1
Then Nahash[H5176] the Ammonite[H5984] came up[H5927], and encamped[H2583] against Jabeshgilead[H3003]: and all the men[H582] of Jabesh[H3003]said[H559] unto Nahash[H5176], Make[H3772] a covenant[H1285] with us, and we will serve[H5647] thee.
2
And Nahash[H5176] the Ammonite[H5984]answered[H559] them, On this[H2063] condition will I make[H3772] a covenant with you, that I may thrust out[H5365] all your right[H3225]eyes[H5869], and lay[H7760] it for a reproach[H2781] upon all Israel[H3478].
3
And the elders[H2205] of Jabesh[H3003]said[H559] unto him, Give us seven[H7651]days[H3117]' respite[H7503], that we may send[H7971]messengers[H4397] unto all the coasts[H1366] of Israel[H3478]: and then, if there be no man to save[H3467] us, we will come out[H3318] to thee.
4
Then came[H935] the messengers[H4397] to Gibeah[H1390] of Saul[H7586], and told[H1696] the tidings[H1697] in the ears[H241] of the people[H5971]: and all the people[H5971] lifted up[H5375] their voices[H6963], and wept[H1058].
5
And, behold, Saul[H7586]came[H935]after[H310] the herd[H1241] out of the field[H7704]; and Saul[H7586]said[H559], What aileth the people[H5971] that they weep?[H1058] And they told[H5608] him the tidings[H1697] of the men[H582] of Jabesh[H3003].
6
And the Spirit[H7307] of God[H430]came[H6743] upon Saul[H7586] when he heard[H8085] those tidings[H1697], and his anger[H639] was kindled[H2734]greatly[H3966].
7
And he took[H3947] a yoke[H6776] of oxen[H1241], and hewed them in pieces[H5408], and sent[H7971] them throughout all the coasts[H1366] of Israel[H3478] by the hands[H3027] of messengers[H4397], saying[H559], Whosoever cometh not forth[H3318]after[H310]Saul[H7586] and after[H310]Samuel[H8050], so shall it be done[H6213] unto his oxen[H1241]. And the fear[H6343] of the LORD[H3068]fell[H5307] on the people[H5971], and they came out[H3318] with one[H259]consent[H376].
8
And when he numbered[H6485] them in Bezek[H966], the children[H1121] of Israel[H3478] were three[H7969]hundred[H3967]thousand[H505], and the men[H376] of Judah[H3063]thirty[H7970]thousand[H505].
9
And they said[H559] unto the messengers[H4397] that came[H935], Thus shall ye say[H559] unto the men[H376] of Jabeshgilead[H3003], To morrow[H4279], by that time the sun[H8121] be hot[H2527], ye shall have help[H8668]. And the messengers[H4397]came[H935] and shewed[H5046] it to the men[H582] of Jabesh[H3003]; and they were glad[H8055].
10
Therefore the men[H582] of Jabesh[H3003]said[H559], To morrow[H4279] we will come out[H3318] unto you, and ye shall do[H6213] with us all that seemeth[H5869]good[H2896] unto you.
11
And it was so on the morrow[H4283], that Saul[H7586]put[H7760] the people[H5971] in three[H7969]companies[H7218]; and they came[H935] into the midst[H8432] of the host[H4264] in the morning[H1242]watch[H821], and slew[H5221] the Ammonites[H5983] until the heat[H2527] of the day[H3117]: and it came[H935] to pass, that they which remained[H7604] were scattered[H6327], so that two[H8147] of them were not left[H7604]together[H3162].
12
And the people[H5971]said[H559] unto Samuel[H8050], Who is he that said[H559], Shall Saul[H7586]reign[H4427] over us? bring[H5414] the men[H582], that we may put them to death[H4191].
13
And Saul[H7586]said[H559], There shall not a man[H376] be put to death[H4191] this day[H3117]: for to day[H3117] the LORD[H3068] hath wrought[H6213]salvation[H8668] in Israel[H3478].
14
Then said[H559]Samuel[H8050] to the people[H5971], Come[H3212], and let us go[H3212] to Gilgal[H1537], and renew[H2318] the kingdom[H4410] there.
15
And all the people[H5971]went[H3212] to Gilgal[H1537]; and there they made Saul[H7586]king[H4427]before[H6440] the LORD[H3068] in Gilgal[H1537]; and there they sacrificed[H2076]sacrifices[H2077] of peace offerings[H8002]before[H6440] the LORD[H3068]; and there Saul[H7586] and all the men[H582] of Israel[H3478]rejoiced[H8055]greatly[H3966].