11:1 Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.”
11:2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
11:3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
11:4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.
11:5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
11:6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger.
11:7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.
11:8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
11:9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated.
11:10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you.”
11:11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
11:12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring these men to us and we will put them to death.”
11:13 But Saul said, “No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel.”
11:14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship.”
11:15 So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.
11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out; and I will make it a reproach upon all Israel.
11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days respite that we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel. And if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.
11:4 Then the messengers went to Gibeah of Saul, and they spoke these words in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voice and wept.
11:5 And Saul was just coming from the field after the oxen, and Saul said, What is wrong with the people that they weep so? And they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
11:6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul as he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.
11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by means of the messengers, saying, Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the dread of Jehovah fell upon the people, and they came forth as one man.
11:8 And he mustered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah were thirty thousand.
11:9 And they said to the messengers who had come, Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow you will have deliverance by the time the sun is hot. So the messengers went and told this to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
11:10 And the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us all that seems good in your sight.
11:11 And on the next day Saul put the people into three companies, and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch. And they struck Ammon until the day was hot; and those who remained were so scattered that not two of them remained together.
11:12 And the people said to Samuel, Who said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men that we may put them to death.
11:13 But Saul said, No man shall be put to death on this day, for today Jehovah has accomplished deliverance in Israel.
11:14 Then Samuel said to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.
11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal. And there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed peace offerings before Jehovah, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.