Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 11:5

"And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh." — 1 Samuel 11:5 (ASV)

And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field. —Saul was still busied with his old pursuits. At first, this might seem strange. However, it must be remembered that regal authority was something quite new in republican Israel. The new king’s duties and privileges were initially vague and poorly understood. Furthermore, jealousies, such as those already noted (1 Samuel 10:27), undoubtedly led Saul and his advisers to keep the kingship in the background until an opportunity to bring it to the forefront presented itself.

It is, therefore, quite understandable that the newly-elected king would spend at least a portion of his time in pursuits that had previously occupied his whole life. He was not the first hero summoned from agricultural labours to assume command of an army in a national emergency. Gideon, we read, was called from the threshing-floor to do his great deeds. To quote from secular history, one of the noblest sons of Rome, much like Saul, was ploughing when the Senate summoned him to be dictator and general of their armies. We also know that this great man returned to the plough after his work was successfully accomplished and his country saved.