Audio Download

1 Samuel 11:1–15 The Ammonites’ Covenant Condition

[Study Aired March 16, 2026]

Our study today is centered on the rescue of Jabesh-Gilead out of the hands of the Ammonites. It shows the extreme pressure that the city of Jabesh-Gilead was under as a result of the Ammonites. In their distress, the Lord touched the heart of Saul, their king, to come to their aid. The study also shows Saul’s tenderness toward those that oppose him. Saul leading the Israelites to overcome the Ammonites resulted in the public confirmation and recognition of his election as king of Israel.

The Ammonites Attacks Jabesh-Gilead

1Sa 11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 

The Ammonites are descendants of Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and his younger daughter, making them kin to the Moabites. They are often in conflict with Israel, the Lord’s people and were located east of Jordan. The Ammonites therefore represent our flesh. It is important to also note that the name Nahash means serpent. Nahash was the king of the Ammonites when Saul was made king of Israel. Nahash, in this case, signifies the devil who empowers our flesh.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Jabesh of Gilead is a town on the eastern side of the Jordan River which is close to where the Ammonites resided. To understand why the Ammonites attacked the town of Jabesh-Gilead, we need to know why some of the tribes of Israel decided to stay on the eastern side of the Jordan instead of crossing over the Jordan to live in the promised land of Canaan.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh decided to stay on the eastern side of the Jordan because the land of Gilead and Jazer was ideal for their massive herds and livestock. They requested this fertile area instead of crossing into Canaan, promising Moses they would still help fight in the conquest. They eventually fought with the other tribes to secure the Promised Land before returning to their families and possessions on the eastern side.

Num 32:1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

Num 32:5 Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. 

Num 32:16 And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
Num 32:17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 
Num 32:18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.

When the cares of this world take preeminence in our walk with the Lord, as we see some of the tribes stayed on the east side of the Jordan demonstrate, it provides a foothold for our flesh, which is likened to the Ammonites, to constantly wrestle against us. Our flesh is always fighting against our walk with Christ. Because of the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, the word of the Lord sown in our hearts and minds is choked, and therefore we become a prey for our flesh. 

This was the situation which the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead found themselves as Nahash, the Ammonite encamped against them.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The men of Jabesh wanting to make a covenant with Nahash by serving him is the same as agreeing that no one can make war against the beast or our flesh and therefore deciding to submit to the whims and caprices of our flesh.

Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

1Sa 11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 

Here in verse 2, we are shown what it means to have a covenant with the devil who is represented here as Nahash, who empowers our flesh. When we  accept that we cannot win the war against our flesh, and therefore we must submit to him, we are thrusting out our right eyes and therefore become a reproach upon the house of the Lord’s elect (Israel).

A one-eyed person is considered to have a physical “blemish” or “defect” according to specific Old Testament laws regarding priesthood. The law prohibits a one-eyed or impaired priest from performing rituals at the altar.

Lev 21:18  For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, 
Lev 21:19  or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, 
Lev 21:20  or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. 
Lev 21:21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the LORD’s food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.

As shown in Leviticus 21:21, having one’s right eye removed means that one is not given to come near to offer the Lord’s offering or the bread of the Lord. This implies that spiritually, having one’s right eye removed indicates that we are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Without knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, we cannot speak the Lord’s words, that is, offer the bread of the Lord. As a result, the word of the Lord becomes a parable to us.

Mat 13:10  Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 
Mat 13:11  And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
Mat 13:12 For the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

In summary, verses 1 and 2 show us that if we succumb to the dictates of the flesh, we become unfit for the Lord’s service.

1Sa 11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

The seven days’ respite spiritually implies the complete period of our walk with Christ, when we are going around the churches of this world trying to find solutions to our struggle with the deeds of the flesh.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1Sa 11:4  Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 
1Sa 11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 
1Sa 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

It does not appear that the people of Jabesh-Gilead knew anything of Saul’s appointment as king to the people of Israel, for the message was not directed to him but to the people. It therefore confirms that the city of Jabesh-Gilead represents the church system of this world or Babylon where our brothers and sisters are not aware that the Lord has a special people called His elect which are to reign over the kingdoms of this world when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.

The people of Gilead lifting up their voices to weep implies that they saw no hope of deliverance from the Ammonites or their flesh. This shows that the town in which Saul lived, Gibeah, also represents Babylon. It is in Babylon that we think the flesh cannot be overcome.

Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Saul living in Gibeah means that we must first be in Babylon before the Lord comes to call us out of Babylon.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

In verse 5, Saul looking after his father’s herd is to let us know that as the Lord’s elect, we start looking after our father’s business even while we are in the church system of this world or Babylon. The same thing happened to David. He was also looking after his father’s sheep before Samuel sent for him to be anointed king of Israel.

1Sa 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

The tidings from the men of Jabesh is that they were looking for saviors to deliver them from the Ammonites. This implies that the church system and the people of this world are looking for the manifestation of the sons of God to come and deliver them from their bondage to corruption.

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

As we are aware, we, His elect, are the saviors of this world that the whole of creation is looking out for. In this case, it is Saul, who represents the sons of God or saviors of this world. 

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

As shown in verse 6, it is when Saul heard the tidings brought by the men of Jabesh that the spirit of the Lord came upon him resulting in his anger being kindled greatly. It is when the Lord comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness that we are given this righteous anger to fight against our flesh. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The Fight Against the Ammonites

1Sa 11:7  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. 

In the Bible times, owning oxen or cattle signifies being physically rich, as shown in the following verse:

Gen 30:43  And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Saul taking a yoke of oxen and cutting them in pieces and sending them throughout the coasts of Israel by messengers shows us that to be ready to engage our flesh in battle involves being spiritually rich. The fact that the oxen was cut into pieces, and sent throughout Israel means that it is through our knowledge of the meat of the Lord’s word that we rise up to engage our flesh.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The respondent to Saul’s call signifies the Lord’s elect. As shown in verse 7, we are shown some of the key characteristics of the Lord’s overcomers. The fear of the Lord is upon them, and they are all of one mind or one consent. The fear of the Lord means reverent awe, respect, and submission to God, and it is the foundation of true understanding.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

As the Lord’s elect, we must all have the same mind and the same judgment as admonished by the Lord.  

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

All these characteristics (the fear of the Lord and having the same mind) are prerequisite to waging war successfully with our flesh.

1Sa 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

It is instructive to note that all the men who responded to Saul’s call met Saul at Bezek. The name Bezek means ‘lightning’ which signifies the Lord’s judgment. It indicates that all those who are called and chosen to wage war with their flesh are undergoing the Lord’s judgment. It is through judgment that our flesh is destroyed.

2Sa 22:15  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

Psa 144:6  Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

The number of Israelites who responded was three hundred thousand. The number of men of Judah who also responded to the call was thirty thousand. The number three hundred thousand (300,000) denotes all those who are ready to wage war against the flesh. The number thirty thousand of the men of Judah represents the Lord’s elect. This implies that it is only the Lord’s elect who can wage war and successfully defeat the flesh.

2Ch 17:14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

2Ch 25:5  Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

2Sa 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

Jos 8:3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour and sent them away by night.

According to 2 Chronicles 25:5, these men of war are those who are able to handle spear and shield. The shield signifies our faith by which we are able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. The spear or the sword denotes the word of the Lord. What we are being told is that waging war successfully against our flesh is through knowing the word of the Lord and exercising our faith.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

1Sa 11:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
1Sa 11:10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 

The message to the men of Jabesh-Gilead sent by the men of war was that when the sun is hot the next day (tomorrow), help will come. What this implies is that when the morning star rises in our hearts and minds, that is the time that we receive help from the Lord to deal with our flesh. The word “tomorrow” signifies the time that the Lord has set to deal with a matter. What this means is that it is the Lord’s timing that counts. It is not what we plan.

Exo 9:5  And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.

The messengers made the men of Jabesh glad because help was on the way. In the same vein, we must be glad knowing that the Lord will come to our aid and win this war against our flesh.

Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

What we have to realize is that it was not the men of Jabesh who were going to fight against the Ammonites. It was the men of war that the Lord has prepared who are going to liberate the men of Jabesh. It is therefore the Lord who fights our battles for us. All we have to do is to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.

The men of Jabesh telling the Ammonites in verse 10 that the Ammonites should do to them whatever they like the next day is because of the promise of deliverance they have received. They were not fearful again because they know that the Israelites’ men of war will surely show up. It is the Lord’s word of deliverance which assures us that we are more than conquerors and takes fear out of our lives. The Lord will surely honor His promise of deliverance in our lives. He who has started a good work in us will see to its completion.

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 
Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

1Sa 11:11  And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

On the set time of the Lord, Saul put the men of war in three companies. As we are aware, the number three means the process of spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment. Saul putting the men of war in three companies means that our victory is through the process of spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment.

It was in the morning watch that the Israelites came and slew the Ammonites, until the heat of the day. This is to show us that overcoming the flesh is a process. It starts from the morning watch and ends at the heat of the day. The morning watch is when the Lord starts to rise in our hearts and minds. The heat of the day is when the sun is shining at its fullest. That means the time in our lives that our hearts and minds are fully illuminated by Christ or when we attain spiritual maturity such that we are not tossed by every wind of doctrine.

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

The victory of the Israelites was total, such that no two of the Ammonites could gather together. The Lord will ensure total victory for us such that our flesh is totally decimated.

1Sa 11:12  And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 
1Sa 11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

Our victory over the flesh is what establishes our rulership in an age to come, when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. There are many who doubt our rulership as we see the people telling Samuel about putting to death all those who doubted Saul’s reign over them. As Saul said, we are not going to contribute to the spiritual death of anybody. Our focus is on how the Lord is working out our salvation. 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1Sa 11:14  Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 
1Sa 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 

It was at Gilgal that the Israelites were circumcised when they entered the promised land. As we are aware, circumcision is the cutting away of the flesh, and therefore what it means for Samuel to gather the people at Gilgal for the renewal of the kingdom is that it is as we do away with our flesh through the Lord’s judgment that the kingdom of heaven is established in our hearts and minds. It is this process of the Lord’s judgment of our flesh which establishes our rulership status in an age to come, when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. There shall be great rejoicing in that day.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Indeed, when we all see Jesus in that day, we will sing and shout the victory. Amen!!