1 Samuel 11
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.
