Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash: ‘Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.’
verse value 4113
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 64 letters. The shortest word is "serpent" (נָחָשׁ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·Ammonite" (הָעַמּוֹנִ֔י, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "against·Jabesh" (עַל־יָבֵ֣ישׁ), "all·men·of" (כׇּל־אַנְשֵׁ֤י), "to·Nahash" (אֶל־נָחָ֔שׁ). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "to·Nahash" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel); "all·men·of" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root נחש ("serpent") in I Samuel. First appearance of the root גלעד ("Gilead") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gilead', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֗עַל [and·went·up] (116) + נָחָשׁ֙ [serpent] (358) + הָעַמּוֹנִ֔י [the·Ammonite] (181) + וַיִּ֖חַן [and·encamped] (74) + עַל־יָבֵ֣ישׁ [against·Jabesh] (422) + גִּלְעָ֑ד [Gilead] (107) + וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ [and·they·said] (263) + כׇּל־אַנְשֵׁ֤י [all·men·of] (411) + יָבֵישׁ֙ [Jabesh] (322) + אֶל־נָחָ֔שׁ [to·Nahash] (389) + כְּרׇת־לָ֥נוּ [make·with·us] (706) + בְרִ֖ית [covenant] (612) + וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ [and·we·will·serve·you] (152) = 4113.
Ralbag
After this, Nahash the Ammonite went up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead to make war with Israel. And because they feared him, the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead said to him that he should make a covenant with them, and they would serve him — that is to say, they would become tributary to him. But he, in his cruelty, did not agree to accept tribute from them, but rather insisted on gouging out the right eye of each of them, so as to make this matter a disgrace upon all Israel, in that out of their weakness they went and had to make a covenant with him. And this was a matter of great strangeness and difficulty.
Metzudat David
Make a covenant with us. So that he would not put us to death:
Metzudat Zion
And he encamped. From the word 'encampment'.
Malbim
Questions (1-3): Why did Nahash then come up specifically against the inhabitants of Gilead? For what purpose did he intend to bore out the eyes of this people? And how did he consent to wait seven days for them to prepare a strategy and might for battle?
And Nahash the Ammonite came up. As it appears, Nahash was jealous because the Israelites had anointed a king, and he desired to wage war against him. Therefore, he attacked the men of Jabesh Gilead, for the sons of Benjamin had taken their wives (after the incident of the concubine in Gibeah) from the daughters of Jabesh Gilead. Presumably some of the sons of Benjamin settled there, for they had killed the men of Jabesh, and the daughters inherited their fathers’ inheritance. Therefore, he attacked them because they were the king's family and his kin by marriage. “He made a covenant with us, a covenant of love and peace, and in return for this we will serve you.”
And Nahash the Ammonite said to them: ‘On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.’
verse value 4486
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 66 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "serpent" (נָחָשׁ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·all·Israel" (עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 358: serpent, in·gouging·out. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "in·this" (בְּזֹאת֙), "I·will·cut" (אֶכְרֹ֣ת), "in·gouging·out" (בִּנְק֥וֹר). The root לכם appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "upon·all·Israel" (root על, 112x in I Samuel); "to·them" (root אל, 86x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root חרפה ("reproach") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'right', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם [to·them] (86) + נָחָשׁ֙ [serpent] (358) + הָעַמּוֹנִ֔י [the·Ammonite] (181) + בְּזֹאת֙ [in·this] (410) + אֶכְרֹ֣ת [I·will·cut] (621) + לָכֶ֔ם [with·you] (90) + בִּנְק֥וֹר [in·gouging·out] (358) + לָכֶ֖ם [for·you] (90) + כׇּל־עֵ֣ין [all·eye] (180) + יָמִ֑ין [right] (110) + וְשַׂמְתִּ֥יהָ [and·I·will·make·it] (761) + חֶרְפָּ֖ה [reproach] (293) + עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [upon·all·Israel] (691) = 4486.
Rashi
Every right eye. According to its plain meaning. And from the aggadic midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Remez 111): Bring me your Book of the Torah that was given from the right hand, and I will burn it — because it is written in it (Deuteronomy 23:4): 'An Ammonite and a Moabite shall not enter.'
Disgrace. Reviling.
Radak
"Eye of the right." The matter of the juxtaposition implies that it means the eye on the right side, and the verse is to be understood according to its plain meaning, yet there is also a midrashic interpretation: Nahash said to them, "Bring the Torah scroll, which is your 'right eye,' and I will uproot from within it the verse, 'An Ammonite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.'"
Metzudat David
"By this." By this condition and manner, that I shall gouge out every man's right eye:
“And I will make it a reproach.” This matter shall be a reproach to all Israel, because they will not be able to save you from such a great humiliation.
Metzudat Zion
By gouging out. A matter of piercing, similarly (Numbers 16:14): 'are the eyes of these men pierced'.
Malbim
“With this I will make a covenant with you”: The covenants that are made are always for a consideration. For example, if you do us harm, although we have not touched you (Genesis 26:29), as the kindness that I did to you, so shall you do to me (Genesis 21:23). And according to the laws of the nations, if they fight over a city and then make peace, they immediately cut a covenant with them, and this is a reward in exchange for not having fought. And this is only if there was a possibility that they would fight. Not so if they are defeated; they will not cut a covenant with them, but rather do with them as they please. And this is what he said to them: “Are you not given into my hand? You have no counsel or might for war. What will you give me in return for the covenant? Only if you agree that I will gouge out your right eye, in which case I will benefit from the fact that I will place this as a disgrace upon all Israel, because they were unable to save their brethren. And in this way I will be as one who has conquered them all. In exchange for this benefit, I will make a covenant with you.”
And the elders of Jabesh said to him: ‘Give us seven days’respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to deliver us, we will come out to you.’
verse value 4431
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "to·us" (לָ֙נוּ֙) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "desist" (הֶ֤רֶף, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·said" (וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·let·us·send" (וְנִשְׁלְחָה֙), "border" (גְּב֣וּל), "and·if·there·is·no" (וְאִם־אֵ֥ין). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "days" (root יום, 154x in I Samuel); "Israel" (root ישראל, 102x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 5 words.
Ralbag
"And they shall take from him a period of seven days to send out [messengers] throughout all the borders of Israel, to see whether they will find help; and if they do not find help, they shall go out against him, and he shall do to them as he pleases." Now, Nahash agreed to this, for his intention was to wage war against Israel and to take their land, if he could. And the matter came to Saul, and it came about that all Israel assembled to wage war against Nahash. They struck the Ammonites with a great blow, and the survivors fled and scattered hither and thither, until not two of them remained together.
Metzudat David
"Be lenient with us. Relax your demands upon us and wait seven days." And he means to say: If the intention here is to bring disgrace upon all of Israel, then it is fitting to inform them; and if they do not save us, then it shall be considered a disgrace.
Metzudat Zion
The loosening. From the word 'looseness'.
Malbim
And they said, etc., “And we will send messengers,” for indeed, your intention will not result in this being a disgrace to all Israel, only if they know of it and are unable to help; and therefore, let us send [messengers] to inform them.
Then came the messengers to Gibeath-shaul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
verse value 2766
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "the·people" (הָעָ֑ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·messengers" (הַמַּלְאָכִים֙, 7 letters). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 161x in I Samuel); "the·people" (root עם, 128x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root גבעת ("Gibeah·of") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·people', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ [and·they·came] (25) + הַמַּלְאָכִים֙ [the·messengers] (146) + גִּבְעַ֣ת [Gibeah·of] (475) + שָׁא֔וּל [Saul] (337) + וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ [and·they·spoke] (228) + הַדְּבָרִ֖ים [the·words] (261) + בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י [in·ears·of] (70) + הָעָ֑ם [the·people] (115) + וַיִּשְׂא֧וּ [and·they·lifted] (323) + כׇל־הָעָ֛ם [all·the·people] (165) + אֶת־קוֹלָ֖ם [their·voice] (577) + וַיִּבְכּֽוּ [and·they·wept] (44) = 2766.
Malbim
"Gibeah of Saul" — for they sent first to the place of the king.
And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said: ‘What ails the people that they weep?’ And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.
verse value 3881
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 66 letters. The shortest word is "going·in" (בָּ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·told·him" (וַ֨יְסַפְּרוּ־ל֔וֹ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 337: Saul, Saul. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "from·the·field" (מִן־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה), "what·to·the·people" (מַה־לָּעָ֖ם), "they·shall·weep" (יִבְכּ֑וּ). The root שאול appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·shall·weep', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 4 words.
Rashi
After the cattle. After the appointed time of the coming of the cattle from the field.
Radak
“He came after the cattle.” Just as it was stated above, “And Saul also went to his house,” as I have explained, he was occupied with the needs of his household, and he would come after the cattle together with the farmers.
Metzudat David
"After the cattle." Because he saw that he had been humiliated, he himself still did not conduct himself with royal dignity, and went after the cattle to tend them in the manner of a commoner.
Malbim
The Questions (5–7): Why does it relate that he came after the cattle? And what is the hint in his cutting in pieces a yoke of oxen?
"After the cattle" — the intended meaning is that Saul came from the field after the cattle. "After the cattle" — it happened that the cattle of the townspeople went before him, and he came after them. And this is explained: because of this incident, he set his eyes on a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them.
And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.
verse value 3184
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "his·anger" (אַפּ֖וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "spirit·of·God" (רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "upon·Saul" (עַל־שָׁא֔וּל), "when·he·heard" ((בשמעו)), "when·he·heard" (כְּשׇׁמְע֖וֹ). The root שמע appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·words" (root דבר, 113x in I Samuel); "upon·Saul" (root על, 112x in I Samuel); "when·he·heard" (root שמע, 66x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root חרה ("and·was·angry") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'these', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַתִּצְלַ֤ח [and·rushed] (534) + רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙ [spirit·of·God] (300) + עַל־שָׁא֔וּל [upon·Saul] (437) + (בשמעו) [when·he·heard] (418) + כְּשׇׁמְע֖וֹ [when·he·heard] (436) + אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים [the·words] (662) + הָאֵ֑לֶּה [these] (41) + וַיִּ֥חַר [and·was·angry] (224) + אַפּ֖וֹ [his·anger] (87) + מְאֹֽד [very] (45) = 3184.
Radak
"And the spirit of God came mightily upon him." A spirit of might; and so Jonathan rendered: and a spirit of might from before the Lord rested upon Saul.
In "When he heard." It is written with a bet and read with a kaf, and the meaning is the same.
Metzudat David
"And it rushed upon him." A spirit of greatness of heart and might from the Lord passed over him when he heard, etc., and his anger burned against Nahash the Ammonite.
Malbim
And the Spirit of God came upon him, and his anger burned: The philosopher has already explained that when the weak hear of some oppression, they become distressed by it, but the mighty man’s anger burns to take vengeance. And because the Spirit of the Lord, which is the Spirit of might (as stated above, 10:6), came upon him, therefore his anger burned to avenge himself upon his enemies.
And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying: ‘Whosoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.’ And the dread of Hashem fell on the people, and they came out as one man.
verse value 5997
Insights
Verse structure: 26 words, 115 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָֽד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֥ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·he·cut·it·in·pieces" (וַֽיְנַתְּחֵ֗הוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 215: and·after, upon·the·people. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·he·cut·it·in·pieces" (וַֽיְנַתְּחֵ֗הוּ), "nothing" (אֵינֶ֨נּוּ), "and·after" (וְאַחַ֣ר). The root בקר appears 2 times in this verse. 23 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "dread·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 316x in I Samuel); "whoever" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·his·cattle', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 6 words.
Rashi
To his cattle. To his beasts:
Radak
"And after Samuel." Since not all had accepted him as king, he said: "And after Samuel"—meaning, whoever is unwilling to go out after [Saul], let him go out after Samuel, so that they would be eager to go out.
Metzudat David
By the hand of the messengers. Who came from Jabesh-gilead:
To say. He commanded them to say to them: Whoever does not go out to war, his cattle shall be cut up like this:
“The fear of the Lord.” It was not the fear of being flayed like an ox, but rather the fear of the Lord, lest he disobey the command of His Anointed One.
As one man. This means: with great speed and in complete agreement.
Metzudat Zion
A yoke. A pair, named because they are accustomed to walk yoked together and connected.
And he cut it. He cut each one into pieces, meaning into limbs.
Malbim
"And he took" – this is the fruit of burning anger when good counsel accompanies it. He took from the cattle that went before him a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces. And he taught them thereby a lesson of wisdom: just as the spirit of life does not dwell in a living body except when its limbs are whole and attached, each to its fellow, so too, when it is cut into pieces, it becomes a carcass and does not live anymore; likewise, the spirit of strength and the civic life of a people do not dwell except when they are bound together, and each helps his neighbor against every distress that the oppressor brings upon one of their limbs. Not so if they separate, for they are like the pieces of the ox. And concerning this it is said, "Thus it shall be done to his cattle," measure for measure. Concerning this it is said, "And they went out as one man," for they understood his lesson and joined together as if they were all the limbs of one man, where each individual limb feels the distress of the entire body.
And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
verse value 3317
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "three" (שְׁלֹ֣שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Israel" (בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 111: in·Bezek, thousand, thousand. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "in·Bezek" (בְּבָ֑זֶק). The root אלף appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·man·of" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "and·they·were" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel); "sons·of·Israel" (root בן, 69x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root מאה ("hundred") in I Samuel. First appearance of the root יהודה ("Judah") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Bezek', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 9 words. Full calculation: וַֽיִּפְקְדֵ֖ם [and·he·numbered·them] (240) + בְּבָ֑זֶק [in·Bezek] (111) + וַיִּהְי֤וּ [and·they·were] (37) + בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [sons·of·Israel] (603) + שְׁלֹ֣שׁ [three] (630) + מֵא֣וֹת [hundred] (447) + אֶ֔לֶף [thousand] (111) + וְאִ֥ישׁ [and·man·of] (317) + יְהוּדָ֖ה [Judah] (30) + שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים [thirty] (680) + אָֽלֶף [thousand] (111) = 3317.
Rashi
"And he mustered them at Bezek." Our Sages said (Yoma 22b): with broken shards of pottery (another version: this is not [the reading]). Another explanation: 'be-vezek' — with stones: he took a stone from each one and counted them, similar to (below, 15:4): 'and he mustered them with lambs' — he took a lamb from each one and counted them by them, just as they used to count the people by half-shekels. And Targum renders (Proverbs 26:8) 'like a stone bound in a sling' as: 'heikh bizka de-keifa be-qal'a' — 'like a bound stone in a sling.' And in the Yelamdenu [Midrash]: '"and he mustered them with lambs" — when they were poor, [he counted them] with these pebbles; when they were rich, with these lambs.' Another explanation: 'Bezek' is the name of a place mentioned in the Book of Judges (1:5): 'And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek.'
Radak
"In Bezek." A place name. And we have already given another explanation of it in the book Mikhlol: that it is like "with stones" — that is to say, he took a stone from each one, and by this he knew their number. And the Targum of "like a stone bound in a sling" is "like a shard of stone in a sling." And in the midrash: "and he numbered them in Bezek," "and he counted them with lambs" — when they are poor, by these potsherds; when they are rich, by these lambs.
And they said to the messengers that came: ‘Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.’ And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
verse value 5579
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 96 letters. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֤ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·the·messengers" (לַמַּלְאָכִ֣ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 322: Jabesh, Jabesh. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "to·the·messengers" (לַמַּלְאָכִ֣ים), "shall·say" (תֹֽאמְרוּן֙), "shall·be·to·you" (תִּֽהְיֶֽה־לָכֶ֥ם). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "to·man·of" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "shall·be·to·you" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sun', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Radak
“In the heat of the sun.” It is written with a bet and read with a kaf, and the meaning is the same.
Metzudat Zion
To each man. To every man.
By the time the sun is hot. When the sun becomes heated in its strength, and it is midday.
And the men of Jabesh said: ‘To-morrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.’
verse value 2642
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "to·us" (לָ֔נוּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "tomorrow" (מָחָ֖ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "according·to·all·the·good" (כְּכׇל־הַטּ֖וֹב, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "let·us·go·forth" (נֵצֵ֣א), "according·to·all·the·good" (כְּכׇל־הַטּ֖וֹב). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "to·you" (root אל, 86x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ [and·they·said] (263) + אַנְשֵׁ֣י [man] (361) + יָבֵ֔ישׁ [Jabesh] (322) + מָחָ֖ר [tomorrow] (248) + נֵצֵ֣א [let·us·go·forth] (141) + אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם [to·you] (101) + וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם [and·you·will·do] (826) + לָ֔נוּ [to·us] (86) + כְּכׇל־הַטּ֖וֹב [according·to·all·the·good] (92) + בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם [in·your·eyes] (202) = 2642.
Metzudat David
And the men of Yavesh said. They said to the men of Nahash the Ammonite: “Tomorrow we will go out, etc., and do with us as you please.” And in order to deceive them, they said this, so that they would not be on guard.
Malbim
"Tomorrow we shall go out," for on the day that the messengers returned, they had completed the seven days, and they replied that they should wait until tomorrow and go out against them; and there was a shared statement, for they truly intended to go out and fight against them.
And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and it came to pass, that they that remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
verse value 7604
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 106 letters. The shortest word is "and·not" (וְלֹ֥א, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·midst·of·the·camp" (בְתוֹךְ־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: and·it·was, and·it·was. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "in·midst·of·the·camp" (בְתוֹךְ־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙), "watch" (בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת), "Ammon" (אֶת־עַמּ֖וֹן). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 161x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root עמון ("Ammon") in I Samuel. First appearance of the root פוץ ("and·they·scattered") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'day', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 7 words.
Radak
"At the morning watch." From the three watches into which the guards divide the night, as it is stated with regard to Gideon and Saul: "He came to the camp of the Ammonites at the third watch, which was the morning watch."
"And they were scattered." The vav [conjunction] in "and they were scattered" is like the vav in "On the third day, and Abraham lifted his eyes" and similar instances, meaning that which remained of them, those whom he did not strike, for they were scattered here and there.
Two together. As its Targum renders: two that fled together.
Metzudat David
Within the camp. Of Nahash the Ammonite:
“At the morning watch.” This is the third watch, which is adjacent to dawn.
"And they were scattered." They were dispersed, each from the other.
Metzudat Zion
Heads. Divisions.
At the watch. From the word 'guard'.
The day. The sun is called 'day,' similarly (Genesis 3:8): 'to the wind of the day'.
And they were scattered. They were dispersed, similarly (Numbers 10:35): 'and Your enemies shall be scattered'.
And the people said to Samuel: ‘Who is he that said: Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.’
verse value 3087
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "who?" (מִ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Samuel" (אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "who·said" (הָאֹמֵ֔ר), "give" (תְּנ֥וּ), "and·we·will·kill·them" (וּנְמִיתֵֽם). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "to·Samuel" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel); "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'over·us', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + הָעָם֙ [the·people] (115) + אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל [to·Samuel] (408) + מִ֣י [who?] (50) + הָאֹמֵ֔ר [who·said] (246) + שָׁא֖וּל [Saul] (337) + יִמְלֹ֣ךְ [will·reign] (100) + עָלֵ֑ינוּ [over·us] (166) + תְּנ֥וּ [give] (456) + הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים [man] (406) + וּנְמִיתֵֽם [and·we·will·kill·them] (546) = 3087.
Rashi
Who is he who said. In the language of contempt: Shall Sha'ul reign over us? Give them up and we will kill them.
Shall reign over us. In amazement.
Radak
"Saul shall reign over us." This is a question, and the Targum explains: "What is this news that they are bringing to say that Saul is not fit to reign over us?"
Metzudat David
Who is the one who said. Who is the man who said in mockery and with astonishment, "Shaul shall reign over us?"—is he worthy of kingship?—"Give us these men, and we will put them to death." And they said this because they saw that the Lord was with him, and salvation came through his hand.
Malbim
"Who is he that said?" — now they all acknowledged his kingship, and reckoned those who had rebelled against him as deserving of death, like one who rebels against the kingdom.
And Saul said: ‘There shall not a man be put to death this day; for to-day Hashem has wrought deliverance in Israel.’
verse value 3283
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Hashem·has·wrought" (עָשָֽׂה־יְהֹוָ֥ה, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "not·day" (לֹא־יוּמַ֥ת), "Hashem·has·wrought" (עָשָֽׂה־יְהֹוָ֥ה). The root יום appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "Hashem·has·wrought" (root יהוה, 316x in I Samuel); "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + שָׁא֔וּל [Saul] (337) + לֹא־יוּמַ֥ת [not·day] (487) + אִ֖ישׁ [man] (311) + בַּיּ֣וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַזֶּ֑ה [this] (17) + כִּ֥י [for] (30) + הַיּ֛וֹם [day] (61) + עָשָֽׂה־יְהֹוָ֥ה [Hashem·has·wrought] (401) + תְּשׁוּעָ֖ה [salvation] (781) + בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל [in·Israel] (543) = 3283.
Ralbag
"A man shall not be put to death on this day." It might be suggested that after that day he put them to death; or perhaps Saul said, "A man shall not be put to death on this day," as a stratagem to rescue those men from the hands of Israel, in order to show them that his intention was to put them to death after that day.
Metzudat David
"For on this day..." And it is not fitting to put a person to death on a day of salvation.
Malbim
"And Saul said." But Saul answered, "There shall not a man be put to death this day." For until now, their judgment was not that of rebels against the kingdom, since until then they had not all acknowledged his kingship, until He delivered them from the Ammonites, and this was not accomplished until this day. And this is what is written: “For today the Lord has wrought salvation,” meaning that until now I did not have the authority of a king’s judgment.
Then said Samuel to the people: ‘Come and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.’
verse value 1832
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·kingdom" (הַמְּלוּכָֽה, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·let·us·renew" (וּנְחַדֵּ֥שׁ). The root הלך appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "to·the·people" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel); "go" (root הלך, 133x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gilgal', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + שְׁמוּאֵל֙ [Samuel] (377) + אֶל־הָעָ֔ם [to·the·people] (146) + לְכ֖וּ [go] (56) + וְנֵלְכָ֣ה [and·let·us·go] (111) + הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל [Gilgal] (71) + וּנְחַדֵּ֥שׁ [and·let·us·renew] (368) + שָׁ֖ם [there] (340) + הַמְּלוּכָֽה [the·kingdom] (106) = 1832.
Rashi
And Samuel said, etc. — and we will renew there the kingship. Because at first there were objectors to the matter, and now all agreed.
Radak
And let us renew the kingdom there. This is because, at the first instance, some of them despised him and said, “What will this one save us?” Now, however, they all consented on account of the salvation that came through him in the war against Nahash. And Samuel said, “To renew the monarchy at Gilgal,” in honor of the Ark and the Tabernacle, which had been there from the beginning when they entered the land. Therefore, they honored that place, even though at that time it was not there, for it was in Nob.
Ralbag
And perhaps for this reason it happened that Samuel renewed the monarchy at Gilgal, as if to show that until now there had not been a king in perfection.
Metzudat David
And the kingship was renewed there, because initially not all accepted it willingly.
Malbim
And he said: And for this reason did Shmuel say that they should go to renew the monarchy, to renew it through the people’s acceptance of him willingly, in such a way that the monarchy would begin from that day. And this is what is written:
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Hashem in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings before Hashem; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
verse value 4942
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 96 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֨ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·sacrificed·there" (וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֛ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 340: there, there. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·they·made·king" (וַיַּמְלִ֩כוּ֩), "and·they·sacrificed·there" (וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֛ם), "and·he·rejoiced" (וַיִּשְׂמַ֨ח). The root גלגל appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 316x in I Samuel); "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "and·all·men·of" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Ralbag
And he said before the Lord at Gilgal, for there he built an altar and sacrificed upon it, and in the beginning the Tabernacle was located there, as is mentioned at the beginning of the Book of Joshua. After this, Samuel strove to bring Israel and their king to conduct themselves according to the ways of the Torah and not to deviate from it. He reminded them first that all his days he had led them in the ways of the Torah; he showed no partiality to any person, nor did he take anything from them, neither by oppression nor in any other manner. He testified this before the Lord and before Saul, as if God, blessed be He, would serve as a witness between them regarding this matter, and Saul, His anointed one, until they admitted that the truth was indeed so, as Samuel said:
Metzudat David
"And they made him king there." They made him king a second time, with the consent of all and in good will.
"Before the Lord." For the Divine Presence rests in a place where the majority of the congregation gathers.
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim