Now aNahash the Ammonite
came
up and 1besieged
bJabesh-gilead
; and all
the men
of Jabesh
said
to Nahash
, "Make
ca covenant
with us and we will serve
you."
But Nahash the Ammonite
said
to them, "I will make
it with you on this
condition, athat I will gouge
out the right
eye
of every
one
of you, thus I will make
it ba reproach
on all
Israel
."
aThe elders of Jabesh
said
to him, "Let
us alone
for seven
days
, that we may send
messengers
throughout
the territory
of Israel
. Then, if
there
is no
one
to deliver
us, we will come
out to you."
Then the messengers came
ato Gibeah
of Saul
and spoke
these words
in the hearing
of the people
, and all
the people
blifted
up their voices
and wept
.
Now behold, Saul
was coming
from the field
abehind
the oxen
, and 1he said
, "What
is the matter with the people
that they weep
?" So they related
to him the words
of the men
of Jabesh
.
Then athe Spirit of God
came
upon Saul
mightily
when he heard
these
words
, and 1he became
very
angry
.
He took a yoke
of oxen
and acut
them in pieces
, and sent
them throughout
the territory
of Israel
by the hand
of messengers
, saying
, " bWhoever
does not come
out after
Saul
and after
Samuel
, so
shall it be done
to his oxen
." Then the dread
of the LORD
fell
on the people
, and they came
out cas one
man
.
He 1numbered them in aBezek
; and the bsons
of Israel
were 300,000
, and the men
of Judah
30,000
.
They said to the messengers
who had come
, "Thus
you shall say
to the men
of Jabesh-gilead
, `Tomorrow
, by the time the sun
is hot
, you will have
deliverance
.' " So the messengers
went
and told
the men
of Jabesh
; and they were glad
.
Then the men of Jabesh
said
, " aTomorrow
we will come
out to you, and you may do
to us whatever
seems good
1to you."
The next morning
Saul
put
the people
ain three
companies
; and they came
into the midst
of the camp
at the morning
watch
and struck
down
the Ammonites
until
the heat
of the day
. Those who survived
were scattered
, so that no
two
of them were left
together
.
Then the people said
to Samuel
, " aWho
is he that said
, `Shall Saul
reign
over
us?' 1 bBring
the men
, that we may put
them to death
."
But Saul said
, " aNot a man
shall be put
to death
this
day
, for today
bthe LORD
has accomplished
deliverance
in Israel
."
Then Samuel said
to the people
, "Come
and let us go
to aGilgal
and brenew
the kingdom
there
."
So all the people
went
to Gilgal
, and there
they made
Saul
king
abefore
the LORD
in Gilgal
. There
they also boffered
sacrifices
of peace
offerings
before
the LORD
; and there
Saul
and all
the men
of Israel
rejoiced
greatly
.