1 Samuel 11:4-10

4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears.

5Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, “What’s the matter? Why is everyone crying?” So they told him about the message from Jabesh.

6Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.

7He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!” And the Lord made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one.

8When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.

9So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, “We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!” There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived!

10The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.”