Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 11:14
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
14. Then said Samuel ] From this verse to 1Sa 12:22 is the Haphtarah or lesson from the Prophets appointed to be read in the Synagogue in conjunction with the history of Korah (Numbers 16).
to Gilgal ] See note on 1Sa 7:16.
renew the kingdom ] Which had been founded in the national assembly at Mizpah (1Sa 10:25).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let us go to Gilgal – i. e., to Gilgal by Jericho, where was a famous sanctuary, in the tribe of Benjamin.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Sa 11:14-15
Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.
The renewing of the kingdom!
Gilgal! The word means a wheel, a revolution. And is not the great circumference of the year, measured as it is by a few hundred days in the poor chronicle of our lives, but by hundreds of millions of miles in the celestial spaces–is it not just rounding up into longer light, and beginning its benevolent motion for us afresh? We hear, too, of the renewing of a kingdom; and those words impress us at once with some idea, though it may be an indistinct one, of a renewal nearer home, that we are to solemnize; more important to us than the sweep of an unconscious planet, than the changes of empire past or to come, or any of the outward distinctions of the world. The shadows of the future gathered over Samuels serene brow and his religious spirit; and he replied in the words that I have read: Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. That had been a hallowed place from the time that the Hebrew tribes entered the land. It had been consecrated by religion and good success. There was the proper spot to repeat their vows, to remember their obligations. It was aloof from public clamour and the highways of ordinary life. There, where the Almighty bad rolled away the reproach of His people, in the time when He alone was acknowledged as their sovereign, should they repeat their allegiance to the new monarch whom they had chosen. There, in the face of that dread majesty, soberly and apart, and not in the stir of a sudden triumph, and not among the scenes of everyday passions, they should renew the kingdom. Let the engagements that are made with a mans self be now established. Let the hopes of a Christian soul receive an increasing lustre. Let the pledges you owe to the powers of heaven be cheerfully brought.
I. We may observe, in the first place, that we are now renewing the kingdom of our earthly days. The year is renewed for us. The light is a little earlier in the eastern sky, and lingers a little upon its farewell in the west as if nature was unwilling to bring two of its greatest dreads upon man at once–at least in their fullest degree–the darkness gives way as the cold increases. A new account is opening with Time, that rigorous master. But bow, you may ask, can we make any compact with him? He calls all seasons and places and lives his own. His dominion is absolute. He accepts no conditions from us. Without asking whether or not we are ready to confirm his authority, he will lead us through his inevitable changes, he will bring us down to his universal level of dust. And yet, when we confront him, with God to help, and in the holy places of our nature, we feel that we are possessed of a dominion more enduring than his own; that we have thoughts which are independent of him, and hopes beyond his reach. We can oblige him to serve our best interests, which we are apparently but the subjects of his despotic rule. We are apt to consider him as a tyrant, the enemy of human liberty and enjoyment, inaccessible to pity, and producing but what he means to desolate. His symbol is the falling sands of an hourglass. His crown is an eternal baldness. His sceptre is a scythe for all the green growths of mortality. But we are thus paralysing our proper strength, and undervaluing our real importance in the comparison with him. What has Time to do with any of the conclusions of the reason, or any of the fruits of the Spirit; with the very thought of duty, or the recompenses of its award? The soul, in its purest exercises, soars far above him; and in its farthest abstractions cannot see that he exists. But call him a real king; and invest him with all the majesty that timid fancies have conceived. Even then we may meet him upon grounds of mutual respect. We may call a convention with him at Gilgal. We may stipulate concerning some of the powers of his government. We may say to him with firmness, and so that he shall be influenced by what we say–Sire, we are your children, in truth; we are your subjects, beyond the subjection that any earthly monarch receives or claims. Our limbs are at your disposal, and our furrowing cheeks, and the locks of our heads. Our treasure is yours, to consume or to divide. Our blood is yours, to chill in the veins of our age, or to shed by calamitous appointments. We offer you no resistance. But for all this you must perform something on your part. You must bestow upon us opportunity. You must yield to us supplies. The means of knowledge and improvement you must not, only leave unviolated, but increased. You must observe the just limits of your sway. The rights of conscience and of the whole mind you must scrupulously respect. You must lay no tyranny upon our honest wills. You shall not blight our hearts, through fear of you, with any of the strokes of that despotism to which we have surrendered our persons. So will we, on this new years day, stand in our Gilgal, and renew the kingdom with you there.
II. I now ask you to turn away from Time, and from every dominion of an outward sort, and consider the empire that is within us. Here we have to deal, indeed, with ourselves only. But that does not exclude the danger of being deceived, and oppressed, and defrauded. Evil temptations will arise, and unwise counsellors. Despotism will be attempted. Anarchy will be afoot. There will be rebellion. Licentious principles will spurn at the wholesome restraints of law. Ignorance will mistake, and presumption will be daring. Let us, in this respect above all others, renew the kingdom today. If the same prophet whom I have imagined speaking before, should again take up his parable, he would say:–
1. Now renew your good resolutions. What an uncertain kingdom is that of our purposes! We determine and fall short. We attempt in a feeble way, and fail, as every thing that is feeble must. Some tell us that we can do nothing if we try; and others tell us that we can gain nothing if we succeed. Fablers! We depend as much at least on the struggles that we make as on the destiny that is ordained. To aspire is better than the contented fools best portion. To work towards an approved end is infinitely richer than any counted and measured success.
2. Renew your affections. Balance them, and let none of them act the absolute king. Purify them from their soils. Brush away the rust and the dust that have gathered upon them from vulgar uses or a base inaction. Send them forth with a clearer light and a more blessed efficacy. Bring into a beautiful order the dispositions that bind you to your kindred, to your house, to your friendships, to your country, and to your kind.
3. Renew the course of your meditations upon the subjects that concern your most intimate welfare. You may find something faltering and unsettled in them. Establish the principles of your judgment. Bring your conclusions into a harmony. Set up within you a Divine and submissive order, that shall be after the pattern of that eternal one, in the circles of which you dwell.
4. Renew your faith. Is not that a kingdom of itself? Is there any thing to be compared to its undecaying dominion? It stands nobly apart from the worlds turmoil, the worlds command, the worlds destruction. You can receive no such strength as flows from that. It is all unsettled in your thoughts. You have allowed momentary interests to intercept its everlasting light. You bays allowed a shallow and sluggish scepticism to affront its all-embracing principles. Renew the kingdom of the immortal in the breasts that will soon cease to beat. Renew it, though in the absence of what you desire. Renew it, though in the face of discouragements. Renew it, in its simplicity, in its sovereign beauty, in its reasonableness, in its might. He who came to confirm the best truth with which such a faith is connected, when he ate the last supper with His disciples, said, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom, We perceive that He was speaking, not of a kingdom that was subject to time; not of one that was to be established in His own heart, for nothing there needed confirming; but of that state of peace and glory which is preparing beyond this worlds troubles, by the faithful deeds of man, and the abundant love of his Maker. Let every believer anticipate it. Let him labour towards it. Let him make himself a believer indeed. (N. E. Frothingham.)
The oath of fidelity that Israel universally swears to the new King, where note
1.Samuels sublime wisdom in making no motion nor mention of this covenant of the kingdom, at Sauls first election, while the people were generally disaffected towards him, because of his mean extract, rustic life, etc., but now when Saul had given them such eminent proofs of his valour and virtue, and when God had honoured him with so glorious a victory, which had made the people place their affections upon him both eagerly and unanimously; then doth Samuel strike while the iron was hot and set in with this fit season.
2. Samuel calls a general assembly from Jabesh to Gilgal, which was in their way home to most of them, but more especially because it was a place famous for many public conventions there kept, and particularly for the covenant renewed by Joshua, between God and the people, when God rolled away reproach from Israel in their circumcision, therefore was the place called Gilgal, which signifies rolling, etc. (Jos 5:8.)
3. Here, he said, the people made Saul king, whereas it was the Lords immediate act to constitute him king, chap. 8, 9, and 10:1, and the people only accepted of that election the Lord had made for them, recognising the first Act by a renewed universal consent. All now personally swearing allegiance to him to prevent any future factions and insurrections, etc.
4. The ceremonies of Sauls inauguration before the Lord, and His prophet Samuel, some suppose to be these.
(1) They set the King upon his throne.
(2) They crowned him.
(3) They anointed him.
(4) They put the Book of the Law into his hand.
(5) They took an oath of him to observe it.
(6) They offered sacrifices of all sorts upon the altar that was at Gilgal, partly praising God for present mercy both in the victory over Ammon and in their settlement under Saul, from sad distractions, and partly praying to God for his future favour, etc.
(7) Shutting all up with sundry signs of public joy. (C. Ness.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 14. Renew the kingdom] The unction of Saul, in the first instance, was a very private act; and his being appointed to be king was not known to the people in general. He had now shown himself worthy to command the people; and Samuel takes advantage of this circumstance to gain the general consent in his favour. Josephus says that Saul was anointed a second time at this convocation.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Then; whilst the people were together by Jabesh-gilead, wherein Samuels great prudence and fidelity to Saul is evident. He suspended the confirmation to Saul at first, whilst the generality of the people were disaffected and discontented at the meanness of his person; and now when he had given such eminent proof of his princely virtues, and when the peoples hearts were unanimously and eagerly set upon him, he takes this as the fittest season for that work.
Let us go to Gilgal: this place he chose, both because it was near, and, to most of them, in the way to their homes; and because thither the Israelites on this side, and beyond Jordan, might more easily resort; and because it was famous for public conventions there kept, and particularly for the covenant there renewed by Joshua between God and the people.
Renew the kingdom there, i.e. confirm our former choice, to prevent all such seditious expressions and actions as we had experience of at the former election.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then said Samuel to the people,…. Agreeing to what Saul had said, and in order to put them off from demanding the lives of the offenders, and willing to take them while they were in a good disposition:
come, and let us go to Gilgal; which was the nearest place to them, on the other side Jordan, from which they now were, and where the children of Israel first encamped when they passed over Jordan, where the tabernacle and ark first were, and an altar was built, and where meetings used to be held on certain occasions; all which might be reasons why Samuel proposed to go to this place. According to Bunting d, this place was thirty six miles from Jabeshgilead:
and renew the kingdom there; that is, recognize Saul, own and declare him king of Israel.
d Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 126.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Samuel turned this victory to account, by calling upon the people to go with him to Gilgal, and there renew the monarchy. In what the renewal consisted is not clearly stated; but it is simply recorded in 1Sa 11:15 that “ they (the whole people) made Saul king there before the Lord in Gilgal.” Many commentators have supposed that he was anointed afresh, and appeal to David’s second anointing (2Sa 2:4 and 2Sa 5:3). But David’s example merely proves as Seb. Schmidt has correctly observed, that the anointing could be repeated under certain circumstances; but it does not prove that it was repeated, or must have been repeated, in the case of Saul. If the ceremony of anointing had been performed, it would no doubt have been mentioned, just as it is in 2Sa 2:4 and 2Sa 5:3. But does not mean “they anointed,” although the lxx have rendered it , according to their own subjective interpretation. The renewal of the monarchy may very well have consisted in nothing more than a solemn confirmation of the election that had taken place at Mizpeh, in which Samuel once more laid before both king and people the right of the monarchy, receiving from both parties in the presence of the Lord the promise to observe this right, and sealing the vow by a solemn sacrifice. The only sacrifices mentioned are zebachim shelamim , i.e., peace-offerings. These were thank-offerings, which were always connected with a sacrificial meal, and when presented on joyous occasions, formed a feast of rejoicing for those who took part, since the sacrificial meal shadowed forth a living and peaceful fellowship with the Lord. Gilgal is in all probability the place where Samuel judged the people every year ( 1Sa 7:16). But whether it was the Gilgal in the plain of the Jordan, or Jiljilia on higher ground to the south-west of Shiloh, it is by no means easy to determine. The latter is favoured, apart from the fact that Samuel did not say “Let us go down,” but simply “Let us go” (cf. 1Sa 10:8), by the circumstance that the solemn ceremony took place after the return from the war at Jabesh; since it is hardly likely that the people would have gone down into the valley of the Jordan to Gilgal, whereas Jiljilia was close by the road from Jabesh to Gibeah and Ramah.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(14) Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal.This was the well-known sanctuary of that name, and was selected as the place of solemn assembly, no doubt, because it was in the now royal tribe of Benjamin. It is situated in the Jordan Valley, not far from Jericho, and has been the scene of many of the most striking events in Israelitic history.
And renew the kingdom there.There had been, as Samuel and Saul well remembered, many murmurings on the occasion of the original royal election at Mizpeh. Then the people had by no means unanimously accepted as sovereign the Benjamite who was now crowned with the glory of a splendid success. The seer, with striking generosity to one who superseded him in his position as judge, again presented the hero Saul to Israel as their anointed king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Let us go to Gilgal The ancient sacred camping ground of Israel, where, after the long exile in the wilderness, the reproach of Egypt was rolled away. Compare Jos 5:2-9, notes. Appropriately now, after long years of varied fortune, may the nation assemble, in the persons of its warriors, on that hallowed spot, and there recognise their new leader, who has shown himself to be another conqueror of Israel’s foes.
Renew the kingdom there At Mizpeh he had only been designated as the chosen of the Lord, but not formally recognised as king, or set apart by solemn ceremonies as the Lord’s anointed. Such more solemn and impressive inauguration was reserved for this occasion, when, as Israel’s honoured and victorious chieftain, no envious tongue would dare malign him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(14) Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. (15) 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.
How beautiful Samuel appears in this. He directs the minds of the people to be looking unto the Lord, and where to ascribe the praise. But oh! what rejoicings are in the soul, when Jesus is crowned King, and our sacrifices, and peace-offerings, are all found in him.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
“Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.” 1Sa 11:14 .
The mind should be fixed upon the possibility of renewal in life. Life is full of beginnings; that is, full of new chances and new opportunities. Take, for example, the Sabbath, as opening a new week; the morning, as opening a new day; the birthday, as introducing a new period of time; the new year, as an hour when the old may be forgotten and a deeper order of things may be inaugurated: take youth and manhood, leaving school, entering business, forming associations and companionships: all these indicate the possibility of reformation, reconstruction, the utterance of larger prayer, and entering into the bondage of Christ, which is the sweetest liberty. It is beautiful also to notice how at certain places we make certain vows with fitness. Samuel would have the people go to Gilgal, that the kingdom might be renewed. It is well to associate given places with the best exercises of the religious life. This is the birthplace, the place where the word of trust was first spoken, the spot of ground on which the first altar was built, the point in space at which the first great prayer was consciously uttered, the church wherein the deepest religious impressions were made and the holiest relations of life were formed; in going back to such places we revive memories, and rekindle hopes, and awaken inspirations, that may have been suspended. Blessed are they whose life-road is crowded with places at which holy words were spoken, and sweet realisations of Christ were enjoyed. We might thus plant the earth like a garden, and make many places not beautiful in themselves supremely beautiful by moral association and spiritual suggestion. If any man has broken away from the true kingdom, he may even now renew it. If any man is conscious of unfaithfulness to Christ’s sceptre, let him go to some consecrated place and there repent of his sin and renew his fealty. We need voices such as Samuel’s to encourage us in the attempted renewal of all lofty purposes. People become depressed, they are cast down by reason of the weight of their burdens, they are overcome by a consciousness of their sin and shame, and they have not heart to think of rekindling the fire that has expired: it is in such periods of depression and gloom that the voices of such men as Samuel come as music from heaven, giving men to feel that even yet they may be recovered of the plague of disloyalty, and even yet may renew associations in which they once delighted. Whosoever will, let him come. Preachers of the everlasting kingdom should be the most cheerful of men, full of spiritual animation, characterised by all intellectual and moral vivacity, always alluring men to brighter worlds, and always leading the way.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
1Sa 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
Ver. 14. And renew the kingdom there, ] i.e., The covenant of the kingdom between the new king and his people, for the preventing of future rebellion.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
let us go: 1Sa 7:16, 1Sa 10:8
renew: 1Sa 10:24, 1Sa 5:3, 1Ch 12:38, 1Ch 12:39
Reciprocal: Jos 4:19 – Gilgal Jos 10:43 – unto the camp 1Sa 12:1 – have made 1Sa 13:4 – to Gilgal 2Sa 19:15 – Gilgal 1Ki 1:25 – slain
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 11:14. Then said Samuel While the people were together by Jabesh- gilead. Come, and let us renew the kingdom That is, confirm our former choice, and more solemnly and unanimously inaugurate Saul for our king. Herein Samuels great prudence and fidelity to Saul appeared. He suspended the confirmation of Saul at first, while the generality of the people were disaffected, and now, when he had given such eminent proof of his princely virtues, and when the peoples hearts were eagerly set upon him, he takes this as the fittest season for that work.