1 Samuel 11:6-8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
6 As he listened to this report, the spirit of God rushed upon him and he became very angry.(A) 7 Taking a yoke of oxen, he cut them into pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel[a] by messengers saying, “If anyone does not come out to follow Saul and Samuel, the same thing will be done to his oxen!” The dread of the Lord came upon the people and they went forth as one.(B) 8 When Saul reviewed them in Bezek,[b] there were three hundred thousand Israelites and seventy thousand Judahites.
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- 11:7 Throughout the territory of Israel: Saul’s gesture summons the Israelite confederacy to a coordinated response against Nahash; cf. Jgs 19:29 for a similar action. Dread of the Lord: often a panic that immobilizes Israel’s enemies; here, however, it has the opposite effect and incites the Israelites to battle.
- 11:8 Bezek: probably modern Khirbet Ibziq, northeast of Shechem, on the west slope of the Jordan valley, opposite Jabesh-gilead.
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