Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh
1
Nhash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.
And all the men of Jabesh said to him,
"Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.
2
But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you only on the condition
that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel."
3
The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers
throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you."
4
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul
and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.
5
had said.Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked,
"What is wring wuth the people? Why are they weeping?"
Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh
6
When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power,
and he burned with anger.
7
He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces,
and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaimig,
"This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow
Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people,
and turned out as one man.
8
When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered
three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9
They told the messengers who had come, "Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead,
'By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.' "
When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated.
10
They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrwnder to you,
and you can do tous whatever seems good to you."
11
The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;
during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of
the Ammonites and slaughtered them untilthe heat of the day.
Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Saul Confirmed as King
12
The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?'
Bring these men to us and we will put them to death."
13
But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today,
for this day the LORD has rescued Israel."
14
Then Samuel said to the people,
"Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship."
15
So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD.
Then they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD,
and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.