1 Samuel 11

1 Then came up Nahash the Ammonite, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead, —and all the man of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Solemnise with us a covenant, that we may serve thee.

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, Hereby, will I solemnise [a covenant] with you by digging out for you, every one’s right eye, —and laying it for a reproach, upon all Israel.

And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him—Give us a respite of seven days, that we may send messengers throughout all the bounds of Israel, —and then, if there is none to save us, we will come out unto thee.

And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel: and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to thee.

4 And, when the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spake the words in the ears of the people, all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 But lo! Saul, came in, following the oxen, out of the field, and Saul said, What aileth the people, that they should weep? Then were recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God came suddenly upon Saul, when he heard these words, —and his anger raged furiously.

And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 So he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent throughout all the bounds of Israel by the hand of messengers—saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul, and after Samuel, so, shall it be done unto his oxen. Then felt the dread of Yahweh, upon the people, and they came forth, as one man.

And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

8 And, when he numbered them in Bezek, the sons of Israel were found to be—three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 So they said unto the messengers who had come—Thus, shall ye surely say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, shall ye have deliverance, about the time the son is hot. And, when the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have deliverance. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 So the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow, will we come out unto you, —Then shall ye do with us, according to all that is good in your eyes.

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

11 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Saul set the people in three companies, and they entered into the midst of the host, during the morning watch, and smote Ammon until the day was hot. And it came to pass that, they who were left, were scattered, so that there were not left among them, two together.

And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 Then said the people unto Samuel, Who is he that was saying, Shall, Saul, reign over us? Give up the men, that we may put them to death.

And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

13 But Saul said, There shall not be put to death a man, this day, —for, to-day, hath Yahweh wrought deliverance in Israel.

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the LORD hath wrought deliverance in Israel.

14 Then said Samuel unto the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, —and let us there renew the kingdom.

Then said Samuel to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, —and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.

And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they 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.