Bible Strands
1 Samuel 11:15
So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the Israelites gathering at Gilgal immediately following Saul’s rescue of Jabesh-gilead, fulfilling Samuel’s directive to publicly establish his monarchy.
The words — The verb וַיַּמְלִכוּ (va/yam.li.Khu) translates literally as “and they made king,” marking the formal transition from tribal confederation to monarchy. The text pairs this declaration with the people’s journey to Gilgal and their offering of peace sacrifices.
The thread — This Gilgal gathering continues the covenantal assembly pattern seen in 1 Samuel 10:17 and parallels the large-scale sacrificial worship detailed in 1 Chronicles 29:21. Each reference ties national leadership to a public act of worship at a designated holy site.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers acknowledge leadership is ratified through communal worship and public recognition before God, not through force alone. It establishes that political authority in Israel must be grounded in covenantal obedience and sacrificial commitment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 10:8 And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”
- 1 Samuel 10:17 After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah
- 1 Chronicles 29:21 The next day they offered sacrifices and presented burnt offerings to the LORD: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.
- Exodus 24:5 Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 8:19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
- 1 Samuel 12:13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.
- 1 Samuel 12:17 Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”
- Hosea 13:10 Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?
- James 4:16 As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.