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.
He took a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces, then sent the pieces throughout all the regions of Israel by messengers, saying, 'Whoever doesn't come out to follow Saul and Samuel, this is what will happen to their oxen.' The fear of the LORD came upon the people, and they all came out together as one.
Saul used a dramatic and shocking demonstration to rally all of Israel to unite and follow him and Samuel into battle.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred when Saul was newly crowned king and the city of Jabesh Gilead was under siege by the Ammonites. Saul was calling the tribes of Israel to unite for their first military campaign under his leadership. The cutting up of oxen and sending pieces throughout the land was an ancient Near Eastern practice used to summon people to war or covenant.
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