A stronger word than glad

1 Samuel 11:4-11

Mere men weep at a disaster, but something happens on the report of what Nahash the Ammonite had planned for the people of the besieged Jabesh-gilead.  Saul was coming back from the field, and he asked why the people were weeping?  And when told the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul, and his anger was great, he cut up the oxen in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel.

I do think it is worth reminding the reader that this is the same Saul who was hiding in the baggage, but now the Spirit of God is controlling Saul and look at his boldness.  Picking up in verses 7b-9, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad.”

It had to be a stronger word than glad, maybe exuberant, or ecstatic, glad is a little too weak a word for the emotions that would have been taking place.  It is the next day, and we have this account in verses 10-11, “Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered so that no two of them were left together.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice