And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

1 SAMUEL 11:15KJV
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1 Samuel 11:15 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 11:15 mean?

1 Samuel 11:15 describes how all the people of Israel went to Gilgal and publicly confirmed Saul as king before the LORD. They celebrated this event with sacrifices of peace offerings, and both Saul and the people of Israel rejoiced greatly together.

The setting is after Saul’s victory over the Ammonites, which convinced the people that he was the right choice for king. The people, together with Saul, gathered at Gilgal—a significant place for Israel’s history—to formally recognize Saul’s kingship with religious ceremonies and joyful celebration.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 11:15

  • גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal, transliteration: Gilgal): Gilgal was an important location in Israel’s early history, often associated with new beginnings and covenant ceremonies. Holding Saul’s confirmation here underlines the significance of the moment.
  • זֶבַח (zevach, transliteration: sacrifices): This word refers to animal sacrifices, and in this context, it is paired with שְׁלָמִים (shelamim, transliteration: peace offerings), which were offerings made to express gratitude and fellowship with God.
  • שָׂמַח (samach, transliteration: rejoiced): This word means to rejoice or be glad. The verse emphasizes that the people’s joy was very great, highlighting the unity and relief after a time of uncertainty.

Why 1 Samuel 11:15 matters

  • This verse marks the first public and unanimous acceptance of Saul as king, showing a turning point in Israel’s history from tribal judges to monarchy.
  • The use of peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים, shelamim) signals that the people saw this event as not just political but deeply spiritual, involving God in their national life.
  • The joy and unity described here contrast with earlier doubts about Saul’s leadership, showing how shared victory and worship brought the people together.

Where else these words appear

“Gilgal” Hebrew H1537 · used in 39 verses

  • Deuteronomy 11:30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
  • Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
  • 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

“sacrificed” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

“rejoiced” Hebrew H8055 · used in 145 verses

  • Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
  • Psalms 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
  • Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.