A. Saul’s victory over the Ammonites.

1. Events immediately following Saul’s election as king:

a. What was the two-fold reaction to Saul’s presentation as Israel’s King in Mizpeh (chap. 10:24-27)?

b. Do you think that either the joy of some or the dissatisfaction of others was for the correct reasons?

c. Why did Saul return to his own home and his work instead of taking up his new position?

2. The siege of Jabesh-gilead:

a. Who were the Ammonites (Gen. 19:36-38)? What previous contact did Israel have with the Ammonites (Judg. 11:4ff)?

b. Why were the men of Jabesh-gilead helpless against the Ammonites (Ps. 46:1-3, Jer. 2:12, 13)?

c. Why did Nahas, the King of Ammon demand the right eyes of the men of Jabesh as the price of peace? Is this more than just arbitrary cruelty or the hatred of one nation for another? Cf. John 15:19, 17:14.

d. Against Whom finally is this kind of hatred fulfilled (Ps. 69:19,26)?

e. Why was Nahash willing to give them seven days respite (Ps. 3:2, 71:10,11)?

3. Saul’s victory:

a. What was the reaction of the inhabitants of Gibeah to the message of the men of Jabesh? What did their reaction reveal?

b. Why was Saul so angry and why did he send the cut-up pieces of oxen through the land as a call to battle against the Ammonites (11:7)?

c. Were the words of the men of Jabesh to Nahash (11:10) a lie?

d. Was the victory of Saul the final victory over the Ammonites (II Sam. 10-12)? Who had the final victory and why was that victory left for him and not given to Saul?

e. How did the men of Jabesh later show their gratitude to Saul (chap. 31:11-13)?

B. The confirmation of the kingdom.

1. The reaction of the people to the victory over the Ammonites:

a. What was wrong with the people’s joy (Is. 31:1-3)?

b. In Chapter 11:15 we read that Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. Why do you think that Samuel is not mentioned as rejoicing too?

c. Is it at all significant that only peace offerings are mentioned in this same verse? What kind of offering should the Israelites have brought?

2. Samuel’s speech:

a. In what verses of his speech do we find the main point?

b. Why did Samuel review Israel’s history in verses 6-11? Study once again Ps. 78:4,7,8.

c. Is there any evidence that the people were inclined to listen to Samuel?

3. A Sign from the Lord:

a. For what sign did Samuel ask? What was so unusual about this sign (12:17a)?

b. Of what was this sign a picture to Israel as she still walked in the way of her sins (Ex. 19:16ff, Joel 2:1,2)?

c. What was the reaction of the people to this sign to God? Is there any indication one way or the other as to whether their repentance was sincere?

C. Conclusions:

1. Concerning Israel:

a. What does this history show about Israel as the people of God: Read Joshua’s address to the people in Joshua 24 and pay special attention to verse 19.

b. In what way does this history point to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:76-79, Eph. 2:10)?

2. Concerning ourselves:

a. What lesson concerning repentance does this history reinforce (Joel 2:12-14, Hos. 14:1-3ff, I John 1:8-10)?

b. What can be learned from this particular history concerning the relationship between our wickedness and the grace of God as it is revealed in Christ?