And Nahash the Ammonite went up and camped against Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Cut a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will cut it with you: that I gouge out every right eye of you, and lay it as a disgrace on all Israel.”
And the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Leave us alone seven days, and let us send messengers through all the territory of Israel; and if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”
And the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke the words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice and wept.
And look — Saul was coming behind the oxen from the field. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they weep?” And they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
And the spirit of God rushed on Saul when he heard these words, and his anger burned greatly.
And he took a pair of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them through all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel — so shall it be done to his oxen!” And the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man.
And he mustered them at Bezek; and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
And 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 shall have salvation.” And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
And the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do to us according to all that is good in your eyes.”
And it was the next day that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the middle of the camp at the morning watch, and struck Ammon until the heat of the day. And those who were left were scattered, and no two of them were left together.
Saul Confirmed as King
And the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Give us the men, and we will put them to death.”
And Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day — for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
And Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingship there.”
And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD at Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD. And there Saul rejoiced, and all the men of Israel, exceedingly.
The words beneath the translation. Tap one to study it.