1 Samuel 11

1Then NahashH51761 the AmmoniteH5984 came upH5927 and laid siegeH2583 toH5921 Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568. AllH3605 the menH582 of JabeshH3003 saidH559 toH413 himH5176, “MakeH3772 a treatyH12852 with us, and we will serve youH5647.”

2But NahashH5176 the AmmoniteH5984 repliedH559H413, “I will makeH3772 a treaty with you on oneH2063 condition, that I may put outH5365 everyone’sH3605 rightH3225 eyeH5869 and bringH7760 reproachH2781 uponH5921 allH3605 IsraelH3478.”

3“Hold offH7503 for sevenH7651 daysH3117,” repliedH559 the eldersH2205 of JabeshH3003, “and let us sendH7971 messengersH4397 throughoutH3605 IsraelH3478. IfH518 there is no oneH369 to saveH3467 usH853, we will surrenderH3318 to youH413.”

4When the messengersH4397 cameH935 to GibeahH1390 of SaulH7586 and relayedH1696 these wordsH1697 in the hearingH241 of the peopleH5971, they allH3605H5971 weptH1058 aloudH5375H6963.

5Just thenH2009 SaulH7586 was returningH935 fromH4480 the fieldH7704, behindH310 his oxenH1241. “WhatH4100 troubles the peopleH5971?” askedH559 SaulH7586. “WhyH3588 are they weepingH1058?” And they relayedH5608 to him the words ofH1697 the menH582 from JabeshH3003.

6When Saul heardH8085 theirH428 wordsH1697, the SpiritH7307 of GodH430 rushedH6743 uponH5921 himH7586, and he burned with great angerH639H2734H3966. 7He tookH3947 a pairH6776 of oxenH1241, cut them into piecesH5408, and sentH7971 them byH3027 messengersH4397 throughoutH3605 the landH1366 of IsraelH3478, proclaimingH559, “This is whatH3541 will be doneH6213 to the oxenH1241 of anyone whoH834 does notH369 marchH3318 behindH310 SaulH7586H310 and SamuelH8050.”

Then the terrorH6343 of the LORDH3068 fellH5307 uponH5921 the peopleH5971, and they came out togetherH3318 as oneH259 manH376. 8And when Saul numbered themH6485 at BezekH966, there wereH1961 300,000H7969H3967H505 IsraelitesH1121H3478 and 30,000H7970H5053 menH376 of JudahH3063. 9So they saidH559 to the messengersH4397 who had comeH935, “TellH559 the menH376 of Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568: ‘DeliveranceH8668 will beH1961 yours tomorrowH4279 by the time the sunH8121H935 is hotH2527.’”

And when the messengersH4397 relayedH5046 this to the menH582 of JabeshH3003, they rejoicedH8055.

10Then the menH582 of JabeshH3003 saidH559 to Nahash, “TomorrowH4279 we will come outH3318H413, and you can doH6213 with us whateverH3605 seems goodH2896 to youH5869.”

11

The next dayH4283 SaulH7586 organizedH7760 the troopsH5971 into threeH7969 divisionsH7218, and during the morningH1242 watchH821 they invadedH935H8432 the campH4264 of the AmmonitesH5983 and slaughtered themH5221, untilH5704 the hottest partH2527 of the dayH3117. AndH1961 the survivorsH7604 were so scatteredH6327 that noH3808 twoH8147 of them were leftH7604 togetherH3162.

Saul Confirmed as King

12Then the peopleH5971 saidH559 toH413 SamuelH8050, “WhoH4310 saidH559 that SaulH7586 should not reignH4427 over usH5921? BringH5414 those men hereH582 so we can kill themH4191!”

13But SaulH7586 orderedH559, “NoH3808 oneH376 shall be put to deathH4191 thisH2088 dayH3117, forH3588 todayH3117 the LORDH3068 has workedH6213 salvationH8668 in IsraelH3478.”

14Then SamuelH8050 saidH559 toH413 the peopleH5971, “ComeH1980, let us goH1980 to GilgalH1537 and renewH2318 the kingshipH4410 thereH8033.”

15So allH3605 the peopleH5971 wentH1980 to GilgalH1537 and confirmed SaulH7586 as kingH4427 in the presence ofH6440 the LORDH3068H1537. ThereH8033 they sacrificedH2076 peace offeringsH8002 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068, and SaulH7586 and allH3605 the IsraelitesH582H3478 rejoicedH8055H8033 greatlyH5704H3966.