(5) В¶ And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. (6) And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. (7) 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.
We here see the effect of what was said in a former chapter, concerning Saul, that he should be turned into another man. Though he had retired, after his election to be king, to his father's house, yet he only waited an opportunity to testify that he was changed. But I beg the reader to observe, both what is said of Saul in these verses, and what is said of the people, that the whole is ascribed to the Lord. It was the Spirit of the Lord that stirred him up; and it was from the same source, that put his fear in the people. Precious in all instances, to trace our mercies to the fountain head!