1 Samuel 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.

And, behold, Saul {H7586} came {H935} after {H310} the herd {H1241} out of the field {H7704}; and Saul {H7586} said {H559}, What aileth the people {H5971} that they weep {H1058}? And they told {H5608} him the tidings {H1697} of the men {H582} of Jabesh {H3003}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Context of 1 Samuel 11:5

This pivotal verse marks a critical moment in the early reign of Israel's first king, Saul. Though he had been privately anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1) and publicly confirmed, Saul had not yet fully assumed his royal duties. He was still engaged in his humble agricultural life, tending to his family's oxen. The scene unfolds as the people of Jabesh-Gilead, a city under severe threat from Nahash the Ammonite, had sent messengers throughout Israel crying for help. These messengers arrived in Gibeah, Saul's hometown, and their distressing news caused widespread weeping among the people, creating the very atmosphere Saul encountered upon his return from the field.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Saul's Humble State and Divine Timing: Saul's return "after the herd out of the field" emphasizes his simple, unpretentious background, contrasting sharply with the kingly role he was about to fulfill. God often calls leaders from unexpected places, demonstrating that His power is not dependent on human grandeur. This moment highlights divine timing, as Saul arrived precisely when the crisis of Jabesh-Gilead was at its peak.
  • Compassion and Empathy: Saul's immediate inquiry, "What [aileth] the people that they weep?" reveals an inherent compassion and concern for his people. He did not ignore their distress but sought to understand its cause, a vital quality for a leader.
  • The Catalyst for Saul's Active Leadership: This event serves as the catalyst for Saul to step into his leadership role decisively. Until this point, his kingship had been largely theoretical. The urgent crisis of Jabesh-Gilead, and the visible distress of the people, ignited his spirit and prepared him for action.
  • The Power of Communal Grief: The widespread weeping in Gibeah was a powerful expression of collective sorrow and fear, signaling the severity of the threat facing Jabesh-Gilead and, by extension, all of Israel. This shared emotion was crucial in galvanizing Saul.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the archaic word "aileth," which comes from the Old English "eglian," meaning "to trouble" or "to pain." In modern English, Saul's question would be, "What is troubling the people that they are weeping?" or "What is wrong with the people that they are crying?" This simple question underscores his immediate concern for the well-being of his community, rather than a focus on personal gain or power.

Practical Application and Reflection

1 Samuel 11:5 reminds us that true leadership often emerges not from a desire for power, but from a heart sensitive to the needs and suffering of others. Saul's initial response demonstrates the importance of empathy and active listening in understanding a situation before acting. Just as Saul was called from his ordinary life to address a national crisis, we too can be called to respond to needs around us, often in unexpected ways. This verse also illustrates that God's chosen leaders are often prepared in humble circumstances, and divine intervention can orchestrate events to propel them into their intended roles, as seen in the Spirit of God coming upon Saul in the very next verse, empowering him for the task ahead.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 19:19

    ¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

  • 1 Samuel 9:1

    ¶ Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

  • Genesis 21:17

    And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is].

  • Judges 18:23

    And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

  • Isaiah 22:1

    ¶ The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

  • Psalms 78:71

    From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
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