9 They said to the messengers who came, "Thus you shall tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.'" The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
The distance from Bezek to Jabesh-Gilead would perhaps be about twenty miles.
And (e) they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
(e) Meaning, Saul and Samuel.
And they said unto the messengers that came,.... From Jabeshgilead, that is, Saul and Samuel said to them, as follows:
thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead: when they returned unto them, as they were now upon the departure:
tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot; when it smites with the greatest heat, as at noon: this morrow seems not to be the next from their return home, or going from Saul, but the morrow after they were got home, and should deliver the message to those that sent them, 1-Samuel 11:10 and so Josephus (z) says, it was on the third day the assistance was promised them:
ye shall have help; Saul with his army by that time would come and raise the siege: and the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; what Saul had promised, and what a numerous army he had raised, and had now upon the march for their relief, and tomorrow would be with them:
and they were glad; it was good news and glad tidings to them; it cheered their hearts, and gave them spirit.
(z) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 5.) sect. 3.
The messengers from Jabesh, who had been waiting to see the result of Saul's appeal, were now despatched with this message to their fellow-citizens: "To-morrow you will have help, when the sun shines hot," i.e., about noon.
*More commentary available at chapter level.