1 Samuel 11:14-15 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.… 1. Samuel's sublime wisdom in making no motion nor mention of this covenant of the kingdom, at Saul's first election, while the people were generally disaffected towards him, because of his mean extract, rustic life, etc., but now when Saul had given them such eminent proofs of his valour and virtue, and when God had honoured him with so glorious a victory, which had made the people place their affections upon him both eagerly and unanimously; then doth Samuel strike while the iron was hot and set in with this fit season. 2. Samuel calls a general assembly from Jabesh to Gilgal, which was in their way home to most of them, but more especially because it was a place famous for many public conventions there kept, and particularly for the covenant renewed by Joshua, between God and the people, when God rolled away reproach from Israel in their circumcision, therefore was the place called Gilgal, which signifies rolling, etc. (Joshua 5:8.) 3. Here, he said, the people made Saul king, whereas it was the Lord's immediate act to constitute him king, chap. 1 Samuel 8; 9, and 1 Samuel 10:1, and the people only accepted of that election the Lord had made for them, recognising the first Act by a renewed universal consent. All now personally swearing allegiance to him to prevent any future factions and insurrections, etc. 4. The ceremonies of Saul's inauguration before the Lord, and His prophet Samuel, some suppose to be these. (1) They set the King upon his throne. (2) They crowned him. (3) They anointed him. (4) They put the Book of the Law into his hand. (5) They took an oath of him to observe it. (6) They offered sacrifices of all sorts upon the altar that was at Gilgal, partly praising God for present mercy both in the victory over Ammon and in their settlement under Saul, from sad distractions, and partly praying to God for his future favour, etc. (7) Shutting all up with sundry signs of public joy. (C. Ness.). Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.WEB: Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there." |
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