1 Samuel 11:3-15

31The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.” 4Then the messengers came 2to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people 3lifted up their voices and wept.

5Now behold, Saul was coming from the field 4behind the oxen, and 5he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6Then 6the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and 7he became very angry. 7He took a yoke of oxen and 8cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “9Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out 10as one man. 8He 11numbered them in 12Bezek; and the 13sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. 9They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10Then the men of Jabesh said, “14Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good 15to you.” 11The next morning Saul put the people 16in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12Then the people said to Samuel, “17Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ 1819Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13But Saul said, “20Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today 21the Lord has accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to 22Gilgal and 23renew the kingdom there.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king 24before the Lord in Gilgal. There they also 25offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.