11
1 Then
Nahash the
Ammonite came up
and encamped
against Jabesh
Gilead; and all
the men of
Jabesh said to
Nahash, “Make a
covenant with us,
and we will
serve you.”
2 Nahash
the Ammonite said
to them, “On
this condition I
will make it
with you, that
all your right
eyes be gouged
out. I will
make this dishonor
all Israel.”
3 The
elders of Jabesh
said to him, “Give
us seven days,
that we may
send messengers to
all the borders
of Israel; and
then, if there is
no one to
save us, we
will come out
to you.”
4 Then
the messengers
came to Gibeah
of Saul, and
spoke these words
in the ears of
the people, then
all the people
lifted up their
voice and wept.
5 Behold,
Saul came following
the oxen out
of the field;
and Saul said, “What
ails the people
that they weep?”
They told him
the words of
the men of
Jabesh.
6 God’s Spirit
came mightily on
Saul when he
heard those words,
and his anger
burned hot.
7 He
took a yoke
of oxen and
cut them in
pieces, then sent
them throughout
all the borders
of Israel by
the hand of
messengers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t
come out after
Saul and after
Samuel, so shall
it be done
to his oxen.”
The dread of
the LORD fell
on the people,
and they came
out as one
man.
8 He
counted them
in Bezek; and the
children of Israel
were three
hundred thousand, and
the men of
Judah thirty thousand.
9 They said
to the messengers
who came, “Tell
the men of Jabesh
Gilead, ‘Tomorrow,
by the time
the sun is
hot, you will
be rescued.’ ” The
messengers came
and told the men
of Jabesh; and
they were glad.
10 Therefore
the men of
Jabesh said, “Tomorrow
we will come
out to you,
and you shall
do with us
all that seems
good to you.”
11 On
the next day,
Saul put the
people in three
companies; and
they came into
the middle of
the camp in
the morning watch,
and struck the
Ammonites until
the heat of
the day. Those
who remained were
scattered, so that
no two of
them were left
together.
12 The
people said to
Samuel, “Who is
he who said, ‘Shall
Saul reign over
us?’ Bring those
men, that we
may put them
to death!”
13 Saul said,
“No man shall
be put to
death today; for
today the LORD
has rescued Israel.”
14 Then
Samuel said to the
people, “Come!
Let’s go to
Gilgal, and renew
the kingdom there.”
15 All
the people went
to Gilgal; and
there they made
Saul king before
the LORD in
Gilgal. There they
offered sacrifices
of peace offerings
before the LORD;
and there Saul
and all the
men of Israel
rejoiced greatly.