When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
What is here related turns very much to the honour of Saul, and shows the happy fruits of that other spirit with which he was endued. Observe here, I. His humility. Though he was anointed king, and accepted by his people, yet he did not think it below him to know the state of his own flocks, but went himself to see them, and came...
Commenting on 1 Samuel 11:5-11
And they said unto the messengers that came,.... From Jabeshgilead, that is, Saul and Samuel said to them, as follows: thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead: when they returned unto them, as they were now upon the departure: tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot; when it smites with the greatest heat, as at noon: this morrow seems not to be...
Bezek--This place of general muster was not far from Shechem, on the road to Beth-shan, and nearly opposite the ford for crossing to Jabesh-gilead. The great number on the muster-roll showed the effect of Saul's wisdom and promptitude.