1 Samuel 11:5

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 11:5 captures a pivotal moment in the nascent reign of Israel's first king, Saul. Returning from his ordinary agricultural duties, Saul encounters a scene of widespread distress and weeping among the people of Gibeah. His immediate, empathetic inquiry into the cause of their sorrow leads to the revelation of the dire threat facing Jabesh-Gilead from Nahash the Ammonite. This verse serves as the critical catalyst, igniting Saul's spirit and propelling him from his humble, private life into the active, divinely appointed leadership role he was destined to fulfill for Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the desperate plea of the men of Jabesh-Gilead for help against Nahash the Ammonite, whose brutal terms of surrender (gouging out their right eyes) had caused widespread despair throughout Israel. Messengers had arrived in Gibeah, Saul's hometown, spreading the alarming news and inciting communal weeping. Saul, though privately anointed by Samuel ([1 Samuel 10:1](/1_samuel/10-1 "1 Samuel 10:1 - Samuel Anoints Saul")) and publicly confirmed as king at Mizpah ([1 Samuel 10:24](/1_samuel/10-24 "1 Samuel 10:24 - Saul Proclaimed King")), had not yet fully assumed his royal duties. He remained engaged in his humble, agricultural life, tending to his family's oxen. His return "after the herd out of the field" at this precise moment underscores divine providence, setting the stage for his first decisive act as king, empowered by the Spirit of God in the very next verse ([1 Samuel 11:6](/1_samuel/11-6 "1 Samuel 11:6 - The Spirit of God Rushes Upon Saul")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of early Israelite monarchy was a transitional one. Unlike later kings who resided in palaces, Saul, at this point, still lived and worked among his people, reflecting the humble origins of Israel's first king and the nascent stage of the kingdom. The threat from Nahash the Ammonite was a common border conflict, but Nahash's specific demand for the gouging out of right eyes was a particularly cruel and humiliating act of subjugation, designed to render the men unfit for battle and to serve as a perpetual mark of shame. Jabesh-Gilead, located east of the Jordan, had a historical connection to the tribe of Benjamin (Saul's tribe), being the only city that did not participate in the war against Benjamin in [Judges 21](/judges/21 "Judges 21 - The Wives for the Benjaminites"), and later providing wives for the surviving Benjaminites. This historical tie likely intensified the urgency and personal connection for Saul and the people of Gibeah. The public weeping was a culturally accepted and powerful expression of collective sorrow, fear, and desperation, signaling the gravity of the national crisis.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights **God's preparation and timing** for His chosen leaders, demonstrating that Saul's humble background was no impediment to his divine calling. His return from the field at the peak of the crisis underscores God's perfect orchestration. Secondly, it emphasizes **compassion and empathy** as essential qualities for leadership; Saul's immediate inquiry into the people's distress reveals a heart sensitive to their suffering, a stark contrast to self-serving rulers. Thirdly, the crisis of Jabesh-Gilead serves as the **catalyst for Saul's active leadership**. Until this point, his kingship had been largely theoretical, but the visible distress of the people and the urgent threat ignite his spirit, compelling him to step into his divinely appointed role decisively, as foreshadowed by Samuel's earlier words in [1 Samuel 10:7](/1_samuel/10-7 "1 Samuel 10:7 - Samuel's Prophecy to Saul"). Finally, the **power of communal grief** is evident, as the widespread weeping in Gibeah not only reflects the severity of the threat but also serves to galvanize Saul and unite the people in their shared predicament.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Aileth (Old English, _æglian'_):** This archaic English word, used in the KJV, derives from the Old English "eglian," meaning "to trouble," "to pain," or "to afflict." In modern English, Saul's question, "What [aileth] the people that they weep?" would translate to "What is troubling the people that they are weeping?" or "What is wrong with the people that they are crying?" The word underscores Saul's immediate and genuine concern for the well-being of his community, indicating an empathetic response rather than a detached or self-interested one. It highlights his nascent pastoral heart.
* **Herd (Hebrew, _bāqār'_):** Refers to cattle or oxen. Saul's activity "after the herd out of the field" emphasizes his continued engagement in ordinary, humble, agricultural labor despite his anointing and public proclamation as king. This detail reinforces his grounded nature and contrasts with the expected grandeur of a monarch, highlighting that God often calls leaders from unexpected and unassuming circumstances, preparing them in obscurity before elevating them to public service.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field;":** This clause sets the scene, emphasizing Saul's humble, ordinary life and his unexpected arrival at a moment of national crisis. The phrase "behold" draws attention to the significance of this timely return, suggesting divine orchestration. Saul is not in a palace or leading an army; he is returning from common labor, underscoring his relatable, down-to-earth character before his first major act of leadership.
* **"and Saul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep?":** This is Saul's immediate, empathetic response to the widespread distress he witnesses. His question reveals a leader who is observant, compassionate, and concerned for the welfare of his people. He does not ignore their suffering but actively seeks to understand its cause, demonstrating a foundational quality for effective leadership: a heart sensitive to the needs of others.
* **"And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.":** This final clause provides the direct answer to Saul's inquiry, delivering the urgent news of Nahash's siege and the dire situation in Jabesh-Gilead. This communication transforms Saul's empathetic concern into informed awareness, setting the stage for his Spirit-empowered response and the subsequent military campaign that will solidify his kingship.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices. **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. **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 and desperation 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, 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.

* [1 Samuel 9:15-17](/1_samuel/9-15 "1 Samuel 9:15-17 - God Reveals Saul to Samuel")
* [Judges 21:8-12](/judges/21-8 "Judges 21:8-12 - The Vow Concerning Jabesh-Gilead")
* [Matthew 9:36](/matthew/9-36 "Matthew 9:36 - Jesus' Compassion for the Crowds")

### 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
* **How does Saul's humble return from the field challenge our perceptions of what true leadership looks like?**
* **In what ways can we cultivate a heart of empathy that prompts us to ask, "What aileth the people?" in our own communities or spheres of influence?**
* **When has a crisis in your life or community served as a catalyst for unexpected action or growth, revealing a capacity you didn't realize you possessed?**

### 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](/1_samuel/10-1 "1 Samuel 10:1 - Samuel Anoints Saul")) and publicly confirmed at Mizpah ([1 Samuel 10:24](/1_samuel/10-24 "1 Samuel 10:24 - Saul Proclaimed King")), 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](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?")). 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](/matthew/9-36 "Matthew 9:36 - Jesus' Compassion for the Crowds")) and who Himself wept over Jerusalem ([Luke 19:41](/luke/19-41 "Luke 19:41 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")) and at the tomb of Lazarus ([John 11:35](/john/11-35 "John 11:35 - Jesus Wept")). Saul's subsequent Spirit-empowered deliverance of Jabesh-Gilead ([1 Samuel 11:6-11](/1_samuel/11-6 "1 Samuel 11:6-11 - Saul Delivers Jabesh-Gilead")) points to Christ, the ultimate Deliverer, upon whom the Spirit rested without measure ([John 3:34](/john/3-34 "John 3:34 - The Spirit Without Measure")), and who came to rescue humanity from the far greater tyranny of sin and death, offering true and eternal salvation ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Redemption Through Christ")). 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.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

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.