1 Then Nahash5176 the Ammonite5984 came5927 up, and encamped2583 against5921 Jabeshgilead:3003 1568 and all3605 the men582 of Jabesh3003 said559 to Nahash,5176 Make3772 a covenant1285 with us, and we will serve5647 you.

2 And Nahash5176 the Ammonite5984 answered559 them, On this2063 condition will I make3772 a covenant with you, that I may thrust5365 out all3605 your right3225 eyes,5869 and lay7760 it for a reproach2781 on all3605 Israel.3478

3 And the elders2205 of Jabesh3003 said559 to him, Give us seven7651 days'3117 respite,7503 that we may send7971 messengers4397 to all3605 the coasts1366 of Israel:3478 and then, if518 there be no369 man to save3467 us, we will come3318 out to you.

4 Then came935 the messengers4397 to Gibeah1390 of Saul,7586 and told1696 the tidings1697 in the ears241 of the people:5971 and all3605 the people5971 lifted5375 up their voices,6963 and wept.1058

5 And, behold,2009 Saul7586 came935 after310 the herd1241 out of the field;7704 and Saul7586 said,559 What4100 ails the people5971 that they weep?1058 And they told5608 him the tidings1697 of the men582 of Jabesh.3003

6 And the Spirit7307 of God430 came6743 on Saul7586 when he heard8085 those428 tidings,1697 and his anger639 was kindled2734 greatly.3966

7 And he took3947 a yoke6776 of oxen,1241 and hewed5408 them in pieces, and sent7971 them throughout all3605 the coasts1366 of Israel3478 by the hands3027 of messengers,4397 saying,559 Whoever834 comes3318 not forth3318 after310 Saul7586 and after310 Samuel,8050 so3541 shall it be done6213 to his oxen.1241 And the fear6343 of the LORD3068 fell5307 on5921 the people,5971 and they came3318 out with one259 consent.376

8 And when he numbered6485 them in Bezek,966 the children1121 of Israel3478 were three7969 hundred3967 thousand,505 and the men376 of Judah3063 thirty7970 thousand.505

9 And they said559 to the messengers4397 that came,935 Thus3541 shall you say559 to the men376 of Jabeshgilead,3003 1568 To morrow,4279 by that time the sun8121 be hot,2527 you shall have help.8668 And the messengers4397 came935 and showed5046 it to the men582 of Jabesh;3003 and they were glad.8056

10 Therefore the men582 of Jabesh3003 said,559 To morrow4279 we will come3318 out to you, and you shall do6213 with us all3605 that seems5869 good2896 to you.

11 And it was so on the morrow,4283 that Saul7586 put7760 the people5971 in three7969 companies;7218 and they came935 into the middle8432 of the host4264 in the morning1242 watch,821 and slew5221 the Ammonites5984 until5704 the heat2527 of the day:3117 and it came1961 to pass, that they which remained7604 were scattered,6327 so that two8147 of them were not left7604 together.3162

12 And the people5971 said559 to Samuel,8050 Who4310 is he that said,559 Shall Saul7586 reign4427 over5921 us? bring5414 the men,582 that we may put them to death.4191

13 And Saul7586 said,559 There shall not a man376 be put to death4191 this2088 day:3117 for to day3117 the LORD3068 has worked6213 salvation8668 in Israel.3478

14 Then said559 Samuel8050 to the people,5971 Come,3212 and let us go3212 to Gilgal,1537 and renew2318 the kingdom4410 there.8033

15 And all3605 the people5971 went3212 to Gilgal;1537 and there8033 they made Saul7586 king4427 before6440 the LORD3068 in Gilgal;1537 and there8033 they sacrificed2076 sacrifices2077 of peace8002 offerings before6440 the LORD;3068 and there8033 Saul7586 and all3605 the men582 of Israel3478 rejoiced8055 greatly.3966