1 Samuel Chapter 11

1 Samuel Chapter 11
1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up,
and besieged Jabesh Gilead: and all the
men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a
covenant with us, and we will be thy
servants.
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 bring that shame
upon all Israel.
3 To whom the elders of Jabesh said,
Give us seven days respite, that we may
send messengers unto all the coasts of
Israel: and then if no man deliver us, we
will come out to thee.
4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah
of Saul, and told these tidings in the ears
of the people: and all the people lift up
their voices and wept. 5 And behold,
Saul came following the cattle out of the
field, and Saul said, What aileth this
people, that they weep? And they told
him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6 Then the spirit of God came upon Saul,
when he heard those tidings, and he was
exceeding angry,
7 And took a yoke of oxen, and hewed
them in pieces, and sent them throughout
all the coasts of Israel by the hands of
messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh
not forth after Saul, and after Samuel, so
shall his oxen be served. And the fear of
the Lord fell on the people, and they
came out with one consent.
8 And when he numbered them in Bezek,
the children of Israel were three hundred
thousand men: and the men of Judah
thirty thousand.
9 Then they said unto the messengers that
came, So say unto the men of Jabesh
Gilead, Tomorrow by then the sun be
hot, ye shall have help. And the
messengers came and showed it to the
men of Jabesh, which were glad. 10
Therefore the men of Jabesh said,
Tomorrow we will come out unto you,
and ye shall do with us all that pleaseth
you.
11 And when the morrow was come,
Saul put the people in three bands, and
they came in upon the host in the morning
watch, and slew the Ammonites until the
heat of the day: and they that remained,
were scattered, so that two of them were
not left together.
12 Then the people said unto Samuel,
Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign
over us? Bring those men that we may
slay them.
13 But Saul said, There shall no man die
this day: for today the Lord hath saved
Israel.
14 Then said Samuel unto the people,
Come, that we may go to Gilgal, and
renew the kingdom there.
15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and
made Saul king there before the Lord in
Gilgal: and there they offered peace
offerings before the Lord: and there Saul
and all the men of Israel rejoiced
exceedingly.