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.
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
.
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.
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
.
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
.
And the Spirit of God
came
upon Saul
when he heard
those tidings
, and his anger
was kindled
greatly
.
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
.
And when he numbered them in Bezek
, the children
of Israel
were three
hundred
thousand
, and the men
of Judah
thirty
thousand
.
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
.
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.
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
.
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
.
And Saul said
, There shall not a man
be put to death
this day
: for to day
the LORD
hath wrought
salvation
in Israel
.
Then said Samuel
to the people
, Come
, and let us go
to Gilgal
, and renew
the kingdom
there.
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
.