1 Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you."

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

2 Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you: by gouging out everyone's right eye, bringing disgrace on all Israel."

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.

3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel. If no one comes to save us, we will surrender to you."

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

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these matters to the people, they all wept loudly.

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.

5 Just then, Saul was coming in from the field, following the oxen. He asked, "What is wrong with the people? Why are they all crying?" They told him what the men of Jabesh had said.

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.

6 The Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul as he heard these words, and his anger burned greatly.

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

7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout Israel by messengers, saying, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." The fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one.

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

8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, there were three hundred thousand Israelites and thirty thousand men of Judah.

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

9 They said to the messengers who had come, "Say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be delivered.'" When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were overjoyed.

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

10 The men of Jabesh then said, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you."

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

11 The next day, Saul divided the people into three divisions. They entered the camp during 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.

And it was so on the morrow, 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 which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, "Who was it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring those men to us, and we will put them to death."

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

13 But Saul said, "No one will be put to death today, for this is the day the LORD has delivered Israel."

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

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

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

15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king in the presence of the LORD. They sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the men of Israel celebrated with great joy.

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.