TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
As this was going on, Sha'ul came, following the oxen out of the field. Sha'ul asked, "What's wrong with the people to make them cry like that?"They told him what the men from Yavesh had said.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And behold, Saul came following the cattell out of the fielde, and Saul saide, What aileth this people, that they weepe? And they tolde him the tidings of the men of Iabesh.
Young's Literal Translation
and lo, Saul hath come after the herd out of the field, and Saul saith, `What--to the people, that they weep?' and they recount to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Samuel 11 verses 5–11
5 ¶ 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.
6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
What is here related turns very much to the honour of Saul, and shows the happy fruits of that other spirit with which he was endued. Observe here,
I. His humility. Though he was anointed king, and accepted by his people, yet he did not think it below him to know the state of his own flocks, but went himself to see them, and came in the evening, with his servants, after the herd out of the field, Sa1 11:5. This was an evidence that he was not puffed up with his advancement, as those are most apt to be that are raised from a mean estate. Providence had not yet found him business as a king; he left all to Samuel; and therefore, rather than be idle, he would, for the present, apply himself to his country business again. Though the sons of Belial would, perhaps, despise him the more for it, such as were virtuous and wise, and loved business themselves, would think never the worse of him. He had no revenues settled upon him for the support of his dignity, and he was desirous not to be burdensome to the people, for which reason, like Paul, he worked with his hands; for, if he neglect his domestic affairs, how must he maintain himself and his family? Solomon gives it as a reason why men should look well to their herds because the crown doth not endure to every generation, Pro 27:23, Pro 27:24. Saul's did not; he must therefore provide something surer.
II. His concern for his neighbours. When he perceived them in tears, he asked, "What ails the people that they weep? Let me know, that, if it be a grievance which can be redressed, I may help them, and that, if not, I may weep with them." Good magistrates are in pain if their subjects are in tears.
III. His zeal for the safety and honour of Israel. When he heard of the insolence of the Ammonites, and the distress of a city, a mother in Israel, the Spirit of God came upon him, and put great thoughts into his mind, and his anger was kindled greatly, Sa1 11:6. He was angry at the insolence of the Ammonites, angry at the mean and sneaking spirit of the men of Jabesh-Gilead, angry that they had not sent him notice sooner of the Ammonites' descent and the extremity they were likely to be reduced to. He was angry to see his neighbours weeping, when it was fitter for them to be preparing for war. It was a brave and generous fire that was now kindled in the breast of Saul, and such as became his high station.
IV. The authority and power he exerted upon this important occasion. He soon let Israel know that, though he had retired to his privacy, he had a care for the public, and knew how to command men into the field, as well as how to drive cattle out of the field, Sa1 11:5, Sa1 11:7. He sent a summons to all the coasts of Israel, to show the extent of his power beyond his own tribe, even to all the tribes, and ordered all the military men forthwith to appear in arms at a general rendezvous in Bezek. Observe, 1. His modesty, in joining Samuel in commission with himself. He would not execute the office of a king without a due regard to that of a prophet. 2. His mildness in the penalty threatened against those that should disobey his orders. He hews a yoke of oxen in pieces, and sends the pieces to the several cities of Israel, threatening, with respect to him who should decline the public service, not, "Thus shall it be done to him," but, "Thus shall it be done to his oxen." God had threatened it as a great judgment (Deu 28:31), Thy ox shall be slain before thy eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof. It was necessary that the command should be enforced with some penalty, but this was not nearly so severe as that which was affixed to a similar order by the whole congregation, Jdg 21:5. Saul wished to show that his government was more gentle than that which they had been under. The effect of this summons was that the militia, or trained bands, of the nation, came out as one man, and the reason given is, because the fear of the Lord fell upon them. Saul did not affect to make them fear him, but they were influenced to observe his orders by the fear of God and a regard to him who had made Saul their king and them members one of another. Note, Religion and the fear of God will make men good subjects, good soldiers, and good friends to the public interests of the country. Those that fear God will make conscience of their duty to all men, particularly to their rulers.
V. His prudent proceedings in this great affair, Sa1 11:8. He numbered those that came in to him, that he might know his own strength, and how to distribute his forces in the best manner their numbers would allow. It is the honour of princes to know the number of their men, but it is the honour of the King of kings that there is not any number of his armies, Job 25:3. In this muster, it seems, Judah, though numbered by itself, made no great figure; for, as it was one tribe of twelve, so it was but an eleventh part of the whole number, 30,330, though the rendezvous was at Bezek, in that tribe. They wanted the numbers, or the courage, or the zeal for which that tribe used to be famous; so low was it, just before the sceptre was brought into it in David.
VI. His faith and confidence, and (grounded thereon) his courage and resolution, in this enterprise. It should seem that those very messengers who brought the tidings from Jabesh-Gilead Saul sent into the country to raise the militia, who would be sure to be faithful and careful in their own business, and them he now sends back to their distressed countrymen, with this assurance (in which, it is probable, Samuel encouraged him): "Tomorrow, by such an hour, before the enemy can pretend that the seven days have expired, you shall have deliverance, Sa1 11:9. Be you ready to do your part, and we will not fail to do ours. Do you sally out upon the besiegers, while we surround them." Saul knew he had a just cause, a clear call, and God on his side, and therefore doubted not of success. This was good news to the besieged Gileadites, whose right eyes had wept themselves dry for their calamities, and now began to fail with looking for relief and to ache in expectation of the doom of the ensuing day, when they must look their last; the greater the exigence the more welcome the deliverance. When they heard it they were glad, relying on the assurances that were sent to them. And they sent into the enemies' camp (Sa1 11:10) to tell them that next day they would be ready to meet them, which the enemies understood as an intimation that they despaired of relief, and so were made the more secure by it. If they took not care, by sending out scouts, to rectify their own mistake, they must thank themselves if they were surprised: the besieged were under no obligation to give them notice of the help they were assured of.
VII. His industry and close application to this business. If he had been bred up to war from his youth, and had led regiments as often as he had followed droves, he could not have gone about an affair of this nature more dexterously nor more diligently. When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon men it will make them expert even without experience. A vast army (especially in comparison with the present usage) Saul had now at his foot, and a long march before him, nearly sixty miles, and over Jordan too. No cavalry in his army, but all infantry, which he divides into three battalions, Sa1 11:11. And observe, 1. With what incredible swiftness he flew to the enemy. In a day and a night he came to the place of action, where his own fate, and that of Israel, must be determined. He had passed his word, and would not break it; nay, he was better than his word, for he promised help next day, by that time the sun was hot (Sa1 11:9), but brought it before day, in the morning-watch, Sa1 11:11. Whom God helps he helps right early, Psa 46:5. 2. With what incredible bravery he flew upon the enemy. Betimes in the morning, when they lay dreaming of the triumphs they expected that day over the miserable inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead, before they were aware he was in the midst of their host; and his men, being marched against them in three columns, surrounded them on every side, so that they could have neither heart nor time to make head against them.
Lastly, To complete his honour, God crowned all these virtues with success. Jabesh-Gilead was rescued, and the Ammonites were totally routed; he had now the day before him to complete his victory in, and so complete a victory it was that those who remained, after a great slaughter, were scattered so that two of them were not left together to encourage or help one another, Sa1 11:11. We may suppose that Saul was the more vigorous in this matter, 1. Because there was some alliance between the tribe of Benjamin and the city of Jabesh-Gilead. That city had declined joining with the rest of the Israelites to destroy Gibeah, which was then punished as their crime, but perhaps was now remembered as their kindness, when Saul of Gibeah came with so much readiness and resolution to relieve Jabesh-Gilead. Yet that was not all; two-thirds of the Benjamites that then remained were provided with wives from that city (Jdg 21:14), so that most of the mothers of Benjamin were daughters of Jabesh-Gilead, for which city Saul, being a Benjamite, had therefore a particular kindness; and we find they returned his kindness, Sa1 31:11, Sa1 31:12. 2. Because it was the Ammonites' invasion that induced the people to desire a king (so Samuel says, Sa1 12:12), so that if he had not done his part, in this expedition, he would have disappointed their expectations, and for ever forfeited their respect.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–11. Public domain.
Copy as
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying 1 Samuel 11:5 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
1 Samuel 11:5 marks the critical turning point in Saul's transition from an ordinary farmer to Israel's first active king. Returning from his daily agricultural duties, Saul encounters his hometown of Gibeah engulfed in widespread weeping and distress. His immediate, empathetic inquiry into the cause of their sorrow reveals the dire threat posed by Nahash the Ammonite against Jabesh-Gilead. This pivotal moment serves as the divine catalyst, igniting Saul's spirit and propelling him from his humble, private life into the divinely appointed leadership role he was destined to fulfill, initiating his first decisive act as monarch.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices that enhance its narrative impact. Juxtaposition is prominent, contrasting Saul's humble, agricultural existence ("after the herd out of the field") with the profound national crisis and his impending royal action. This highlights the unexpected nature of God's chosen leaders and the sudden shift in Saul's destiny. Dramatic Irony is also at play, as the reader is aware of Saul's anointing and the prophecy of his future leadership, while Saul himself is simply returning from the field, unaware of the specific, immediate catalyst awaiting him. The widespread "weeping" functions as powerful Symbolism, representing not just the sorrow of Gibeah but the collective fear, desperation, and humiliation gripping Israel in the face of the Ammonite threat, thereby serving as a potent call to action for the nascent king. The entire scene also serves as significant Foreshadowing, hinting at Saul's future role as a military deliverer and leader of Israel, a role he is about to embrace fully.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 11:5 profoundly illustrates God's sovereign timing and His method of preparing and positioning leaders. Saul's return from the field at the precise moment of national crisis is not coincidental but divinely orchestrated, demonstrating that God often calls and empowers individuals from humble circumstances for significant purposes. His immediate inquiry into the people's weeping reveals a compassionate heart, a quality God values in those He raises to lead. This moment underscores the principle that true leadership often emerges not from a pursuit of power or personal ambition, but from a genuine empathy for the suffering of others and a willingness to respond to their needs. The crisis serves as the crucible in which Saul's latent leadership is forged and activated, showing how challenges can be catalysts for divine purpose and the manifestation of God's will.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Saul's encounter in 1 Samuel 11:5 offers a profound lesson on the nature of leadership and our personal calling. It reminds us that God often prepares us in humble, ordinary circumstances, and that true leadership is rooted in empathy and responsiveness to the suffering of others, rather than in self-promotion or ambition. Saul, the anointed king, was still tending his herd, highlighting that God's call does not always immediately remove us from our mundane realities, but often uses them to shape our character. His simple question, "What aileth the people that they weep?" is a powerful model for us: to pause, observe, and genuinely inquire about the distress around us, rather than rushing to judgment or indifference. This verse challenges us to consider how we respond to the "weeping" in our own communities, families, or workplaces. Are we sensitive to the hidden burdens of others? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones, as Saul did, when confronted with a crisis? Just as the crisis of Jabesh-Gilead served as a catalyst for Saul to embrace his kingly role, so too can the challenges we face, or those we witness, become opportunities for us to step into the purpose God has for us, often in unexpected and empowering ways.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was Saul still "after the herd" if he was already king?
Answer: Saul's kingship at this point was in its very early, transitional phase. While he had been privately anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1) and publicly confirmed at Mizpah (1 Samuel 10:24), the full administrative and military apparatus of the monarchy had not yet been established. Saul had not yet built a palace or formed a standing army. He remained in his hometown, Gibeah, and continued to engage in his ordinary agricultural duties. This highlights his humility, the gradual nature of the transition from a tribal confederacy to a centralized monarchy, and God's design to call leaders from unassuming backgrounds. It also demonstrates that his kingship was not yet fully active until a crisis, like the one with Jabesh-Gilead, compelled him to step into his role decisively.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 11:5, though describing Saul's initial emergence as king, beautifully foreshadows aspects of Christ's ultimate kingship and redemptive work. Just as Saul came from the humble "field" to encounter a weeping people, so too did Christ, the true King, enter humanity not in regal splendor but in profound humility, born in a manger and growing up in Nazareth, a place of no renown (John 1:46). Saul's immediate, empathetic question, "What aileth the people that they weep?", resonates deeply with the compassion of Jesus, who was "moved with pity" when He saw the crowds "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36) and who Himself wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). Saul's subsequent Spirit-empowered deliverance of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 11:6-11) points to Christ, the ultimate Deliverer, upon whom the Spirit rested without measure (John 3:34), and who came to rescue humanity from the far greater tyranny of sin and death, offering true and eternal salvation (Colossians 1:13-14). Saul's response to the weeping people of Jabesh-Gilead, leading to their rescue, ultimately finds its perfect and complete fulfillment in Christ, who, out of boundless compassion, delivers His people from their deepest distress and brings them into His eternal kingdom.