1 samuel 11:14 - Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.”
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What does "1 samuel 11:14" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 11:14, comes after Saul's victory over the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead. Let's break down what it means:
"Then Samuel said to the people...": Samuel was the last judge of Israel and a prophet. He had reluctantly anointed Saul as king at God's command (1 Samuel 10). Samuel still held a position of spiritual leadership and influence.
"...“Come, and let us go to Gilgal...": Gilgal was a significant location in Israelite history:
It was the first place the Israelites camped after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 4).
It was where they circumcised the new generation and celebrated Passover (Joshua 5).
It was a place of covenant renewal.
"...and renew the kingdom there.”": This is the core meaning. The kingdom of Israel, under Saul, was newly established. This meant:
Public Acknowledgment and Confirmation: Saul's kingship, though anointed by Samuel, had not yet been fully and publicly recognized by all the people. Going to Gilgal was intended to be a formal, national assembly to officially acknowledge and confirm Saul as their king. His victory over the Ammonites had proven his leadership and bolstered his legitimacy. This was a chance to solidify his rule.
Reaffirmation of the Covenant: Renewing the kingdom also implied a reaffirmation of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The people were being reminded of their responsibilities under God's rule, now exercised through their divinely appointed king. This was about more than just accepting Saul; it was about accepting God's plan for Israel.
Establishing Saul's Authority: Gilgal was a location filled with religious and historical significance. By holding a ceremony of "renewal" there, it would lend legitimacy and authority to Saul's reign. It signified this wasn't just a personal appointment; it was a divinely ordained event.
In summary, 1 Samuel 11:14 describes Samuel's call for a national assembly at Gilgal to publicly and formally acknowledge Saul as king, to reaffirm the covenant between God and Israel, and to establish Saul's authority in a place of historical and religious importance. It was about solidifying Saul's reign and reminding the people of their responsibilities to God and their new king.
1 samuel 11:14 - Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.”
What does "1 samuel 11:14" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 11:14, comes after Saul's victory over the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead. Let's break down what it means:
"Then Samuel said to the people...": Samuel was the last judge of Israel and a prophet. He had reluctantly anointed Saul as king at God's command (1 Samuel 10). Samuel still held a position of spiritual leadership and influence.
"...“Come, and let us go to Gilgal...": Gilgal was a significant location in Israelite history:
It was the first place the Israelites camped after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 4).
It was where they circumcised the new generation and celebrated Passover (Joshua 5).
It was a place of covenant renewal.
"...and renew the kingdom there.”": This is the core meaning. The kingdom of Israel, under Saul, was newly established. This meant:
Public Acknowledgment and Confirmation: Saul's kingship, though anointed by Samuel, had not yet been fully and publicly recognized by all the people. Going to Gilgal was intended to be a formal, national assembly to officially acknowledge and confirm Saul as their king. His victory over the Ammonites had proven his leadership and bolstered his legitimacy. This was a chance to solidify his rule.
Reaffirmation of the Covenant: Renewing the kingdom also implied a reaffirmation of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The people were being reminded of their responsibilities under God's rule, now exercised through their divinely appointed king. This was about more than just accepting Saul; it was about accepting God's plan for Israel.
Establishing Saul's Authority: Gilgal was a location filled with religious and historical significance. By holding a ceremony of "renewal" there, it would lend legitimacy and authority to Saul's reign. It signified this wasn't just a personal appointment; it was a divinely ordained event.
In summary, 1 Samuel 11:14 describes Samuel's call for a national assembly at Gilgal to publicly and formally acknowledge Saul as king, to reaffirm the covenant between God and Israel, and to establish Saul's authority in a place of historical and religious importance. It was about solidifying Saul's reign and reminding the people of their responsibilities to God and their new king.