Chapter 11

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1 Now aNahash the Ammonite came up and 1besieged bJabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make ca covenant with us and we will serve you.”

2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, athat I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it ba reproach on all Israel.”

3 aThe 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.”

4 Then the messengers came ato Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people blifted up their voices and wept.

5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field abehind the oxen, and 1he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 Then athe Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and 1he became very angry.

7 He took a yoke of oxen and acut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “bWhoever 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 cas one man.

8 He 1numbered them in aBezek; and the bsons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000.

9 They 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.

10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “aTomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good 1to you.”

11 The next morning Saul put the people ain 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.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “aWho is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ 1bBring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “aNot a man shall be put to death this day, for today bthe Lord has accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to aGilgal and brenew the kingdom there.”

15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king abefore the Lord in Gilgal. There they also boffered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.