The First Book of Samuel (WEB)
11: 1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men
of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you. 11:2Nahash the
Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put
out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Israel. 11:3The elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven
days' respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to
save us, we will come out to you. 11:4Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these
words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 11:5Behold, Saul
came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What ails the people that they weep?
They told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 11:6The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when
he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. 11:7He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them
in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying,
Whoever doesn't come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. The dread
of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 11:8He numbered them in Bezek; and
the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 11:9They
said to the messengers who came, Thus shall you tell the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by the
time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh;
and they were glad. 11:10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and
you shall do with us all that seems good to you. 11:11It was so on the next day, that Saul put the
people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and
struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it happened, that those who remained were
scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 11:12The people said to Samuel, Who is he who
said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 11:13Saul said, There
shall not a man be put to death this day; for today Yahweh has worked deliverance in Israel.
11:14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
11:15All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal; and
there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of
Israel rejoiced greatly.
World English Bible