| Chapter 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 you. |
2 |
Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Israel. |
3 |
The elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days` respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to you. |
4 |
Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept. |
5 |
Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What ails the people that they weep? They told him the words of the men of Jabesh. |
6 |
The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. |
7 |
He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn`t come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man. |
8 |
He numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. |
9 |
They said to the messengers who came, Thus shall you tell the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. |
10 |
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you. |
11 |
It was so 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 struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it happened, that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. |
12 |
The people said to Samuel, Who is he who said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. |
13 |
Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for today Yahweh has worked deliverance in Israel. |
14 |
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. |
15 |
All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. |