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.
