[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
will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will
lay it for a reproach on all Israel. [3] The elders of Jabesh said to him,
Give us seven days` respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders
of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to you.
[4] Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in
the ears of the people: and 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] The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when he heard those
words, and his anger was kindled greatly. [7] He took a yoke of oxen, and
cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by
the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn`t come forth after Saul and
after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. The dread of Yahweh fell on
the people, and they came out as one man. [8] He numbered 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, Thus shall
you 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. [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]
It was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and
they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the
Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it happened, that 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 the men, that we may put them to death. [13] Saul said, There shall
not a man be put to death this day; for today Yahweh has worked deliverance
in Israel. [14] Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. [15] All the people went to Gilgal;
and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they
offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all
the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
