CHAPTER 11
Soon Nahash
the Ammonite
came up
and laid siege
to
Jabesh-gilead.
All
the men
of Jabesh
said
to
him,
“Make
a treaty with us,
and we will serve you.”
But Nahash
the Ammonite
replied,
“I will make a treaty
with you
on one condition,
that I may put out
everyone’s
right
eye
and bring
reproach
upon
all
Israel.”
“Hold off
for
seven
days,”
replied
the elders
of Jabesh,
“and let us send
messengers
throughout
Israel.
If
there is no one
to deliver
us,
we will surrender
to you.”
When the messengers
came
to Gibeah
of Saul
and reported
these terms
in the hearing
of the people,
they all
wept
aloud.
Just then
Saul
was returning
from
the field,
behind
his oxen.
“What troubles
the people?”
asked
Saul.
“Why
are they weeping?”
And they relayed
to him
the words of
the men
from Jabesh.
He took
a pair
of oxen,
cut them into pieces,
and sent them
by
messengers
throughout
the land
of Israel,
proclaiming,
“This is what
will be done
to the oxen
of anyone who
does not
march
behind
Saul
and Samuel."
Then the terror
of the LORD
fell
upon
the people,
and they turned out
as one
man.
So they said
to the messengers
who had come,
“Tell
the men
of Jabesh-gilead:
‘Deliverance
will be
yours
tomorrow
by the time the sun
is hot.’”
And when the messengers
relayed this
to the men
of Jabesh,
they rejoiced.
Then the men
of Jabesh
said to Nahash,
“Tomorrow
we will come out,
and you can do
with us
whatever
seems good
to you.”
The next day
Saul
organized
the troops
into three
divisions,
and during the morning
watch
they invaded
the camp
of the Ammonites
and slaughtered
them until
the hottest part
of the day.
And
the survivors
were so scattered
that no
two
of them
were left
together.
Then the people
said
to
Samuel,
“Who
said
that Saul
should not reign
over us?
Bring
those men here,
so that we can kill them!”
But Saul
ordered,
“No
one
shall be put to death
this
day,
for
today
the LORD
has worked
salvation
in Israel.”
So all
the people
went
to Gilgal
and
confirmed Saul
as king
in the presence of
the LORD.
There
they sacrificed
peace offerings
before
the LORD,
and Saul
and all
the Israelites
rejoiced
greatly.