11:1And it came about, about a month later, Nahash the Ammonite went up, and began to fight against Jabesh-gilead. 11:1And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash: "Have us as allies, and we will serve you." 11:2And Nahash the Ammonite answered them: "On this condition I will strike a treaty with you, that I gouge out the right eyes of all of you, and make you a reproach in all Israel." 11:3And the elders of Jabesh said to him: "Grant us seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the boundaries of Israel, and if there is no one to defend us, we will come out to you."
11:4So the messengers came into Gibeah of Saul: and they spoke these words, with the people listening: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 11:5And look, Saul was coming, following oxen from the field, and he said: "What is wrong with the people that they are weeping?" 11:5And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 11:6And the spirit of the Lord leapt upon Saul when he had heard these words, and his fury was angered exceedingly. 11:7And taking both oxen, he cut them into pieces, and sent them into all the boundaries of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying: "Whoever does not go out, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen."
11:7So the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out as one man. 11:8And he counted them in Bezek: and there were of the sons of Israel three hundred thousand, and of the men of Judah thirty thousand. 11:9And they said to the messengers who had come: "Thus you shall say to the men who are in Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow there will be safety for you, when the sun has grown hot." 11:9So the messengers came, and announced it to the men of Jabesh: who rejoiced. 11:10And they said: "In the morning we will come out to you: and you shall do to us everything which pleases you."
11:11And it came about, when the next day had come, Saul arranged the people in three parts: and he entered the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck Ammon until the day grew hot: and the rest were scattered, so that there were not left among them two together. 11:12And the people said to Samuel: "Who is this who said: Will Saul reign over us? 11:12Give us the men, and we will kill them." 11:13And Saul said: "No one will be killed on this day, because today the Lord has wrought salvation in Israel." 11:14And Samuel said to the people: "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and let us renew the kingdom there."
11:15And all the people went on to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed peace victims before the Lord. 11:15And Saul rejoiced there, and all the men of Israel, exceedingly.