1Then Nahash5176 the Ammonite5984 came up5927, and encamped2583 against Jabeshgilead3003 1568: and all the men582 of Jabesh3003 said559 unto Nahash5176, Make3772 a covenant1285 with us, and we will serve5647 thee.
2And Nahash5176 the Ammonite5984 answered559 them, On this2063 condition will I make3772 a covenant with you, that I may thrust out5365 all your right3225 eyes5869, and lay7760 it for a reproach2781 upon all Israel3478.
3And the elders2205 of Jabesh3003 said559 unto him, Give us seven7651 days'3117 respite7503, that we may send7971 messengers4397 unto all the coasts1366 of Israel3478: and then, if there be no man to save3467 us, we will come out3318 to thee.
4Then came935 the messengers4397 to Gibeah1390 of Saul7586, and told1696 the tidings1697 in the ears241 of the people5971: and all the people5971 lifted up5375 their voices6963, and wept1058.
5And, behold, Saul7586 came935 after310 the herd1241 out of the field7704; and Saul7586 said559, What aileth the people5971 that they weep1058? And they told5608 him the tidings1697 of the men582 of Jabesh3003.
6And the Spirit7307 of God430 came6743 upon Saul7586 when he heard8085 those tidings1697, and his anger639 was kindled2734 greatly3966.
7And he took3947 a yoke6776 of oxen1241, and hewed them in pieces5408, and sent7971 them throughout all the coasts1366 of Israel3478 by the hands3027 of messengers4397, saying559, Whosoever cometh not forth3318 after310 Saul7586 and after310 Samuel8050, so shall it be done6213 unto his oxen1241. And the fear6343 of the LORD3068 fell5307 on the people5971, and they came out3318 with one259 consent376.
8And when he numbered6485 them in Bezek966, the children1121 of Israel3478 were three7969 hundred3967 thousand505, and the men376 of Judah3063 thirty7970 thousand505.
9And they said559 unto the messengers4397 that came935, Thus shall ye say559 unto the men376 of Jabeshgilead3003 1568, To morrow4279, by that time the sun8121 be hot2527, ye shall have help8668. And the messengers4397 came935 and shewed5046 it to the men582 of Jabesh3003; and they were glad8055.
10Therefore the men582 of Jabesh3003 said559, To morrow4279 we will come out3318 unto you, and ye shall do6213 with us all that seemeth5869 good2896 unto you.
11And it was so on the morrow4283, that Saul7586 put7760 the people5971 in three7969 companies7218; and they came935 into the midst8432 of the host4264 in the morning1242 watch821, and slew5221 the Ammonites5983 until the heat2527 of the day3117: and it came to pass, that they which remained7604 were scattered6327, so that two8147 of them were not left7604 together3162.
12And the people5971 said559 unto Samuel8050, Who is he that said559, Shall Saul7586 reign4427 over us? bring5414 the men582, that we may put them to death4191.
13And Saul7586 said559, There shall not a man376 be put to death4191 this day3117: for to day3117 the LORD3068 hath wrought6213 salvation8668 in Israel3478.
14Then said559 Samuel8050 to the people5971, Come3212, and let us go3212 to Gilgal1537, and renew2318 the kingdom4410 there.
15And all the people5971 went3212 to Gilgal1537; and there they made Saul7586 king4427 before6440 the LORD3068 in Gilgal1537; and there they sacrificed2076 sacrifices2077 of peace offerings8002 before6440 the LORD3068; and there Saul7586 and all the men582 of Israel3478 rejoiced8055 greatly3966.