Saul Rallies the Israelites and Defeats the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead

A Medieval Picture Book Illustrates the Biblical Story in 1 Samuel 2

Spirited scenes, richly detailed and colored, each appear as one page in a medieval Bible picture book that was probably created by Parisian artists for a French king or queen.

(Above) Saul summons Israel to fight the Ammonites who have besieged Jabesh-Gilead and threatened to gouge out the eyes of all the city’s able-bodied men Two episodes appear in the top panel of the page. On the left, the people of Gibeah meet Saul as he returns from the field, driving two oxen. The news they tell Saul of the plight of the men of Jabesh-Gilead so angers the tall young leader of Israel that he slays his oxen, cuts them into pieces and gives the pieces to three men. These messengers will take the pieces to every part of Israel and announce that the cattle of any man who does not fight the Ammonites with Saul will receive the same treatment.

As a preview of his kingship, Saul in the panel below sits on an ivory throne at Bezek. He is crowned and holds a scepter as he rallies his fully armed troops to attack Nahash at Jabesh-Gilead.