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the terror of Yahveh

1 Samuel 11:1-11 (JDV)

1 Samuel 11:1 Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
1 Samuel 11:2 Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and humiliate all Israel.”
1 Samuel 11:3 “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him, “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”
1 Samuel 11:4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud.
1 Samuel 11:5 Notice, Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
1 Samuel 11:6 When Saul heard these words, the Breath of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously.
1 Samuel 11:7 He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.” As a result, the terror of Yahveh fell on the people, and they went out united.
1 Samuel 11:8 Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand Israelites and thirty thousand men from Judah.
1 Samuel 11:9 He told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.'” So, the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
1 Samuel 11:10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.”
1 Samuel 11:11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

the terror of Yahveh

Some leaders lead by their charm, others their wits, and others their wisdom. Saul was apparently determined to lead by fear at this juncture. Was it a wise choice. Were the people so disunited that it took a threat to unite them? Maybe, but such tactics can only work for so long.

Note also that Saul wanted the people to march out behind him and Samuel — not Yahveh himself. Yes, the terror of Yahveh fell on the people. But it is the love of Yahveh that should have motivated them.