Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

Three hundred thirty thousand men gathered under the
command of Saul. By a rapid night march, Saul and his army
crossed the Jordan and arrived near Jabesh in "the morning watch."
Dividing his force into three companies, he attacked the Ammonite
camp at that early hour, when they were not suspecting danger and
were least secure. In the panic that followed, they were defeated
with great slaughter. "Those who survived were scattered, so that no
two of them were left together."
The promptness and bravery of Saul, as well as his generalship,
were qualities that the people of Israel wanted in a monarch, so that
they might cope with other nations. They now greeted him as their
king, giving the honor of the victory to human power and forgetting
that without God's special blessing all their efforts would have been
in vain. Some proposed putting to death those who had refused at
first to acknowledge the authority of Saul, but the king interfered,
saying, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord
has accomplished salvation in Israel." Instead of taking honor to
himself, he gave the glory to God. Instead of showing revenge, he
modeled forgiveness. This is unmistakable evidence that the grace
of God dwells in the heart.
Samuel now proposed that they call a national assembly at
Gilgal to publicly confirm the kingdom to Saul. It was done, and
"there they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and
there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly."
On this plain, linked with so many exciting associations, stood
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