1 Samuel 11

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1Now 1NahashH5176 the AmmoniteH5984 cameH5927 up and 2besiegedH2583H5921 3Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568; and allH3605 the menH376 of JabeshH3003 saidH559 to NahashH5176, “MakeH3772 4a covenantH1285 with us and we will serveH5647 you.” 2But NahashH5176 the AmmoniteH5984 saidH559 to them, “I will makeH3772 it with you on thisH2088 condition, 5that I will gougeH5365 out the rightH3225 eyeH5869 of everyH3605 oneH3605 of you, thus I will makeH7760 it 6a reproachH2781 on allH3605 IsraelH3478.” 37The eldersH2205 of JabeshH3003 saidH559 to him, “LetH7503 us aloneH7503 for sevenH7651 daysH3117, that we may sendH7971 messengersH4397 throughoutH3605 the territoryH1366 of IsraelH3478. Then, ifH518 thereH369 is noH369 oneH369 to deliverH3467 us, we will comeH3318 out to you.” 4Then the messengersH4397 cameH935 8to GibeahH1390 of SaulH7586 and spokeH1696 these wordsH1697 in the hearingH241 of the peopleH5971, and allH3605 the peopleH5971 9liftedH5375 up their voicesH6963 and weptH1058.

5Now beholdH2009, SaulH7586 was comingH935 from the fieldH7704 10behindH310 the oxenH1241, and 11he saidH559, “WhatH4100 is the matter with the peopleH5971 that they weepH1058?” So they relatedH5608 to him the wordsH1697 of the menH376 of JabeshH3003. 6Then 12the SpiritH7307 of GodH430 cameH6743 upon SaulH7586 mightilyH6743 when he heardH8085 theseH428 wordsH1697, and 13he becameH2734 veryH3966 angryH639H2734. 7He tookH3947 a yokeH6776 of oxenH1241 and 14cutH5408 them in piecesH5408, and sentH7971 them throughoutH3605 the territoryH1366 of IsraelH3478 by the handH3027 of messengersH4397, sayingH559, “15WhoeverH834 does not comeH3318 out afterH310 SaulH7586 and afterH310 SamuelH8050, soH3541 shall it be doneH6213 to his oxenH1241.” Then the dreadH6343 of the LordH3068 fellH5307 on the peopleH5971, and they cameH3318 out 16as oneH259 manH376. 8He 17numberedH6485 them in 18BezekH966; and the 19sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 were 300,000H7969H3967H505, and the menH376 of JudahH3063 30,000H7970H505. 9They saidH559 to the messengersH4397 who had comeH935, “ThusH3541 you shall sayH559 to the menH376 of Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568, ‘TomorrowH4279, by the time the sunH8121 is hotH2552, you will haveH1961 deliveranceH8668.’” So the messengersH4397 wentH935 and toldH5046 the menH376 of JabeshH3003; and they were gladH8055. 10Then the menH376 of JabeshH3003 saidH559, “20TomorrowH4279 we will comeH3318 out to you, and you may doH6213 to us whateverH3605 seems goodH2896 21to you.” 11The nextH4283 morningH4283 SaulH7586 putH7760 the peopleH5971 22in threeH7969 companiesH7218; and they cameH935 into the midstH8432 of the campH4264 at the morningH1242 watchH821 and struckH5221 downH5221 the AmmonitesH5983 untilH5704 the heatH2527 of the dayH3117. Those who survivedH7604 were scatteredH6327, so that noH3808 twoH8147 of them were leftH7604 togetherH3162.

12Then the peopleH5971 saidH559 to SamuelH8050, “23WhoH4310 is he that saidH559, ‘Shall SaulH7586 reignH4427 overH5921 us?’ 2425BringH5414 the menH376, that we may putH4191 them to deathH4191.” 13But SaulH7586 saidH559, “26Not a manH376 shall be putH4191 to deathH4191 thisH2088 dayH3117, for todayH3117 27the LordH3068 has accomplishedH6213 deliveranceH8668 in IsraelH3478.”

14Then SamuelH8050 saidH559 to the peopleH5971, “ComeH1980 and let us goH1980 to 28GilgalH1537 and 29renewH2318 the kingdomH4410 thereH8033.” 15So allH3605 the peopleH5971 wentH1980 to GilgalH1537, and thereH8033 they madeH4427 SaulH7586 kingH4427 30beforeH6440 the LordH3068 in GilgalH1537. ThereH8033 they also 31offeredH2076 sacrificesH2077 of peaceH8002 offeringsH8002 beforeH6440 the LordH3068; and thereH8033 SaulH7586 and allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 rejoicedH8055 greatlyH3966.