1 Samuel 11

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”

2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”

3 “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.

5 Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.

7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.

8 And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah.

9 So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.

10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”

11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”

13 But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”

15 So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

1 ¶ Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this [condition] will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach upon all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if [there be] no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

5 ¶ And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And 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.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

11 And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who [is] he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

15 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 And Nahash the Ammonite came up, and besieged Jabesh in Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a league with us, and we will serve thee.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them: In this will I make a covenant with you, that I will put out the right eye of you all, and put you to shame among all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days, that we may send messengers into all the coasts of Israel: and if there be none to deliver us, we will go out unto thee.

4 And the messengers came to Gibeah unto Saul, and spake these things in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 And, behold, Saul came out of the field after the oxen, and said, What is the matter with the people that they weep? And they told him the matter of the men of Jabesh.

6 Then the Spirit of God was upon him, when he heard such words; and his wrath was greatly kindled.

7 And he took a pair of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent throughout all the coasts of Israel by messengers, saying, Whosoever shall not be cut off after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto the oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell upon the people, and they went out as one man.

8 And he made an order at Basek. And of the children of Israel were three hundred thousand men, and of the children of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came: So tell the men of Jabesh in Gilead: Tomorrow help shall come unto you, when the sun beginth to shine hotly. And when the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad.

10 And the men of Jabesh said: To morrow we will go out unto you, and ye shall do unto us all that ye please.

11 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Saul divided the people into three companies, and they came into the camp about the watch of the morning, and smote the Ammonites until the day was hot: and they that remained were scattered, so that there were not two of them together.

12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who are they that said, Shall Saul reign over us? Pray ye them, men, that we may slay them.

13 And Saul said, Let no man die this day: for the LORD hath this day given salvation unto Israel.

14 And Samuel said unto the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal, and offered peace offerings before the LORD. And Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there almost exceedingly.