11:1 Then 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 thee.
11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this [condition]
will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may thrust out all
your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach upon all Israel.
11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days
respit, that we may send messengers to all the borders of
Israel: and then, if [there is] no man to save us, we will come
out to thee.
11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the
tidings in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up
their voices, and wept.
11:5 And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and
Saul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep? And they
told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those
tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and
sent [them] throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands
of messengers, saying, Whoever cometh not forth after Saul and
after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of
the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one
consent.
11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel
were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty
thousand.
11:9 And they said to the messengers that came, thus shall ye
say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow by [the time] the
sun is hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and
showed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
11:10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come
out to you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good to
you.
11:11 And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul disposed the
people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the
host in the morning-watch, and slew the Ammonites until the
heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they who remained
were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
11:12 And the people said to Samuel, Who [is] he that said,
Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them
to death.
11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this
day: for to-day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made
Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed
sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD; and there Saul
and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
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