Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh
1
Nahash 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 traety 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
Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked,
"What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?"
Then they repeated to what the men of Jabesh had said.
6
When Saul heard their 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, proclaiming, "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 they 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 surrender to you,
and you can do to us 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 until the heat of the day.
Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them 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 Saulas king
in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings
before the LORD and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.