1 Samuel 11:4-10

4Men took the message to Gibeah, the town where Saul lived. When they told the news to the people there, the people started to weep loudly.

5Saul had been out on his farm. As he was returning home with his cows, he asked, ‘What has happened here? Why are the people weeping?’ They told Saul what the men from Jabesh had said.

6When Saul heard the news, God's Spirit came on him with power. He became very angry.

7He killed two of his oxen. He cut their bodies into pieces. He sent men with the pieces to all the towns in Israel. In each town, the men said, ‘Everyone must join Saul and Samuel to fight in their army. If you do not agree to join them, they will cut up your oxen just like this!’ The people became very afraid of what the Lord would do. So they all came together as one army.

8They met together at Bezek. Saul counted 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.

9Saul said to the men who had brought the news from Jabesh, ‘Return to Jabesh. Tell the people, “We will come to rescue you tomorrow, before midday.” ’ So the men took the message to the people in Jabesh. The people were very happy.

10The men there said to Nahash, ‘Tomorrow we will come out of the town to you. Then you can do anything that you want to us.’