FIGHTING AGAINST THE AMMONITES Intending to humiliate the people of Jabesh Gilead, their elders resorted to Gibea of Saul, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord came. When he heard their news, his anger was greatly aroused, gathered the people together, fought against the Ammonites and defeated them. That was a good start of his reign, for which he deserved the renewal of his kingdom in Gilgal where every one rejoiced. 1- Threat by Nahash the Ammonite 1 – 3. 2- Zeal of Saul 4 – 10. 3- Saul refuses to execute the children of Belial 12 – 13. 4- Renewing the kingdom of Saul 14 – 15. 1- THREAT BY NAHASH THE AMMONITE The king of the Ammonites was called ‘Nahash,’ namely (Hanash, or serpent); probably because they used to worship the serpent1. A little while after Saul was chosen a king, Nahash came against Jabesh Gilead. It is assumed that the Israelites demanded a king (1 Samuel 9), when they became aware of Nahash’s plans. It was apparent from the shameful way by which Nahash treated the Israeli people how far the weakness of the children of Israel reached. Although the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead consented to make a covenant to serve him as slaves, he demanded as a condition to do that, to “put out all their right eyes” (1 Samuel 11: 2), to let that be a reproach to all Israelis. when their elders asked him to hold off for seven days, that they may send messengers to all the territory of Israel, hoping to find someone to save them, he, in great despise, consented to their request, being sure that, among all the tribes of Israel, there was no one who could save or support.... If ‘Nahash’ is a symbol of the ancient serpent that carried animosity against man since the beginning, the children of Israel represent the human nature that got completely corrupted, and have no more strength to resist the enemy. Nahash’s work was to enslave, to establish a kingdom of darkness with its law of violence and oppression. He put as a condition, to put out all the right eyes, and to spare the left eyes; and as St. Augustine2 says: [The right eye refers to spiritual insight and heavenly counsel while the left eye refers to seeking vain earthly matters. The work of the evil one is to destroy every spiritual insight that raises the heart to heavenly matters, and to bind our life to worldly and earthly matters. That is why, in the Coptic icons, the saints are shown with wide and open eyes, due to the fact that the children of God have an insight about both the heavenly and the worldly things prudent in managing their spiritual as well as their worldly lives. In these icons, the Lord Christ is shown on the cross with open eyes; for He, though died in the flesh, He beholds both the heavenly and earthly matters with His divinity; cares for both heaven and earth. As to the wicked - the traitor Judas for example - he is shown sideways with only one eye visible, as he always seeks silver, more than his eternal salvation, looking to the worldly matters and not to the earthly ones. Nahash the Ammonite (came down) on Jabesh Gilead; as though Jabish has been so low to be close to the dust of this world.. And as St. Jerome says, the believer, if he is flying high as an exalted bird, cannot be reached by the serpent 1 Nelson: A New Catholic Comm., p 312. 2 Cf. Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, 1: 13 (37). 2 crawling on the dust; But if that bird lands on the dust, it will be easy for the serpent to swallow it. When the serpent - Nahash - found the people of Jabesh in the mud of this world, it crawled to them in despise, realizing that nothing would save them from it. If the word ‘Gilead’ means (a heap of testimony)1 or (rough)2, the word ‘Jabesh’ means (dry)3. The evil one or the ancient serpent can overcome the dry and rough soul; while the soul soaked with love and compassion in the Lord, would not give him any opportunity to find a place in it, nor to confront it. ‘Jabesh Gilead’ is a city on the mountain of Gilead east of the River Jordan thought to be ‘Tel-Abu-Kharz,’ north of the valley of ‘Yabes’or ‘Jabesh,’ 9 3/8 miles south-east of Beth-Shan. It was destroyed by the Israelites, because its inhabitants did not come up to Mizpah to join them (Judges 21: 8). 2- THE ZEAL OF SAUL The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the ears 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 he said, ‘What troubles the people, that they weep’?” (1 Samuel 11: 5) Saul was anointed by the holy oil to become ‘the Lord’s anointed’ king of Israel; yet he did not still practice his royal work, probably for fear that dissension may happen among the people, on account of the rejection of the children of Belial; or for his feeling of his unworthiness and lack of experience waiting for a chance to be given by God. Saul was a Benjamite; and the Benjamites were somehow related to the people of Jabesh Gilead because, after the massacre of Benjamin, the Benjamites took 400 virgins of them as wives (Judges 21: 1 - 4); So no wonder that the Benjamites showed compassion toward them. The Spirit of God came upon Saul, to practice, with zeal and courage, his royal work (1 Samuel 11: 6, 7). To provoke them to battle against the enemy, “He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them out throughout all the territory of Israel” (1 Samuel 11: 7) The people responded to his call, as God gave him favor in their eyes; and came out with one consent, numbering 300,000 of the children of Israel, and 30,000 men of Judah. Of little experience in war, they assembled in Bezek, between Shechem and Bet-Shan, 7 miles from the Jordan. Saul put the people in three divisions, and attacked the enemy in the morning watch, on three different fronts in an unexpected time. The enemy got up from their sleep, overcome by sleep and surprise, “to be killed 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). 3- SAUL REFUSES TO EXECUTE THE CHILDREN OF BELIAL The people demanded the prophet Samuel - who anointed Saul a king - to put to death the children of Belial; those who despised Saul; on account that Saul has realized a great and unexpected victory. The response from Saul to that demand was: “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel”(1 Samuel 11: 13) 1 Strong's Exh. Concordance, art. 1568. . 2 قاموس الكتاب المقدس، ص 264 3 Strong's Exh. Concordance, art. 3002. 3 So Saul appeared as a proud king who refrained from killing people on the day of salvation counting the people’s joy as greater than any personal revenge. If that is fitting for a king, how much is it so for a priest, to be long-suffering even toward his afflicters. The behavior of a priest toward those he is entrusted with, should be as a compassionate father toward his little children; He should not get troubled by their insults, strokes, and cries; and even if they mock or laugh at him. If the Bishop is of the nervous type; that will result in great disasters for him and his flock. There is nothing of more benefit to others, and that draws the hearts to God, more than the meekness of him, who is insulted, oppressed, and afflicted, who bears all that with a smiling face and great calmness, as though there is nothing wrong going on. St. John Chrysostom1 4- RENEWING THE KINGDOM OF SAUL Saul was anointed a king in Mizpah (1 Samuel 10: 25), where the children of Belial, despising him were. But having conquered, the renewal of his kingdom was carried out unanimously in Gilgal, before the Lord; and there they made sacrifices of peace offerings; and everyone rejoiced greatly.
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