1 Samuel 11:7

1 Samuel 11:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
• New International Version (NIV)He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.” And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

Context of 1 Samuel 11:7

5Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they reported to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. He then took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one person. 8He counted them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah, thirty thousand. 9They said to the messengers who had come, “This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced.

1 Samuel 11:7 word by word

וַיִּקַּח֩ צֶ֨מֶד בָּקָ֜ר וַֽיְנַתְּחֵ֗הוּ וַיְשַׁלַּ֞ח בְּכָל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ בְּיַ֣ד הַמַּלְאָכִ֣ים׀ לֵאמֹר֒ אֲשֶׁר֩ אֵינֶ֨נּוּ יֹצֵ֜א אַחֲרֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ וְאַחַ֣ר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כֹּ֥ה יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה לִבְקָר֑וֹ וַיִּפֹּ֤ל פַּֽחַד־יְהוָה֙ עַל־הָעָ֔ם וַיֵּצְא֖וּ כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָֽד׃Read the interlinear

• He then tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• a yokeצֶ֫מֶדtsemed · pairH6776
• of oxenבָּקָרbâqâr · cattleH1241
• cutנָתַחnâthach · to cutH5408
• and sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• throughoutכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• the territoryגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• by the handיָדyâd · handH3027
• of messengersמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Whoeverאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• does not comeיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• the sameכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
• shall be doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• Then the dreadפַּ֫חַדpachad · dreadH6343
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• on the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• as oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• personאִישׁ'îysh · manH376

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 11:7

• Judges 19:29When he entered his house, he took a knife and seized his concubine, and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb. Then he sent her throughout the territory of Israel.
• Judges 21:5Then the sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not go up to the Lord in the assembly?” For they had taken a solemn oath concerning anyone who did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”
• Genesis 35:5As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
• 2 Chronicles 14:14They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the Lord had fallen on them; and they pillaged all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.
• 2 Chronicles 17:10Now the dread of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
• Judges 20:1Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one person to the Lord at Mizpah.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 11:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7He took a yoke of open - The sending the pieces of the oxen was an act similar to that of the Levite, Judges 19:29; (note), where see the note. And both customs are similar to the sending about of the bloody cross, to call the clans to battle, practiced by the ancient Highlanders of Scotland. See at the end of this chapter, 1 Samuel 11:15; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Though not expressly stated, it is doubtless implied that he sent the portions by the messengers to the twelve tribes, after the analogy, and probably in imitation, of Judges 19:29. He made use of the revered name of Samuel to strengthen his own weak authority. Samuel accompanied Saul in the expedition 1 Samuel 11:12.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Not participating would indicate rejection of the leadership of both Saul as king and Samuel as prophet.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces--(see Jud 19:29). This particular form of war-summons was suited to the character and habits of an agricultural and pastoral people. Solemn in itself, the denunciation that accompanied it carried a terrible threat to those that neglected to obey it. Saul conjoins the name of Samuel with his own, to lend the greater influence to the measure, and to strike greater terror unto all contemners of the order…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 11:7

• Armies
• Decision
• Jabesh-Gilead
• Nahash
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Samuel
• Saul
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Paul, Saul
• Farm
• Meroz
• Messenger
• Nahash

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings