1 Samuel 11:14

14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come on. Let's go to Gilgal. There we'll agree to have Saul as our king."

1 Samuel 11:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 11:14

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.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs p. 126.)

1 Samuel 11:14 In-Context

12 The people said to Samuel, "Who asked, 'Is Saul going to rule over us?' Bring those people to us. We'll put them to death."
13 But Saul said, "We won't put anyone to death today! After all, this is the day the LORD has saved Israel."
14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come on. Let's go to Gilgal. There we'll agree to have Saul as our king."
15 So all of the people went to Gilgal. There, with the LORD as witness, they agreed to have Saul as their king. There they sacrificed friendship offerings to the Lord. And there Saul and all of the people of Israel celebrated with great joy.
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