1 A nd Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.

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 B ut Nahash the Ammonite told them, On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I thrust out all your right eyes and thus lay disgrace on all Israel.

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”

3 T he elders of Jabesh said to Nahash, Give us seven days’ time, that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no man to save us, we will come out to you.

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

4 T hen messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the ears of the people; and all the people wept aloud.

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

5 N ow Saul came out of the field after the oxen, and said, What ails the people that they are weeping? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

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

6 T he Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was greatly kindled.

Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.

7 A nd 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 come forth after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen! And terror from the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

So 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 with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.” And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

8 A nd he numbered them at Bezek, and the Israelites were 300, 000 and the men of Judah 30, 000.

When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 T he messengers who came were told, Say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help. The messengers came and reported to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

And they said to the messengers who came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.’” Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

10 S o the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us all that seems good to you.

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

11 T he next day Saul put the men in three companies; and they came into the midst of the enemy’s camp in the morning watch and slew the Ammonites until midday; and the survivors were scattered, so that no two of them remained together.

So it was, 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 killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 T he people said to Samuel, Who is he who said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death.

Then 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 B ut Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the Lord has brought deliverance to Israel.

But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”

14 S amuel said to the people, Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.

Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”

15 A ll the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king before the Lord. And there they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.