I Samuel 11

Hook

Have you ever felt completely underprepared for a major responsibility? Maybe you suddenly got a big promotion at work, or you had to step up to manage a family crisis, or you found yourself standing in front of a room full of people waiting for you to lead. Your stomach probably did a few backflips. You might have looked around the room, desperately hoping a "real" adult or an expert would walk through the door and take over. You might have even tried to slide back into your old, comfortable routine, pretending the big change never actually happened.

If you have ever felt this way, you are experiencing something very common: imposter syndrome. It is that nagging feeling that you are just pretending, and that at any moment, everyone will realize you do not have a clue what you are doing.

Our story today features a young man named Saul who was dealing with this exact feeling. He was just chosen to be the very first king of Israel. But instead of sitting on a golden throne or ordering people around, he did something highly relatable: he went right back to his family farm to herd cows. He tried to blend back into the background. That is, until a massive, terrifying crisis showed up at his doorstep and forced him to decide who he really wanted to be.

Let us look at how this ancient story can help us find our own inner courage when life suddenly demands that we step up.

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Context

To help you feel completely at home in this ancient world, let us set the stage with four simple background points:

• Who is Who: Our story features Saul, the newly appointed first king of Israel; Samuel, an elderly prophet (a person chosen to share messages from God); and Nahash, a cruel neighboring king of the Ammonites who loves to bully others.
• Where We Are: The action takes place in the land of Israel, moving between a town called Jabesh-gilead (on the eastern side of the Jordan River) and Gibeah (Saul's quiet hometown where he lives on a farm).
• When This Happened: This story takes place around 1000 BCE, during a chaotic transition period where the loose confederation of Hebrew tribes is trying to unite under a single leader for the very first time in their history.
• Key Term to Know: Today we are reading from the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible, containing Torah, Prophets, and Writings). Specifically, we are in the Book of Samuel, which reads like an epic historical drama filled with family tension, political intrigue, and deep spiritual search.

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Text Snapshot

Here is the dramatic moment when Saul hears the terrible news and has to decide whether to act. You can read the full chapter here: Sefaria - I Samuel 11.

"Saul was just coming from the field driving the cattle; and Saul asked, 'Why are the people crying?' And they told him about the situation of the inhabitants of Jabesh. When he heard these things, the spirit of God gripped Saul and his anger blazed up... Terror from God fell upon the people, and they came out united." I Samuel 11:5-7

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Close Reading

Now, let us roll up our sleeves and look at this text through the eyes of some classic commentaries (explanations written by wise teachers to clarify ancient texts). We will unpack three deep insights that you can use in your own life today.

Insight 1: The Anatomy of a Bully and the Power of Boundaries

Our story begins with a terrifying threat. Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, surrounds the town of Jabesh-gilead. The townspeople are terrified. They know they are outnumbered, so they try to negotiate. They say, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you" I Samuel 11:1.

The medieval commentator Metzudat David (a classic commentary that explains the simple meaning of Hebrew words) notes that the townspeople were essentially pleading: "Make a treaty with us so that you do not kill us." They were willing to give up their independence and pay heavy taxes just to survive. The famous commentator Steinsaltz (a modern scholar who made ancient texts accessible) explains that they were fully prepared to accept Nahash's rule and live as peaceful servants.

But Nahash does not want a fair deal. He responds with a horrifying condition: "I will make a pact with you on this condition, that every man’s right eye be gouged out; I will make this a humiliation for all Israel" I Samuel 11:2.

Why would a ruler demand eyes instead of money or land? The great commentator Ralbag (a philosopher and Bible scholar from Spain) explains this brilliantly. Ralbag points out that out of sheer cruelty, Nahash did not want to take taxes or tribute. He wanted to physically disable them so they could never fight back, and more importantly, he wanted to humiliate them. He wanted to show the world that the Israelites were so weak that they would agree to be mutilated just to live.

This teaches us a profound lesson about the nature of bullies and toxic relationships. Sometimes, we think we can buy peace by giving up a little bit of ourselves. We think, "If I just agree to this unreasonable demand, or if I let this person walk over me just this once, things will get better."

But as Ralbag and Metzudat David show us, a true bully's goal is not a fair compromise. Their goal is complete dominance and humiliation. Trying to appease an unreasonable person often only invites more cruelty. This text invites us to look at our own lives and notice where we might be trying to make "peace treaties" with toxic situations or people who do not respect our basic dignity. Sometimes, the only healthy response is to stop negotiating and find help.

Insight 2: Embracing Your Inner Leader When You Feel Unready

After Nahash gives his terrible ultimatum, the elders of the town ask for seven days to send messengers across Israel to see if anyone will save them I Samuel 11:3. Nahash, in his supreme arrogance, actually lets them do it. He is certain no one will come to their rescue.

The messengers travel to Saul’s hometown of Gibeah. When the townspeople hear the news, they start crying and wailing in despair.

And where is Saul, the newly anointed king of Israel?

The text tells us: "Saul was just coming from the field driving the cattle" I Samuel 11:5.

Think about this for a moment. Saul has already been publicly chosen and anointed as the king! Yet, here he is, walking behind a bunch of cows, covered in dirt, doing chores. Why isn't he in a palace? Why isn't he organizing an army?

The Alshich (a warm, spiritually-focused commentator from the 16th century) explains this beautifully. He write that after Saul was made king, he actually went back home feeling sad and dejected. He felt completely ordinary, like a simple homeowner who was totally stripped of any royal majesty. He did not feel like a king. He did not think he had what it took to lead a nation. So, he went back to what he knew: farming.

The Alshich explains that God deliberately allowed this crisis with Nahash to happen at this exact moment to help Saul. God knew that as long as things were quiet, Saul would stay on the farm, hiding from his potential. He needed a challenge that would shake him out of his comfort zone. When Saul heard about the suffering of his people, "the spirit of God gripped Saul and his anger blazed up" I Samuel 11:6.

The commentator Malbim (a 19th-century master of text analysis) adds another layer to this. He asks: why did Nahash attack Jabesh-gilead specifically? Malbim explains that the people of Jabesh-gilead were closely related by marriage to Saul’s tribe of Benjamin. Nahash was jealous of Israel getting a king, so he attacked Saul’s own extended family to test him.

This means the crisis was personal. Saul could not ignore it. The moment he heard the news, his fear and imposter syndrome evaporated. His natural sense of justice and leadership was activated. He did not have time to worry about whether he was "ready" to be king; there were people who needed his help right now.

This is a beautiful way to look at the challenges we face. We often wait until we feel 100% confident and prepared before we take on a new role or try to make a difference. But the Alshich teaches us that confidence often comes after we act, not before. Sometimes, the challenges that land in our laps are not there to punish us. They are there to call out a strength we did not know we had. The crisis is the very thing that turns the farmer into a king.

Insight 3: The Wisdom of Clever Communication and Radical Mercy

Once Saul is activated, he rallies the people with a dramatic gesture, and an army of 330,000 people gathers to help I Samuel 11:7-8. They send a message back to the besieged town: "Tomorrow, when the sun grows hot, you shall be saved" I Samuel 11:9.

Now, look at how the elders of the town handle this. They go back to the cruel King Nahash and say: "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you please" I Samuel 11:10.

Wait, what? Why would they say they are going to surrender if they know Saul’s army is coming to save them?

The Malbim explains this with a wonderful insight into the Hebrew language. In Hebrew, the phrase they used was "Machar Netzei Aleichem," which literally means, "Tomorrow we will come out to you."

Malbim points out that this was a brilliant double-entendre—a play on words. To Nahash the bully, the phrase sounded like, "Tomorrow we will come out of our city walls to surrender to you." But in their hearts, the townspeople meant, "Tomorrow we will come out to fight you" alongside Saul's army!

This clever use of language kept the enemy off guard, allowing Saul's forces to launch a surprise attack the next morning and win a decisive victory I Samuel 11:11. It teaches us that when we are dealing with difficult or hostile situations, we do not have to be loud and aggressive. Sometimes, quiet strategy, clever communication, and keeping our cards close to our chest is the most effective way to handle a challenge.

But the story does not end with the military victory. After the battle, the people of Israel are incredibly excited. They look at Saul and say, "Who was it that doubted Saul's kingship? Bring them out so we can execute them!" I Samuel 11:12.

This is Saul's first real test of political power. He has the perfect excuse to get rid of his critics and rivals. But Saul surprises everyone. He says: "Nobody shall be put to death this day! For this day God has brought victory to Israel" I Samuel 11:13.

Instead of choosing revenge, Saul chooses radical mercy. He recognizes that the victory was not about his own ego or proving his critics wrong. It was about saving lives and bringing people together.

This is the ultimate proof that Saul has truly become a king. A small-minded leader uses victory to crush their opponents. A great leader uses victory to build a bigger table, forgive past grudges, and unite the community. Saul shows us that true strength is not found in how many people we can defeat, but in how many people we can bring together.

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Apply It

Now, let us bring this ancient wisdom into your modern life. Here is a tiny, doable practice you can try this week that takes less than 60 seconds a day.

The 60-Second "Step Up" Inventory

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, unready, or like an imposter this week, try this quick three-step mental check-in:

1. Pause (10 seconds): Take one deep breath and acknowledge the feeling. Say to yourself: "I am feeling unready right now, just like Saul behind the cows, and that is completely okay."
2. Focus on the "Why" (20 seconds): Shift your attention away from your anxiety and onto the people or the purpose you are serving. Ask yourself: "Who needs me to show up right now? How can I help them?"
3. Take One Tiny Action (30 seconds): Choose one small, simple action you can take right now as if you were already fully confident. It could be sending a supportive text, writing one email, or simply standing up straight.

By shifting your focus from "Am I good enough?" to "How can I help?", you can step out of fear and into your own unique strength.

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Chevruta Mini

In Jewish tradition, we often study in a chevruta (a friendly study partner for exploring texts together). Here are two friendly questions to discuss with a friend, a family member, or even just to ponder quietly by yourself over a cup of coffee:

1. Saul went back to his farm work even after being named king because he did not feel ready. Have you ever tried to hide in your old, comfortable routines when life called you to do something new? What helped you finally step forward?
2. Saul chose to forgive his critics after his big victory instead of punishing them. Why do you think it is so hard to let go of grudges when we finally get the upper hand? How might choosing mercy change the dynamic in our own modern "battles"?

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Takeaway

Remember this: You do not need to feel 100% ready or perfect to make a difference; sometimes, simply showing up to help others is exactly what reveals your inner strength.