“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.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Samuel 11:15 Mean?
"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." The CORONATION at Gilgal — Saul is made king 'before the LORD,' with peace offerings and great rejoicing. The ceremony is JOYFUL. The nation celebrates. The transition from judge-led to king-led governance is marked with worship and gladness. Everything LOOKS right. The sacrifices are offered. The LORD is invoked. The people are united. The joy is genuine.
The phrase "before the LORD" (liphnei YHWH — before the face/presence of the LORD) appears TWICE in this verse — the kingship is established before the LORD and the sacrifices are offered before the LORD. The divine PRESENCE frames the entire event. Whatever tensions existed about kingship (chapter 8), this moment is consecrated. God is invoked. God is present. The coronation happens in God's sight.
The PEACE OFFERINGS (shelamim — offerings of wholeness/completion) are COMMUNAL meals: unlike burnt offerings (entirely consumed by fire), peace offerings are shared — part for God, part for the priest, part for the worshiper. The coronation feast is a SHARED MEAL before God. The king, the people, and the priests all eat together from the same offering. The beginning of the monarchy is marked by communion — by eating together in God's presence.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What beautiful beginning in your life carried genuine joy — and how has the rest of the story complicated it?
- 2.What does the PEACE OFFERING (shared meal) at the coronation teach about new beginnings marked by communion?
- 3.How does 'before the LORD' appearing twice describe the consecration of a moment that will later go wrong?
- 4.What 'Gilgal' — what site of celebration — became a site of failure in your life?
Devotional
Gilgal. Peace offerings. Great rejoicing. Saul is made king BEFORE THE LORD — with everything done properly, worshipfully, joyfully. The sacrifices are offered. The presence of God is invoked. The nation celebrates as one. The beginning of the monarchy is beautiful.
The PEACE OFFERINGS are significant: they're the only sacrifice where everyone EATS. God receives His portion. The priests receive theirs. The people receive theirs. It's a communal meal — the whole community eating together in God's presence. The coronation isn't just a ceremony. It's a FEAST. The new kingdom begins at a shared table.
The 'rejoiced greatly' (vayyismechu sham me'od — they rejoiced there exceedingly) is GENUINE joy: the people aren't performing. They're celebrating. They got what they wanted — a king. The victory over the Ammonites (chapter 11) has confirmed Saul's leadership. The people are HAPPY. The moment is REAL. The joy is AUTHENTIC.
But the reader knows what's coming: this same Gilgal will become the site of Saul's FAILURE (13:8-14 — offering the sacrifice without Samuel, losing the kingdom). This same king who is celebrated will be REJECTED. This same people who rejoice will MOURN. The coronation joy is real, but it's also TEMPORARY. The beginning is beautiful. The ending will not be.
What beginning in your life was celebrated with genuine joy — and how does knowing the rest of the story change how you hold celebrations?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Made Saul king - The Septuagint has another reading, “and Samuel anointed Saul king there.” The example of David, who,…
There they made Saul king - It is likely, from these words, that Saul was anointed a second time; he was now publicly…
We have here the improvement of the glorious victory which Saul had obtained, not the improvement of it abroad, though…
there they made Saul king The choice of Saul as king, privately made by God through Samuel, and publicly confirmed by…
Cross References
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