1Nahash[1] the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, ‘Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.’2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, ‘I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.’3The elders of Jabesh said to him, ‘Give us seven days so that we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no-one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.’4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.5Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, ‘What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?’ Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, ‘This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.’ Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.8When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.9They told the messengers who had come, ‘Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, “By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.” ’ When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated.10They said to the Ammonites, ‘Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.’11The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Saul confirmed as king
12The people then said to Samuel, ‘Who was it that asked, “Shall Saul reign over us?” Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.’13But Saul said, ‘No-one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.’14Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.’15So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
1 Samuel 11
English Standard Version
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
1Then 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.” (Ge 26:28; Ex 23:32; Ex 34:12; Ex 34:15; De 7:2; Jud 21:8; 1Sa 12:12; 1Ki 20:34; Eze 17:13)2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” (Ge 34:14; Nu 16:14; 1Sa 17:26)3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.”4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud. (Jud 2:4; Jud 21:2; 1Sa 10:26)5Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh.6And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. (1Sa 10:6; 1Sa 10:10)7He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. (Jud 19:29; Jud 20:1; Jud 21:5; Jud 21:8; Jud 21:10)8When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (Jud 1:5; Jud 20:15; 2Sa 24:9)9And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. (1Sa 11:13)10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” (1Sa 11:3)11And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. (Jud 7:16; 1Sa 31:11)
The Kingdom Is Renewed
12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” (1Sa 10:27; Lu 19:27)13But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” (Ex 14:13; 1Sa 11:9; 1Sa 19:5; 2Sa 19:22)14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.”15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (Jud 11:11; 1Sa 10:8; 1Sa 10:17; 1Sa 15:33)