The Meaning of the Number Three in Scripture—Part 14

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Introduction and Review

This is the fourteenth part of a series that examines the number three and how it categorizes themes in Scripture. The previous lesson studied the Tabernacle, the priesthood, and their association with this number. (Links to all articles in this series are listed at the end of this installment.)

This lesson will explore the books of Joshua, Judges, and Samuel and how the number three highlights certain elements associated with them.

Rahab hanging her scarlet cord, awaiting her rescue from Jericho

Joshua

The book of Joshua is loaded with "threes," with eleven mentions, and, not surprisingly, given that Joshua's name is the Hebrew word for Jesus. He illustrates the crossing over to the promised land under His Lordship. The first occurs in chapter one, which gives us the idea of passing through and crossing over from one place to another.

Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

— Joshua 1:11

It signifies the passing from physical life to spiritual life.

The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man
— 1 Corinthians 15:47-49

Chapters two and three record the following three "threes" about Jericho's conquering. Jericho was their first advancement into the promised land. Spies are sent to Jericho to assess the situation, and they stay with Rahab, the harlot who protects and hides them. The text wants to ensure you know they are hidden on the roof.

... she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.
— Joshua 2:6

Rahab next appeals for salvation for herself and her family from what she knows is coming destruction, naming three things she knows. This threefold repetition indicates that she entirely understands that this is a divine work of God.

... She came up to them on the roof and said to the men:

"I know that the Lord has given you the land,
that the terror of you has fallen on us,
and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.

For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."

— Joshua 2:8-13

The spies answer her in a Christlike fashion.

So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.
— Joshua 2:14

When it is discovered that they are spies, the officials set out to find them. It is at this juncture that Rahab advises the Hebrew men.

... she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there for three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.
— Joshua 2:16

She lets them down by a scarlet rope, mentioned three times, and is further instructed with speech and language reminiscent of the Passover when they painted their doorposts with the blood of the lamb and entered the house with their families. Those who were outside would be unprotected.

So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear."
— Joshua 2:17-20

Much like Mary, when visited by the Angel who announced that she would bear the Savior of the world, Rahab replies, "Be it unto me according to Your Word."

Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
— Joshua 2:18

The second occurrence of the "third day" occurs.

They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned ... So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over.
— Joshua 2:19,23

Chapter three begins with Joshua arising early.

Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
— Joshua 3:1-3

The next three we will look at were at the end of Joshua, when seven tribes had not yet taken possession of their territories. Joshua commands them as follows.

Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you? Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me.
— Joshua 18:3-4

Threes in The Book of Judges

Threes and their multiples are standard in the Book of Judges. 3 is used 8 times, 300 is used 8 times, 3000 is used 2 times, and 30 is used 15 times, for a total of 33 times three or multiples of it. What is significant to this study's topic is that the phrase "The Spirit of the Lord" appears seven times in this book. The "Spirit of God" was used only five times before this book. The most frequent occurrences are with the accounts of Gideon and Samson. The following section will review Gideon. In both stories, watch for the words "arose" and "arise" always near three or multiples of them.

Gideon and his 300 men

Gideon and 3 Companies of 300 Men

The book of Judges, as a whole, in which Gideon's account takes place, is an excellent example of the pitfalls of claiming to be God's while doing what is right in one's own eyes. Joshua is gone at this point in Israel's history, and folks are kicking back and relaxing. The conquering wasn't complete, but they were in the land. As they mix their worship with a little bit of this and a little bit of that from the nations they were supposed to drive out, they become defeated by their enemies. Each time the oppression gets too much, they cry out to the Lord to come and save them, and the Lord raises them up a deliverer.

Gideon is God's pick for Israel's deliverer at this time. This particular event involves oppression by the Midianites, who had impoverished them. Gideon was threshing wheat in a hidden place so the Midianites wouldn't take it when an "Angel of the Lord" appeared to him with three assurances of God's presence and a plan.

1. "... the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor"

... Rope/scarlet cord is mentioned three times in the account of the destruction of Jericho in connection with the salvation of Rahab and her family.

— Judges 6:12

2. ..." The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"...

— Judges 6:14

3. ...the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

— Judges 6:16

Notice the chiastic structure of these verses: "Go in this might of yours is sandwiched between "I will be with you." The pattern of three tells us that God's Spirit is the source of this might.

Gideon wants a sign, which will be the first of three, so he runs off to prepare a kid and unleavened bread. It sounds like a covenant meal to me. We saw this sacrificial victim and unleavened bread with Lot, Abraham, and the Passover.

Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

— Judges 6:21

We saw this at the Red Sea division when Moses stretched out the staff. It is a picture of the cross and the power of what Christ did on it when He stretched out His arms for our salvation. That is the sign. The cross is the sign. In Hebrew, the tav is the last letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet, and in its original form, it is the shape of a cross, the necessary means of our deliverance, and means a sign.

Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”

— Judges 6:62

Notably, the three-fold mention of "Lord." The sentence above also forms a chiasm. "Lord God" is sandwiched between two "Angel of the Lord" statements. This "Angel of the Lord" speaks three things to Gideon.

Peace be with you;
Do not fear,
you shall not die.

— Judges 6:23

It is at this place that God reveals Himself as Jehovah-Shalom.

God instructs Gideon to tear down the pagan altars, build ones to the true God, and offer a sacrifice to Him on them. The men of the time and place were not happy about this. Next, three enemies come up against them.

Then all the

Midianites and
Amalekites,
The people of the East gathered together;

and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel

— Judges 6:33

The next verse is the central element of this story, packed full of threes.

But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon.
— Judges 6:34

Gideon invites fighters from four tribes.

... he sent messengers throughout all

Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to
Asher,
Zebulun, and
Naphtali, and they came up to meet them

— Judges 6:35

The four tell us that Gideon's gathering was worldly and natural, not spiritual. It was his human idea. This event reminds me of another Bible battle involving Jehoshaphat that appeared impossible. God told Jehoshaphat the following.

‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
— 2 Chronicles 20:15

He then asks God for another sign. Recall the first was the acceptance of his sacrificial goat kid and unleavened bread. A third is to come. Notice the language of resurrection again.

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
— Judges 6:36-40

This resurrection theme continues into chapter seven of Judges. In chapter six, Gideon arose. In chapter seven, he arose.

Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose ...
— Judges 7:1

Does this sound familiar?

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
— Matthew 27:51-53
Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
— 1 Corinthians 15:20-21

The Lord next informs Gideon that his worldly plan will not work, and they will reduce his army to a size that would leave no question about who gained them this victory. The natural flesh would not win this war nor take any credit for it.

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
— Zechariah 4:6

Only one-third of the three groups of people that Gideon called would be left to fight. Two-thirds would be eliminated. Those who were fearful were removed, and those who drank water by bowing down upon their knees to drink. Gideon was left with three hundred men who lapped water like a dog. About 1% of the original total remained. "Three hundred men" is used three times before the next instruction given by the Lord. "Three hundred men" is used three times before the next instruction given by the Lord.

“Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.
— Judges 7:9

The "Arise" and "go down" combination is also fascinating and picturesque.

(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
— Ephesians 4:9-10

God reassures Gideon with a sign a third time, telling him to go with his servant to the Midianite camp and listen to their enemy's fears.

... when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”
Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”
And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."
— Judges 3:14-15

Watch what happens next concerning the number three. It is used three more times in the remainder of the text, as it concerns three hundred men and three companies.

Then he divided the

three hundred men into
three companies,
and he put (3 - three items)

a

trumpet into every man's hand,
with empty pitchers,
and torches inside the pitchers.

— Judges 7:16

In its original language, the following verse contains the word arise twice.

So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch (There were three watches during the night), just as they had posted the watch (or arose the arising); and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands
— Judges 7:19

A more literal translation would read, "Between or in the middle of the watches was when they arose to their arising."

Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army

ran
and cried out
and fled.

When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp ...

— Judges 7:2-22

The "sword of the Lord" speaks of the Holy Spirit.

... take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
— Ephesians 6:17

Now, three tribes gather to pursue the enemy, an indicator that they are currently functioning in the Spirit and not the nature of their own flesh.

And the men of Israel gathered together from

Naphtali,
Asher,
and all Manasseh,

and pursued the Midianites

— Judges 7:23

Three enemy princes are defeated and mentioned in the next portion of the text.

the princes of

Midian,
Oreb and
Zeeb

— Judges 8:3

I will wrap up this section with a stunning last verse. I hope you will see the connection to our spiritual salvation.

When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him passed over.
— Judges 8:4

This scene perfectly contrasts with the one who "passed over" for us so that we might experience salvation from sin, deliverance from our enemies, and resurrection.

For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
— 1 Corinthians 5:7

Just before the Lord visited Gideon, the Lord sent a prophet to Israel with this message connected to their deliverance through a Passover.

"Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up (resurrected you) from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also, I said to you, "I am the Lord your God; do not fear (worship) the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell."
— Judges 6:8-10

This story takes up three chapters in Scripture, which is significant.

Judges Chapters 10-12

This revelation is incomplete, but I will include it for further development. The reader's input is certainly welcome. Three "thirties" are mentioned briefly by a judge named Jair.

After him (Tola) arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. Now he had

thirty sons who rode on
thirty donkeys;
they also had thirty towns,

which are called “Havoth (living, to breathe) Jair (He or Yah enlightens)”. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon (root word arise).

— Judges 10:4-5

The word Havoth-Jair is used twice in Scripture, for a total of three occurrences. The first was in Numbers when the children of Israel settled the conquered territories east of the Jordan.

And Jair, the son of Manasseh, went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair

— Numbers 32:41

The final use is in Deuteronomy as a reiteration of this same event.

Jair, the son of Manasseh, took all the region of Argob, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and called Bashan after his own name
— Deuteronomy 3:14

It is after Jair that Israel becomes oppressed by their enemies once again because of the following.

... the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him.
— Judges 10:6

The children of Israel cry out to the Lord, and He raises up for them Jephthah.

After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons. And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel for seven years.
— Judges 12:8-9

The account of Jephthah is the meat that is sandwiched between these thirties.

The honey in the carcass of the lion also connects us with John the Baptist, who was said to have lived on locusts and wild honey.

Samson, John, and Jesus

Glimpses of John the Baptist and Jesus can be seen in Samson's story, beginning with his birth announcement. Samson's and John's mothers were barren women, and both were given special instructions on abstaining from certain things. The Angel of the Lord visited both Samson's mother and Mary. The word Angel receives twelve (3 x 4) mentions in Judges chapter thirteen, and this announcement comes in a threefold way (Judges 13:6-7, 8-11,12-16).

1. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. (Samson's mother)

— Judges 13:3

2. ... the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Zechariah and Elizabeth concerning John the Baptist)

— Luke 1:13-17

3. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. (Mary's visitation)

— Luke 1:30

And their growth connected with the Spirit is similar to the following.

... the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Samson)
— Judges 13:24-25
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. (John the Baptist)
— Luke 1:80
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Jesus)
— Luke 2:40

"The angel of the Lord" reveals Himself as "I am" in this text, as He did with Abraham and Moses. Exodus chapter three uses this phrase three times.

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.
— Exodus 3:14

Jesus identified Himself as "I am." Samson's mother also calls the Angel of the Lord Wonderful.

The book of Judges concerns a time when "there was no king in Israel" and "people did what was right in their own eyes." This depiction may explain the scene where Jesus and John were born. The book of John included the message of this story and centered on the topic of repentance. "The Spirit of the Lord came upon Him or mightily upon Him" is used three times in the chapter fourteen account, including an incident involving thirty companions/men, thirty sheets, and thirty changes of garments.

Samson gives us some unique shadows of the Messiah to come. His life and mission conclude in chapters 15 and 16, with 300 fiery foxes. The Philistines were oppressively ruling over Israel at this time. After Samson left in a huff over the riddle incident in chapter fourteen, her father gave her to another man. The Philistines used his wife to gain the answer. Samson is more than a little upset, and his revenge includes using 300 foxes.

Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves.
— Judges 15:4-5

The Philistines then burn Samson's wife and her father for causing the trouble. They next hunt down Samson. The men of Judah are nervously wondering what all the commotion concerns. They don't care to ruffle the feathers of their oppressor.

And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?”
So they answered, “We have come up to arrest Samson, to do to him as he has done to us.”
Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us?”
— Judges 15:9-11

This scene reminds me of Jesus and the Pharisees with the oppressive Roman rule of that time. The religious rulers were not interested in making waves either.

On that very day, some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Nevertheless, I must journey

today,
tomorrow,
and the day following;

for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

— Luke 13;31-33

At this point, Judah's men want to hand Samson over to the Philistines by binding him, much as the religious rulers handed Jesus over to the Romans.

But they said to him, “We have come down to arrest you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines ... we will tie you securely and deliver you into their hand.
— Judges 15:12
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
— Matthew 27:1

Both Samson and Jesus willingly submitted.

And they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.
— Judges 15:13

Both of them knew that they had the power to break free.

... do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus.
— Matthew 25:53-54
Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given to you from above.
— John 19

Three Philistine women are in this account, the second of whom was a prostitute from Gaza and presented in three verses.

Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. When the Gazites were told, “Samson has come here!” they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him.”And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
— Judges 16:1-3

The next scene introduces the famous incident with Delilah, the third Philistine woman in Samson's life. She also works for the Philistines to learn where his strength is coming from so they can overtake him. After three attempts, she becomes exasperated and cries.

“How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.” And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, that he told her all his heart.
— Judges 16:15-17

What happens next is obvious. Delilah lulls him to sleep in her lap, then calls for her cohorts to cut his hair and weaken him. He is taken captive, gets his eyes poked out, and is made fun of at a party. His hair had begun to grow out, and he asked the Lord for one last hurrah of strength.

Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed...And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.
— Judges 16:28-29

Christ died with one on his right and one on his left. Only this time, it was mercy, not vengeance, that Christ took.

There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
— Luke 23:32-34

Christ died with us and for us.

Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it.
— Judges 16:30

Although Christ wasn't tricked like Samson, He took his lot with us.

... the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
— John 1:14

In their book "Echoes of Exodus," Alistair J. Roberts and Andrew Wilson make more intriguing connections with Samson and Christ.

Samson, Israel's champion, bows his head, stretches out his arms, and kills more in his death than he killed in his life. The ark of God saves a nation by being captured. And the head of Dagon is crushed. One day, not far from the city of Ashdod, God will be captured again. He will be seized, paraded in front of foreigners and their gods, ridiculed, mocked, and humiliated. At the moment of his greatest weakness— naked, nailed, and bleeding, as his enemies spit and cast lots for his clothes—the great reversal will take place, and Israel's God will triumph not in spite of his humiliation but somehow through it. Jesus, Israel's true champion, will bow his head, stretch out his arms, and save more in his death than he saved in his life. The Son of God will save a nation by being captured. And the head of the dragon will be crushed.

Three chapters tell the story of Sampson.

The Levite and the Concubine
Auguste Couder

The Levite and the Concubine

Cutting the oxen into twelve pieces connects us with the greatly disturbing final incident in the book of Judges, just before Samuel arrives.

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. But his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there four whole months. Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father's house, and when the father of the young woman saw him, he was glad to meet him. Now his father-in-law, the young woman's father, detained him, and he stayed with him three days. So they (1) ate, (2) drank, and (3) lodged there. Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he arose to depart; but the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way."

— Judges 19:1-5

Notably, "arose" is used three times. The saga continues with the common usage of arising.

There were three days during which an attempt was made to depart. The first was after the first three days spent there. The second was on the fourth day, and the third was on the fifth. They rose up and departed on that third attempt in the afternoon/evening.

And when the man arose to depart—he and his concubine and his servant—his father-in-law, the young woman's father, said to him, “Look, the day is now drawing toward evening; please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get home.”However, the man was not willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him.
— Judges 19:7-10

The Levites passed up an opportunity to lodge in Jerusalem, then known as Jebus, which was not yet conquered territory. They would therefore be considered strangers and possibly unwelcome. He decides to push on to Gibeah, which was in Benjamin's territory. Recall King Saul, who is from the tribe of Benjamin and ruled as King from Gibeah.

They entered the town square of Gibeah, hoping that someone would take them in for the night. In ancient Near Eastern history, there were no "inns" or hotels. Weary travelers depended entirely on the hospitality of the families and tribes they encountered.

No one took them in until a man from Mount Ephraim came in from the field for the evening and offered to put them up for the night. It reads as if they were drinking a bit, "making merry," as King James puts it, when some worthless men come to the door of the old man who took them in and wanted to rape the Levite. This is a bit similar to the Lot incident in Sodom and Gomorrah. This incident might connect us to the extent to which wickedness had become prevalent in this particular tribe.

The next appalling event occurs when the man offers his daughter and the concubine so they can abuse her rather than his houseguest. The ancient laws of hospitality required that one protect a guest in his home above all else. This ancient law could also be viewed as a little glimpse of God's invitation to be a guest in His house with the assurance that He will protect us at all costs and be responsible for our safety, even at the expense of His One and Only Son.

The man tosses out his concubine, and she is abused all night.

Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light. When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold, and he said to her, “Arise and let us be going.” But there was no answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey, and the man arose and went to his place.
— Judges 19:26-27

"Door" is mentioned three times in this event. It is at the door's threshold where the bloodline is placed in terms of sacrifice. When the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt, they slaughtered a lamb, and its blood was poured into a basin built into the threshold of the door and then brushed onto the sides and top with hyssop. The awful part of the story connected with Saul's first military venture is what happens next.

When he entered his house, he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. And so it was that all who saw it said, “No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!”
— Judges 19:29-30

The account with Saul is the following.

And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh (the people who refused to assist the other tribes in battling Benjamin in the Judges story we are looking at). Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand ... So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies.”
— 1 Samuel 11:5-8,11

All the tribes were a bit taken aback by such a horrific announcement, and their response was the following.

So all the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, nor will any turn back to his house.
— Judges 20:8

A verbal confrontation ensues, and the tribe of Benjamin resists.

Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, "Judah first!" So the children of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
— Judges 20:18-19

Israel's first two attempts at battling Benjamin were unsuccessful. Although they had asked the Lord what to do, they had forgotten a significant step.

Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people,(1) went up and came to the house of God and wept. (2) They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and (3) they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days ... And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day ... So all the men of Israel rose from their place and put themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar ... The Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel ...
— Judges 20:26-27,30,33,35

Only a remnant of Benjamites survived this encounter. This story lays the foundation for the small, fleshly heritage of the first king of Israel and explains much about his response to being chosen for this position.

And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this? Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited; there were about thirty persons.
— 1 Samuel 9:21-22

Then, follow the three signs mentioned above. The conclusion of this matter is the following.

Not by might
nor by power,
but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.

— Zechariah 4:6

Hannah presents Samuel to Eli

Samuel, Hannah, and Anna

The first book of Samuel begins with a narrative about a woman named Hannah, who deeply desires a son, as was the chief concern of most women of that time. Producing a seemingly eternal fruit, as imaged by an heir to their husband's name to continue to the succeeding generations, was considered honorable and a privilege. In terms of the Biblical concept, this illustrates for us the church, Christ's bride, what our chief desire and honor ought to be: to produce fruit and children for our Lord.

This portion of the Bible took place at the end of the time of the Judges, when there was still no king in Israel.

Every year, Elkanah, Hannah's husband, would bring his family to Shiloh, the center of worship at that time, to worship and sacrifice. Elkanah had another wife, Peninnah (mentioned three times), who bore children for him and seemed to torment Hannah about her inability to do the same. Hannah is deeply distressed to the point of weeping and not eating. Elkanah tried to comfort her with words and extra portions, but Hannah was inconsolable, her bitterness of soul deepening. She does three substantial things on this particular visit to Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was at that time.

... Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord, and she was in bitterness of soul, and

prayed to the Lord
and wept in anguish.
Then she made a vow.

— 1 Samuel 1:9-11

Her vow was impressive. Notably, she identified herself as the Lord's maidservant three times while promising to dedicate her child to Him.

"O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
— 1 Samuel 1:11

Eli, the priest, thinks she is drunk because she moves her lips in prayer but makes no sound. She then explains that she is praying. Eli tells her that her petition has been granted, unaware of what her request was. Hannah's faith is exhibited as she resurrects from her despair.

... she said, “Let your maidservant find favor (favor or grace is the meaning of Hannah's name) in your sight.” So the woman

went her way and
ate,
And her face was no longer sad.

Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

— 1 Samuel 1:18-19

Hannah indeed gave birth to a son, and she named him Samuel because the Lord had heard her prayer and answered it. His name means God has listened to her request. After Samuel is born ...

... the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.

— 1 Samuel 1:22

Ancients nursed their children much longer than modern Westerners would consider appropriate. Based on the following episode of our text, they might have been nursed until age three.

Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah (equals three seahs) of flour , and a skin of wine,(notice three items were offered bread wine and a sacrifice) and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.

— 1 Samuel 1:24

Three bulls would have equaled one bull for each year of his life. Recall she did not go up with Elkanah for the annual sacrifice while Samuel was still nursing. Weaning coincides with the concept of ripening. A fruit tree wasn't considered ripe for the first three years that it grew.

When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten.
— Leviticus 19:23

After three years, Hannah brought Samuel to present him to the Lord and ensured that Eli knew this was the child she had asked and prayed for.

... she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child, I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition, which I asked of Him.
— 1 Samuel 1:27

This prayer scene is reminiscent of a New Testament woman prophetess, Anna, whose name is the same as Hannah's, only in the Greek form. Anna prays just as intensely for a coming messiah Son as Hannah did for the coming of her own son.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
— Luke 2:36-38

This account of Anna is given in Luke. It takes place when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to a dedication ceremony to God, much like Hannah bringing Samuel to the Tabernacle to present him to Eli. It is also at this dedication that Mary and Joseph are met by a man whose name is rooted in the Hebrew word meaning to hear, namely Simeon, who was also praying and waiting for this coming Son. Recall that Samuel's name is also rooted in the word meaning to hear. Simeon is led there by the Holy Spirit, mentioned three times in the account.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law.
— Luke 2:25

The final verse of 1 Samuel ends with Hannah declaring her vow in her son's dedication and mentions the Lord three times.

Therefore, I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there
— 1 Samuel 1:28

Hannah then sings a song much like Mary's when she is pregnant with the Son of God and visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. After Mary's song, the following happened.

Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

— Luke 1:55

After Hannah's song, the following occurred.

Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.
— 1 Samuel 2:11

Another significant aspect of Hannah's song includes this prophetic announcement of the coming Son and King that Mary would bear.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.”
— 1 Samuel 2:10

Recall there was no king in Israel when Hannah's son would herald the first King of Israel. She also prophetically points to the coming Son of God, King of Kings, and Anointed Messiah, which explains the event and language connections with Mary.

The next day, a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” (12 - God's governance in the earth - Isaiah 9:6)
— John 12:12-13

The New Testament account ends this scene of the dedication of the prayed-for Son of God, the Messiah.

So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (hannah in Hebrew) of God was upon Him.
— Luke 2:39-40

The summation of Hannah's experience in acquiring (Elkanah's name means God has acquired, by the way) and dedicating Samuel was the following.

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
— 1 Samuel 2:21

Hannah ends up with five children, including Samuel. Five in Biblical numerics is the number of grace from which Hannah's name derives. She is also the fifth woman in the Bible to obtain a promised son. The three, in connection with a Son, tell us that grace comes through the death and resurrection of a Son.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ ...
— Romans 1:1-6

Back to First Samuel 2:21: the phrase "Samuel grew" appears three times—the first is in the verse above. The second time occurs when the Lord rejects Eli's naughty sons from being priests in His service. Samuel is shown to be a faithful servant.

And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.

— 1 Samuel 2:26

Luke again reiterates this with Jesus.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
— Luke 2:52

A man of God comes to Eli and sternly warns him of the coming judgment for all the ugly disobedience and misrepresentation of God by Him and His sons, and makes the following Messianic announcement.

I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

— 1 Samuel 2:35

After this confrontation, the Lord begins to speak to Samuel. He is one of the few people hearing from God at this time. The key lies in Samuel's availability to hear.

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli.
— 1 Samuel 3:1

It appeared that all others were serving themselves and their own appetites for food, raw meat, and sex. Serving the Lord with this type of flippancy resulted in the following.

... the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
— 1 Samuel 3:2

In another portion of Scripture, God warns us of this when God's children mix worship with evil.

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord.
— Amos 8:11

The neglectfulness of sincere worship is evidenced when the lamp goes out.

... the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was ...
— 1 Samuel 3:3

The lamp and the Word are connected, and both were absent from them at this time. That lamp was not to go out at any time, according to the instructions given to Moses.

“And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.
— Exodus 27:20-21

The text does tell us that Eli was blind, which might tempt us to make an excuse for the neglect of the light, but I think Eli's blindness serves as a metaphor for his turning a "blind eye" to the wickedness that was occurring right beneath his nose. Samuel runs to Eli three times when Samuel is awakened by God calling his name.

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.
— 1 Samuel 3:8

It is the fourth visit that the response has changed. (See The Monarch Butterfly and the Number Four)

God visits Samuel with a message of doom for Eli and his sons, confirming the other man of God's words. At this juncture, Samuel experiences his third instance of growth.

So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
— 1 Samuel 3:19

One more thrice-repeated phrase, "Word of the Lord," is all contained in this third chapter of 1 Samuel. The first was stated above in 1 Samuel 3:19.

And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
— 1 Samuel 3:1

The second occurrence is when God called Samuel, but Samuel did not recognize God's voice.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.
— 1 Samuel 3:7

The third occurrence is that Samuel now knows God's voice, and God freely reveals it to him after his obedience.

Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
— 1 Samuel 3:21

This important Biblical person and event showcases the concepts of three: the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Word of the Lord, and the anointed Son of God, who was dedicated to God's service.

John Saul Howson
London Religious Tract Society

Acts chapter Nine (3 x 3)

Apologies for putting this section so far out of order, but it connects to the section above on Samuel, Hannah, and Anna. It involves a man named Ananias, whose name, like Anna and Hanna, means grace and favor with God. We are introduced in Acts chapter nine to a man named Saul, who is making it his life mission to persecute Christians.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

— Acts 9:1-2

Saul gets knocked off his high horse in the next scene.

As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
— Acts 9:3-4

Recall: In our previous section, we left off with the Holy Place in darkness because "the lamp went out" in the temple, and a blind Eli dies after falling to the ground upon learning of the ark of the Lord's departure. Here, we see the presence of God appear to Saul, and he, too, falls to the ground and is blinded by a bright light. The following conversation will connect these two events, as well. The Lord Jesus is speaking to Saul.

... the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
— Acts 9:5

Also, recall that a man of God was sent to Eli, the priest, to confront him and ask Eli a question using the same language.

Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ `
— 1 Samuel 2:29

Saul is told to go into the city of Damascus, and the words "arise" and "arose" will be a significant theme throughout the account, beginning with Saul's first instruction.

The Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.
— Acts 9:6

The men who are with Saul help lead him into the city.

Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
— Acts 9:8-9

Recall the three days of darkness, the ninth (3 x 3) plague, before the children of Israel were resurrected from Egypt after the Passover Lamb was slain. Also, remember the three hours of darkness after the Crucifixion before the resurrection. Meanwhile, in Damascus, the Lord summons Ananias, a devout man like Samuel, to pray for Paul. Ananias responds as Samuel did.

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
— Acts 9:10

... the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”
— 1 Samuel 3:4

Ananias is given some instructions again, containing the language of resurrection.

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
— Acts 9:11-12

The "Straight" street leads us to this fascinating prophecy, which names four things announced by three "I wills" that God will do.

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known. (Think of Paul being led down Straight Street)
I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight.

These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them

— Isaiah 42:16

Ananias is a bit skeptical, having heard that Saul is potentially dangerous. The Lord reassures him that Saul has been genuinely converted. Therefore, Ananias does as instructed.

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
— Acts 9:17-18

The Hebrew word for blind refers to something that covers the eyes, such as a film or a skin condition. In the previous section, Eli's eyes were blinded, and the light went out. Here, we see Saul, the scales falling from his eyes, and him seeing the light. Paul then preached the Lord Jesus Christ boldly and influenced three groups.

Then the churches throughout all (1)

Judea, (2)
Galilee, and (3)
Samaria had peace and was edified.

And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

— Acts 9:31

Two resurrections occur after this account through Peter. The first concerns a paralyzed man.

There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
— Acts 9:33-35

Then next is the account of Dorcas, who died and was raised from the dead. This narrative brings us to three resurrections in this chapter: Saul from darkness, Aeneas from paralysis, and Dorcas from death.

Ernst Josephson's painting of King Saul.

King Saul's Anointing

This portion deals with an anointing, a ritual of applying oil to a person who is about to be appointed and empowered from on high to a position or assignment. In Scripture, oil is closely associated with the Holy Spirit. This particular event occurs three days into Saul's search for his father's donkeys.

In First Samuel, the people decided they wanted a king like all the other nations had. They must have been teenagers in spirit at this point in their development. God is a bit upset about this because it appears they think their salvation lies in politics rather than in the Lord Himself, but He grants their request nonetheless. He picks a tall, dark, and handsome man named Saul. Some ups and downs in the story occur when Samuel meets with Saul.

When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of the house. They arose early, and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, “Get up, that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel.
— 1 Samuel 9:26

There are also three total signs given to the order of this process. In verse two of chapter ten, Saul meets two men who will let him know that the donkeys have been found. The second sign was that Saul included three men and three things, two of which are three, and "three" is also used three times on this occasion.

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his (Saul's) head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the Lord has anointed you, commander over His inheritance? ... you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There are three men going up to God at Bethel who will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. (three items - sacrificial animal, bread, and wine)
— 1 Samuel 3

The third sign is that Saul will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with instruments and prophetic utterances. Then Samuel tells him that the Spirit will come upon him.

Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
— 1 Samuel 10:6

The phrase "Spirit of the Lord" is used three times in these seminal events of Israel's history as a kingdom. (1 Samuel 16:13-14)

The second use is when Saul meets these prophets, as Samuel foretold.

When they came to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
— 1 Samuel 10:10

The third event occurs during Saul's first military assignment, as he musters an army.

Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.
— 1 Samuel 11:5-7

Sources used for all parts of this series can be found in Part 20, the final installment.