Jabesh Gilead was a somewhat remote city on the east side of the river Jordan,

although some miles from the Ammonite border. The Ammonites were a warlike people

and had a powerful army. When Nahash came up he would have surrounded the city, so

that it was completely cut off. The elders had no option but to accept the terms laid down.

In order to save the people's lives, and their homes from being ransacked, they declared

their willingness to pay tribute. The barbaric threat to "thrust out all their right eye"

meant the men of Jabesh would never be able to bear arms again; for in battle it was the

practice to cover the left eye by the shield.

A request by a beleaguered city or fortress for time or respite was usually accepted.

They certainly were far away from any hope of rescue from the tribes on the other side of

the Jordan river. It looked as though the city was doomed. Yet messengers got through

the enemies' lines, and went straight to Gibeah where Saul's home was.

It is interesting to note that between the tribe of Benjamin and the city of JabeshGilead

there had long existed the closest ties of friendship. This would have originated well

before the terrible punishment of the tribe of Benjamin by the remainder of Israel

recorded in  Judges 20:

The only city from the whole nation that did not send

representatives to take part in the judgment meted out on that sad day was the city of

Jabesh Gilead (Judg. 21: 8, 9). Israel were summoned "as one man" by Phinehas, the

grandson of Aaron, to exact vengeance on the tribe of Benjamin for the crime committed

by the men of Gibeah (20: 11, 28). Jabesh Gilead alone refused to comply with the

imperious command. For this act of disobedience the city was razed to the ground and

the inhabitants put to the sword. The girls of marriageable age were saved, however, and

given to the sorely decimated tribe of Benjamin that their name should not die out in

Israel.  Jabesh Gilead had been rebuilt and had become once again a great city.

Benjamin had produced the first king in Israel. No wonder then that the city in the hour

of its sore need and deadly peril should send for help to Gibeah to Saul.

The messengers got through, and the people who heard of the tragic plight of their

friends bewailed, and wrung their hands. Saul's anointing had made no difference to his

manner of life, for we read that "he came after the herd out of the field". He carried on

the duties on the farm and waited for the Lord to indicate His will as to when he was to

take on the leadership in Israel. The time had now come. The news of the desperate peril

of the people of Jabesh-Gilead, and of the distress of this ancient friend and ally deeply

moved Saul. It was then that the Spirit of God came upon him, and he knew what he had

to do.