 1 Nahash the Ammonite came up and camped against Jabeshgilead and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us and we will serve you. 2 Nahash the Ammonite answered them, With this I will make a covenant with you. When all your right eyes are dug out, I will make it a reproach on all Israel. 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, Bear with us seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then if there is no man to save us, we will come out to you. 4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in ears of the people. Then all the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5 Saul came after the herd out of the field and said, What is wrong with the people that they weep? They told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 The Spirit of God came powerfully on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers saying, Whoever does not come out 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 as one man. 8 When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. 9 They said to the messengers that came, So shall you say to the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. 10 The men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you. 11 The next day, Saul put the people in three companies and they came into the middle of the army at the morning watch. They killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And the ones who remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 The people said to Samuel, Who said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring them so that we may put them to death. 13 Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel. 14 Then Samuel said to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there. 15 All the people went to Gilgal, and 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.
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