precisely timed, surprise attack that penetrated deep into the enemy lines, aiming for maximum disorientation and impact at the most vulnerable moment.
- "and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day": This indicates the sustained intensity and duration of the battle. The engagement was not a mere skirmish but a relentless pursuit of total victory, demonstrating the determination of the Israelites and the devastating impact on the enemy.
- "and they that remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together": This powerful concluding phrase vividly portrays the comprehensive nature of the defeat. It conveys a complete, irreversible disarray, a psychological and military breakdown of the enemy, leaving them without any coherence or fighting force.
1 Samuel 11 11 Bonus section
- The battle showcased Saul's organizational skills, bringing together tribes that often operated independently, forming them into an effective fighting unit for a common cause.
- The overwhelming nature of the victory created widespread respect and fear, cementing Saul's position as the Lord's anointed king in the hearts of the people, which had been previously questioned (1 Sam 10:27).
- The "morning watch" tactic highlights the importance of strategic timing and capitalizing on the enemy's unpreparedness, a recurring theme in biblical warfare when God grants success (e.g., Gideon, Exodus 14).
- This act of deliverance would secure the loyalty of Jabesh-Gilead to Saul, evidenced later in their respectful actions after his death (2 Sam 2:4-7).
1 Samuel 11 11 Commentary
This verse stands as a pivotal moment in Saul's early reign, serving as the dramatic fulfillment of the Lord's "salvation" (1 Sam 11:13). It demonstrates that God's empowerment (1 Sam 11:6) transformed Saul from a simple farmer into an effective military leader. The tactical brilliance—a pre-dawn, three-pronged attack sustained until midday—was divinely inspired and flawlessly executed. This victory validated Saul's kingship in the eyes of the people, shifting their wavering support into enthusiastic affirmation. The description of the Ammonites' total dispersion, with "no two of them left together," underscores the complete and overwhelming nature of God-granted victory when His people act in obedience. It serves as an object lesson in decisive leadership and divine intervention, laying the groundwork for Israel's transition to a unified kingdom capable of defending itself against its numerous enemies.