Saul Confirmed as King at Gilgal
1 Samuel 11:12-15
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1 S.11.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- שמואל: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- האמר: PTCP,qal,ptcp,ms,sg,def
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ימלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- תנו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ונמיתם: VERB,hif,impf,1,_,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 32:26-28 (structural): After the golden calf episode Moses calls for those 'on the LORD's side' and the Levites execute guilty men — a communal purge in response to perceived disloyalty, similar to the crowd's demand 'give the men that we may kill them.'
- 1 Samuel 8:4-22 (thematic): The earlier debate over instituting a king frames the conflict in ch.11: the people's demand for a monarch and Samuel's warnings provide the background for popular acceptance of Saul and hostility toward those who opposed his rule.
- 2 Samuel 16:5-9 (thematic): When Shimei curses David, Abishai urges David to let him be killed; the incident parallels the impulse to put to death those who publicly insult or reject the king's authority.
- 1 Kings 21:8-13 (structural): Jezebel engineers false charges and the execution of Naboth to secure Ahab's interests — an example of using judicial/violent means to eliminate opponents of royal claims, echoing the crowd's call to execute dissenters.
Alternative generated candidates
- The people said to Samuel, 'Who said,
- The people said to Samuel, "Who said, 'Saul shall reign over us?' Bring the men and let us put them to death."
1 S.11.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יומת: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביום: PREP
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- תשועה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.14.30 (verbal): Explicitly states that ‘the LORD saved Israel that day’ after a decisive deliverance—language and idea closely parallel Saul’s declaration that the LORD wrought salvation that day.
- Exod.15.2 (thematic): Song of deliverance language—'The LORD is my salvation'—echoes the attribution of victory and salvation to Yahweh found in 1 Sam 11:13.
- Ps.98.2 (thematic): Proclaims that the LORD has made his salvation known; thematically mirrors the public recognition in 1 Sam 11:13 that God has effected Israel’s deliverance.
- Luke.2.11 (allusion): New Testament proclamation of salvation occurring 'this day'—shares the motif of a decisive, dated act of salvation announced to the people.
- 1Sam.11.11 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the military rescue of Jabesh-Gilead directly precedes Saul’s proclamation in 11:13 and explains the basis for declaring 'no man shall die' because Yahweh had delivered Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death this day; for today the LORD has wrought salvation for Israel."
1 S.11.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שמואל: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- ונלכה: VERB,qal,imprf,1,_,pl
- הגלגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ונחדש: VERB,hif,impf,1,pl
- שם: ADV
- המלוכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Sam.11.15 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: the people go to Gilgal and there formally renew the kingdom by making Saul king and offering sacrifices—directly completes 11:14's command.
- 1 Sam.12:12-13 (thematic): Samuel's later speech recounts Israel's demand for a king and frames Saul's accession as the people’s choice that the LORD confirms—echoes the theme of establishing/renewing the monarchy.
- 2 Sam.5:3 (thematic): All the elders of Israel come to Hebron and anoint David king over Israel—parallel in public, communal recognition and formal installation of a monarch.
- 1 Kgs.1:39-40 (structural): Solomon's anointing at Gihon with public acclamation and ritual (horn of oil, trumpet, shouts) parallels the ceremonial, communal elements of installing a king as in Gilgal.
- Josh.24:25-28 (thematic): Joshua's covenant renewal and public commitment at Shechem ties to the motif of communal renewal/confirmation of national leadership and covenantal order.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal, and there renew the kingdom."
1 S.11.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הגלגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וימלכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- את: PRT,acc
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בגלגל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויזבחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- זבחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שלמים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישמח: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 10:24-25 (verbal): Earlier public acclamation of Saul as king—people shout and accept Saul—parallels the popular recognition and inauguration motif.
- 2 Samuel 5:3 (structural): All the elders of Israel come to make David king at Hebron; parallels the nationwide assembly and formal enthronement of a king.
- 1 Kings 1:39-40 (structural): Solomon's anointing and public acclamation at Gihon with rejoicing and sacrifice—similar coronation ritual and festal response.
- 2 Samuel 6:13-15 (thematic): David offers burnt and peace offerings and the people rejoice when bringing up the ark—parallels the combination of sacrificial worship and national rejoicing in 1 Sam 11:15.
- Joshua 5:10-11 (thematic): Gilgal as a cultic center for covenantal rites (Passover, sacrificial meal) after entering the land—parallels Gilgal's role as the ritual setting for Saul's inauguration.
Alternative generated candidates
- All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD at Gilgal. They offered there peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there greatly.
The people said to Samuel, 'Who said that Saul should reign over us? Hand over the men, and we will put them to death.' But Saul replied, 'No one shall be put to death this day; for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.'
Then Samuel said to the people, 'Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.'
All the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD at Gilgal; and there they offered peace offerings before the LORD. Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there greatly.