Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1And Nahash† the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make with us a covenant,† and we will serve you.”

2And Nahash the Ammonite answered to them, “On this I will cut with you⁺, that I may put out of you⁺ every right eye and bring reproach on all Israel.”

3And the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And if no one is saving us, we will come out to you.”

4And the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5And there was Saul coming behind the herd from the field, and Saul said, “What is to the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out to battle with Saul and Samuel, so it shall be done to his oxen.”

And the dread of YHWH fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8And he numbered them in Bezek, and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.† 9And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you⁺ shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow shall be to you⁺ salvation by the heat of the sun.’”

And the messengers came and declared this to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

10And the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you⁺, and you⁺ may do with us whatever seems good to you⁺.”

11And it came to pass 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 they struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it came to pass that those who survived were scattered, and not two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

12And the people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said: Saul shall reign over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13And Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today YHWH has done salvation in Israel.”

14And Samuel said to the people, “Come, and we go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”

15And all the people went to Gilgal, and they made Saul king there before the face of YHWH in Gilgal. And they made sacrifices there of peace offerings before the face of YHWH, and there Saul rejoiced, and all the men of Israel, very greatly.