Saul Rescues Jabesh-gilead
1Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2Nahash the Ammonite answered, “I will make this treaty with you on one condition — that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, so we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one comes to save us, we will surrender to you.” 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported this to the people, they all wept aloud. 5Just then Saul was coming in from the field, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?” Then they told him what the men of Jabesh had said. 6When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and his anger burned greatly. 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel, saying, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle.” Then the terror of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the Israelites numbered three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9They said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.” When the messengers went and told this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced. 10The men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the last watch of the night they entered the enemy camp and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. The survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together. 12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who was it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men here so we can put them to death.” 13But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for today Yahweh has brought deliverance to Israel.”
Saul Confirmed as King
14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king there before Yahweh. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before Yahweh, and Saul and all the men of Israel celebrated with great joy.
