1 Samuel 11:5

Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

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WEBBE

Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

BSB

Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

KJV

And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

ASV

And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

BBE

Now Saul came from the field, driving the oxen before him; and he said, Why are the people weeping? And they gave him word of what the men of Jabesh had said.

Original Hebrew

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וְהִנֵּה ve·hi·neh and there H2009 שָׁאוּל sha·'ul Saul H7586 בָּא ba' [was] coming H935 אַחֲרֵי 'a·cha·rei after H310 הַבָּקָר ha·ba·kar the cattle H1241 מִן־ min- from H4480 הַשָּׂדֶה ha·sa·deh the field H7704 וַיֹּאמֶר vai·yo·mer and he said H559 שָׁאוּל sha·'ul Saul H7586 מַה־ mah- what H4100 לָּעָם la·'am [is] to the people H5971 כִּי ki that H3588 יִבְכּוּ yiv·ku they are weeping H1058 וַיְסַפְּרוּ־ vay·sa·pe·ru- and they recounted H5608 לוֹ lo to (the) him H9033 אֶת־ 'et- (marks the object) H853 דִּבְרֵי div·rei [the] words of H1697 אַנְשֵׁי 'an·shei [the] men of H582 יָבֵישׁ ya·veish Jabesh H3003

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–11

The first fruit of Saul's government was the rescue of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites. To save their lives, men will part with liberty, and even consent to have their eyes put out; is it then no wisdom to part with that sin which is as dear to us as our right eye, rather than to be cast into hell-fire? See the faith and confidence of Saul, and, grounded thereon, his courage and resolution. See also his activity in this business. When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon men, it will make them expert, even without experience. When zeal for the glory of God, and love for the brethren, urge men to earnest efforts, and when God is pleased to help, great effects may speedily be produced.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 11 →

Cross-references

People & places

Saul Jabesh

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.