1 Then Nahash5176 the Ammonite5984 came up,5927 and encamped2583 against5921 Jabesh-gilead:3003 1568 and all3605 the men376 of Jabesh3003 said559 unto413 Nahash,5176 Make3772 a covenant1285 with us, and we will serve5647 thee.

2 And Nahash5176 the Ammonite5984 answered559 413 them, On this2063 condition will I make3772 a covenant with you, that I may thrust out5365 all3605 your right3225 eyes,5869 and lay7760 it for a reproach2781 upon5921 all3605 Israel.3478

3 And the elders2205 of Jabesh3003 said559 unto413 him, Give us seven7651 days'3117 respite,7503 that we may send7971 messengers4397 unto all3605 the coasts1366 of Israel:3478 and then, if518 there be no man369 to save3467 us, we will come out3318 to413 thee.

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 lifted up5375 853 their voices,6963 and wept.1058

5 And, behold,2009 Saul7586 came935 after310 the herd1241 out of4480 the field;7704 and Saul7586 said,559 What4100 aileth the people5971 that3588 they weep?1058 And they told5608 him853 the tidings1697 of the men376 of Jabesh.3003

6 And the Spirit7307 of God430 came6743 upon5921 Saul7586 when he heard8085 853 those428 tidings,1697 and his anger639 was kindled2734 greatly.3966

7 And he took3947 a yoke6776 of oxen,1241 and hewed them in pieces,5408 and sent7971 them throughout all3605 the coasts1366 of Israel3478 by the hands3027 of messengers,4397 saying,559 Whosoever834 cometh not forth369 3318 after310 Saul7586 and after310 Samuel,8050 so3541 shall it be done6213 unto his oxen.1241 And the fear6343 of the LORD3068 fell5307 on5921 the people,5971 and they came out3318 with one259 consent.376

8 And when he numbered6485 them in Bezek,966 the children1121 of Israel3478 were1961 three7969 hundred3967 thousand,505 and the men376 of Judah3063 thirty7970 thousand.505

9 And they said559 unto the messengers4397 that came,935 Thus3541 shall ye say559 unto the men376 of Jabesh-gilead,3003 1568 Tomorrow,4279 by that time the sun8121 be hot,2527 ye shall have1961 help.8668 And the messengers4397 came935 and showed5046 it to the men376 of Jabesh;3003 and they were glad.8055

10 Therefore the men376 of Jabesh3003 said,559 Tomorrow4279 we will come out3318 unto413 you, and ye shall do6213 with us all3605 that seemeth5869 good2896 unto you.

11 And it was1961 so on the morrow,4480 4283 that Saul7586 put7760 853 the people5971 in three7969 companies;7218 and they came935 into the midst8432 of the host4264 in the morning1242 watch,821 and slew5221 853 the Ammonites5983 until5704 the heat2527 of the day:3117 and it came to pass,1961 that they which remained7604 were scattered,6327 so that two8147 of them were not3808 left7604 together.3162

12 And the people5971 said559 unto413 Samuel,8050 Who4310 is he that said,559 Shall Saul7586 reign4427 over5921 us? bring5414 the men,376 that we may put them to death.4191

13 And Saul7586 said,559 There shall not3808 a man376 be put to death4191 this2088 day:3117 for3588 today3117 the LORD3068 hath wrought6213 salvation8668 in Israel.3478

14 Then said559 Samuel8050 to413 the people,5971 Come,1980 and let us go1980 to Gilgal,1537 and renew2318 the kingdom4410 there.8033

15 And all3605 the people5971 went1980 to Gilgal;1537 and there8033 they made Saul king4427 853 7586 before6440 the LORD3068 in Gilgal;1537 and there8033 they sacrificed2076 sacrifices2077 of peace offerings8002 before6440 the LORD;3068 and there8033 Saul7586 and all3605 the men376 of Israel3478 rejoiced8055 greatly.3966