1 Samuel 11

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

Then Nahash the Ammonite went and laid seige to Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

Nahash the Ammonite replied, “On this condition will I make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all of your right eyes, and in this way bring disgrace on all Israel.”

3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers to all the land of Israel: and then, if there is no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

Then the elders of Jabesh replied to him, “Leave us alone for seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”

4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

The messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived, and told the people what had happened. All the people wept loudly.

5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

Now Saul was following the oxen out of the field. Saul said, “What is wrong with the people that they are weeping?” They told Saul what the men of Jabesh had said.

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

When Saul heard what they said, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he was very angry.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the land of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

He took a yoke of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel with the messengers. He said, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, this is what will be done to his oxen.” Then the terror of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out together as one man.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they said to the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say to the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and told it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

They said to the messengers that came, “You will tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.'” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out to you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good to you.

Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you.”

11 And it was so on the next morning, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they who remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

The next day Saul put the people in three groups. They came into the middle of the camp during the morning watch, and they attacked and defeated the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 And the people said to Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

Then the people said to Samuel, “Who was it who said, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, so we can put them to death.”

13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

But Saul said, “No one must be put to death this day, because today Yahweh has rescued Israel.”

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the monarchy there.”

15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before Yahweh, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.