1 samuel 11:3 - The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 samuel 11:3" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 11:3, describes a desperate plea from the elders of Jabesh-Gilead to Nahash the Ammonite king who was besieging their city. Let's break it down:
"The elders of Jabesh said to him..." - The elders of Jabesh-Gilead were the leaders and representatives of their city. They are speaking to Nahash, the king of the Ammonites. Jabesh-Gilead was under siege, meaning Nahash's army had surrounded the city, cutting it off from supplies and threatening to conquer it.
"...Give us seven days..." - The elders are asking Nahash for a week's reprieve. They need time to try and find help.
"...that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel..." - This is the key to understanding their strategy. They want to send messengers throughout the land of Israel to spread the word of their predicament. They are hoping to find someone, some leader or group, willing and able to come to their rescue.
"...and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you." - This is the elders' final offer of surrender, but with a caveat. If, after a week of searching for help, no one comes to their aid, they promise to surrender to Nahash. "Come out to you" signifies surrendering their city and its inhabitants to Nahash.
In essence, the verse shows the elders of Jabesh-Gilead buying themselves time. They are hoping against hope that news of their plight will reach someone powerful enough to help, while also trying to avoid a complete and immediate massacre by surrendering if help does not arrive. It highlights their desperation and willingness to take a calculated risk, gambling that someone in Israel will come to their rescue.
1 samuel 11:3 - The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”
What does "1 samuel 11:3" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 11:3, describes a desperate plea from the elders of Jabesh-Gilead to Nahash the Ammonite king who was besieging their city. Let's break it down:
"The elders of Jabesh said to him..." - The elders of Jabesh-Gilead were the leaders and representatives of their city. They are speaking to Nahash, the king of the Ammonites. Jabesh-Gilead was under siege, meaning Nahash's army had surrounded the city, cutting it off from supplies and threatening to conquer it.
"...Give us seven days..." - The elders are asking Nahash for a week's reprieve. They need time to try and find help.
"...that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel..." - This is the key to understanding their strategy. They want to send messengers throughout the land of Israel to spread the word of their predicament. They are hoping to find someone, some leader or group, willing and able to come to their rescue.
"...and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you." - This is the elders' final offer of surrender, but with a caveat. If, after a week of searching for help, no one comes to their aid, they promise to surrender to Nahash. "Come out to you" signifies surrendering their city and its inhabitants to Nahash.
In essence, the verse shows the elders of Jabesh-Gilead buying themselves time. They are hoping against hope that news of their plight will reach someone powerful enough to help, while also trying to avoid a complete and immediate massacre by surrendering if help does not arrive. It highlights their desperation and willingness to take a calculated risk, gambling that someone in Israel will come to their rescue.