1Samuel 11

1 So after a month, ^{a11:1 So LXX and DSS 4QSam; the Heb. lacks after a month} Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to ^{b11:1 Lit. camped against} Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh told Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”ISV — 1Samuel 11:1

2 Nahash the Ammonite told them, “I’ll make a covenant with you on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”ISV — 1Samuel 11:2

3 The elders of Jabesh told him, “Leave us alone for seven days so that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if no one delivers us, we will come out to you and surrender.” ^{c11:3 The Heb. lacks and surrender} ISV — 1Samuel 11:3

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported the terms to the people, ^{d11:4 Lit. in the ears of the people} all the people cried loudly. ^{e11:4 Lit. lifted their voices and wept}ISV — 1Samuel 11:4

5 Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen and he said, “What’s with the people? Why are they crying?” They reported to him what the men of Jabesh had said. ^{f11:5 Lit. the words of the men of Jabesh}ISV — 1Samuel 11:5

6 When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came on him, and he was very angry.ISV — 1Samuel 11:6

7 He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces ^{g11:7 Lit. sent} by messengers through all the territory of Israel: “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out and join ^{h11:7 Lit. out after} Saul and Samuel!” The fear of the LORD fell on the people and they came out as one man.ISV — 1Samuel 11:7

8 Saul ^{i11:8 Lit. He} mustered them at Bezek, and there were 300,000 Israelis and 30,000 men of Judah.ISV — 1Samuel 11:8

9 They told the messengers who had come, “You are to say this to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be delivered.’” The messengers went and reported to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.ISV — 1Samuel 11:9

10 The men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you and surrender. ^{j11:10 The Heb. lacks and surrender} Then you can do whatever you want to us.”ISV — 1Samuel 11:10

11 The next day Saul separated the people into three companies. They came into 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 remained together.ISV — 1Samuel 11:11

12 The people told Samuel, “Who said, ‘Will Saul reign over us?’ Bring them to us ^{k11:12 Lit. Give the men} and we will put them to death!”ISV — 1Samuel 11:12

13 But Saul said, “Let no one be put to death this day, because today the LORD has delivered Israel.”ISV — 1Samuel 11:13

14 Then Samuel told the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal and reaffirm the kingship there.”ISV — 1Samuel 11:14

15 So all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king in the LORD’s presence in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings in the LORD’s presence, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.ISV — 1Samuel 11:15