1 Samuel 11:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Saul cuts his oxen in pieces and sends them through Israel as a summons, and the people rally as one.
What Does 1 Samuel 11:7 Mean?
Saul takes the very oxen he had been plowing with, cuts them apart, and sends the pieces through the land with a stern call to arms. The vivid warning unites Israel: whoever fails to follow Saul and Samuel will see his own livestock destroyed. Then 'the fear of the LORD' falls on the people, and they answer the call together with one heart.
What gathers Israel is not merely Saul's threat but the awe of God moving among them. True unity among God's people comes when reverence for Him overrides every excuse and division. The phrase 'after Saul and after Samuel' joins king and prophet, reminding us that God works through those He appoints, and that a people moved by holy fear can be made one in a single resolve.
1 Samuel 11:7 in the Original Language
pachad (פַּחַד), 'fear' -- a trembling awe; here the dread of the LORD that draws Israel together as one.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 11:7
What does 1 Samuel 11:7 mean?
Saul cuts his oxen in pieces and sends them through Israel as a summons, and the people rally as one.